John was surprised by Jesus. The entire moment with Jesus at the Jordan seemed completely upside down. Remember the message John had been proclaiming? John told the crowds Jesus was coming! He told them Jesus was much more powerful than he was. He told them Jesus was going to straighten everything out once and for all. He implored them to switch their allegiance to the coming one. Think about what all of the people must have been expecting as they heard those messages. Think about what John himself must have been anticipating.
But when Jesus comes from Galilee, things are different. He looks and sounds nothing at all like what the expectations had been. He humbly goes up to John and asks to be baptized by him. John isn't able to make sense of this. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? What happened to the message he had been proclaiming? What about the unquenchable fire? What about the axe at the root of the tree?
Jesus' answer to John points forward to the rest of the story. He has come to fulfill God's salvation plan. The long-awaited promises are going to come true. But it's not going to look like everyone thought it would. Instead of lording over people, Jesus is going to identify with them. He is Israel in person. He's going to take their place both in life and in death. This is the surprising reign of God. Matthew has been hinting at this surprising part of the story so far in his Gospel. Here, at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, we hear the Father declaring it Himself. Jesus, as Israel in person, is His beloved Son. Through Jesus, we are also the beloved sons and daughters of God. We have received the water attached to the promises. As we learn to live under God's reign, we realize that there will be moments when Jesus wants to turn things upside down. So let's learn to think bigger. Let's keep watching carefully. Like John, let's be ready to be surprised by Jesus.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, teach us to be surprised by what You're doing in this world. Please equip us, as Your beloved children, to be used for Your surprising reign. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Written by Pastor Mark Biebighauser
Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church
Beverly Hills, Michigan
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