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Matthew 3
Many years have passed since the end of Matthew chapter 2.
Jesus' cousin, John (whose birth we learn about in the other gospels), is now preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
Wearing the clothing and eating the food representative of a prophet his message is that they should, 'Repent...for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'.
Multitudes of Jews flock to him and are baptised in the river Jordan, confessing their sins, but when many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come for baptism John condemns them, that they are not demonstrating true repentance from their sins, but are rather trusting in their heritage from Abraham.
He warns them that there is one coming that is much greater than him - one that will baptise them with the Holy Ghost or with unquenchable fire.
We then read of Jesus coming to be baptised, which John feeling his unworthiness to perform would only do at Jesus' gentle command and explanation.
After being baptised we read how the Spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove from heaven and God's voice was heard saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'.
Isn't it lovely to read these words of Jesus, recorded by Matthew, 'Suffer it to be so now' (verse 15). It is as if the first words Matthew records are symbolic of the whole of Jesus' life - submission.
John had previously told the people that he wasn't worthy to even carry Jesus' shoes and now Jesus had come to him - Jesus who was pure and without sin - had come to be baptised. How could John baptise his Saviour, baptism being a symbol of repentance from sin?!
My Bible notes tell us that the tense of the Greek verb used here emphasises that John wasn't just casually saying, 'No, you don't need to do this', but was really trying to hinder Jesus.
But Jesus encouraged John that he should go through with this because, '...it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness'. Jesus didn't agree with John and say, 'I know I don't need to do this - I know I'm perfect'. He didn't put himself on a pedestal or even speak of his own worth'. He just gently said, 'Suffer it to be so' - or allow it to be done/permit it - because he was thinking of the people he had come to die for and because he was obeying the will of his Father.
As my Bible notes also say, he was identifying himself with the people he came to redeem and meeting the duties of a faithful Jew in keeping all the outward ordinances.
What a contrast to ourselves! I sometimes feel in myself such a different spirit to this one of gentleness and submission which Jesus was displaying.
Do you feel the same?
How easy it is for us to secretly agree with somebody else who is praising us! How much we naturally draw attention to ourselves or think of ourselves! How much we want our own way!
And what is our response to our Heavenly Father when he leads us into circumstances which we don't want, or asks us to do hard things?
Do we say, 'Not this way Lord! Anything but this!' 'I can't do this - it's too hard'.
Or do we say, 'Suffer it to be so'...
Or as Mary said when told she would give birth to the 'Son of the Highest', 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word' and she later sings a song of rejoicing and joy (Luke 1:38, 47).
We could argue that Mary's case was different - she was being given the joy of carrying the Son of God, her Saviour, in her womb and the privilege of caring for him, but it also involved a huge amount of suffering for her, starting with her reputation no doubt being smeared and her fiance, Joseph, almost turning his back on her.
Then later she is told 'a sword shall pierce through thy own soul' (Luke 2:34) as she would witness the suffering and death of her Son, her Saviour and Lord.
Not only was Jesus here displaying a spirit of submission to do what was righteous, but he is also teaching us humility. By classing himself with men, sinners, and undergoing a symbol of cleansing and repentance - which he didn't need - he was as Philippians 2 tells us, humbling himself.
Paul exhorts the Philippians - and all believers - that we should follow Jesus' humble, obedient and submissive attitude. He says, 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 2:5), or as my Bible further explains this, 'Keep thinking on this - maintain this attitude'.
Is there something in my life and your life which we need submission and humility to do?
Something which hurts our pride perhaps, or something which we dread doing?
Can we do it for Jesus' sake, knowing what he suffered for us?
Often a situation is too hard for us to do on our own - trying to maintain this attitude isn't enough - we have to ask our Heavenly Father to give us the grace to do it. For His Spirit which dwells in us to exert it's influence over us and make us as we ought to be.
Is there somebody who we can encourage today, somebody else facing a difficult situation which will take humility to do?
Let us pray for them too, that instead of going through with this thing with 'gritted teeth' and 'will-power' they will be given a loving spirit of submission.
And perhaps there is somebody reading this who is resisting following the Lord through baptism - a baptism which now not only demonstrates our repentance from our sins, but symbolically enters into the Lord's death and resurrection (Romans 6: 3,4).
Professing our belief in Jesus as our personal Saviour, we rise from the waters of baptism to 'walk in newness of life'.
I remember watching a baptism and thinking I would never submit myself to looking such a drowned rat.
I was despising it.
I thought I would secretly be a believer and not make a profession - no one need know as long as God knew.
I didn't have the desire, willingness or love to Jesus - at that time - which God works in us - and I didn't want to be a public spectacle.
Does this seem too hard a thing for you? Do you dread all that goes with it?
Do you love your Saviour?
Do it for Jesus' sake! May he give you the willingness, grace and love needed and make it a blessing to you.
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