but john would have prevented him…



I will be preaching January 9 (The first Sunday after the Epiphany, The Baptism of Jesus).

At first I wasn’t too interested in this story. Lately, though, I’ve been drawn in by interesting nuances; two, specifically:


First, when Jesus comes to John to be baptized we hear that John would have prevented him. I find this hesitation of John to be understandable, and apparently Matthew does too. After all, a little before this reading, John says that he is unworthy to carry Jesus’ sandals.

However, Jesus insists that this baptism is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.

(Side note, I am unsure exactly what righteousness must mean. A few verses earlier Joseph is described as righteous because he is willing to dismiss Mary quietly.)

What is striking to me, though, is that John’s religious expectations influenced how he imaged God. You see, while John is lauding Jesus, John makes that point that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Not only will this, but the chaff (see unrighteous) will be thrown into the fire.
That detail is significant. In Matthew, John expects judgment. Yet, when Jesus is baptized he sees a dove (peace?). No Holy Spirit of fire.
Now, I don’t wish to pit John against Jesus. Historically that probably isn’t accurate. Instead, I think Matthew is making the subtle point that each one’s piety influenced how they saw God.

Are we expecting a God of wrath and fire, or a God of peace?

This nuance within Matthew puts that question to us: How is our piety affecting how we see God acting?



The second nuance is just interesting to me. This is the first public act of Jesus. Before this story Jesus is born, adored, and taken with while fleeing to Egypt. Matthew skips Jesus childhood to this particular point, and it is the first time Jesus acts.

What does this signify? Eric Barreto, at Working Preacher, makes the point that apparently for Jesus, power and humility, authority and submission, power and relationship are not at odds.

I think this well rounded understanding of faith is important to meditate upon.

Often, faith has been exclusively conflated with obedience, or obsequiousness. This static, one-dimensional understanding of faith has often been used as a means to legitimize submission by those who are oppressed.

However, Jesus’ faith suggests a disposition in a person that is more complete. Is there a way we can think of faith as something that incorporates power and humility. How can being obedient (see faithful) teach us patience and prompt us to civil disobedience?

Comments

  1. SarahJanuary 1, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    Interesting. I like Berreto's articulation of servanthood and true power. I think it shows a lot of awareness of how the world works. There is a big difference between people who have respect and are listened to because they understand those around them and people who inherit power through a hierarchy and simply shout orders.

    I also like that the baptismal story is in all of the Gospels and that all three persons of the Trinity are present in the Synoptics.

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