Perhaps we wonder why Jesus requested John to
baptize him. Jesus did not have any sins to repent of and the baptism offered
by John the Baptist was for repentance of sins (Luke 3:3). When sinners went to
John at the river Jordan they did so because they acknowledged their sinfulness
and their baptism symbolized turning over a new leaf in their lives and leaving
sin behind. Jesus, although like us in every way, was without sin, as the
Letter to the Hebrews assures us (Heb 4:15). That explains why John the Baptist
objected to Jesus’ request for baptism in the Gospel of Matt, “I need to be
baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” (Matt 3:14). The answer Jesus
gave John helps us to understand why Jesus wanted to be baptized, “Allow it
now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matt 3:15)
“To fulfill all righteousness” is why Jesus wanted to be baptized. We might say
it is difficult to understand this answer because Jesus was not lacking in
righteousness and was already righteous. So how could his baptism fulfill all
righteousness? Sinless Jesus did not
have any sins of his own to take down into the river Jordan, therefore it could
only have been our sins that he took down into the river Jordan. Naturally no
one would understand this at that time but they would realize this later when
they understood that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. So Jesus’ baptism in
the Jordan and his dying on the cross go together; he did both for our sins. He
took our sins on his shoulders as he went down into the Jordan and as he died
on the cross.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Pasta Dinner – The Pasta Dinner will be held this year on February 21st in
the parish hall.
Marriage
course reminder – Please remember to
sign up for the marriage course if you are getting married here in 2015 or
beyond. Jan. 23-24 and Jan. 30-31, 2015.
Fr. Phil
