Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 3:13-15 (Christian Standard Bible)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

This is part of the (hi)story of the immersion of Jesus in water by John the Baptist. This translation uses the word “allow.” Jesus asks that John “allow” Jesus to be baptized. John then “allowed” Jesus to be baptized.

For now, substitute the word “accept” for “baptize.” Jesus wanted to be accepted by John in front of all those who were with John in the wilderness. John resisted as John wanted to be accepted by Jesus. John relented and accepted Jesus.

I think that sometimes we confuse the order and meaning of words regarding baptism. We tend to say, “I was baptized.” We rarely say, “This group of Christians baptized me.”

I know there are others who know much more about the depths of discussions regarding baptism and salvation. For this little blog post, consider the ways we talk about baptism, allowance, and acceptance. Perhaps baptism is a sign of acceptance from a group of Christians that admit a person into the group of those who—with many trips, stumbles, and falls—are following after the Son of God. We want to be identified as a follower of the Son of God. We are accepted as a fault-filled person into a group of persons who are also filled with faults.

Again, there are those who know this topic much better than me. As a fault-filled person, I ask that they accept me.