Central Truth

The book of Matthew, along with this passage of Scripture, is written to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy. "That it might be fulfilled."

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Reflections

Allow your mind, if you will, to think of how John the Baptist looked.  His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair and he wore a leather belt around his waist.  Since he was only eating locust and honey he probably was very thin--got the image?  I don't know about you, but the image I got would not be someone who I would follow let alone have baptize me and yet Jesus came to be baptized by him. Jesus, being all human and all God, should be doing the baptizing not this unusual messenger. 

John's response to Jesus [verse 14] mirrors our response to Him when we allow what we look like to keep us from fulfilling our God-given purpose.  John did not think he was worthy enough to baptize Jesus.  Could it be that John judged his own appearance, feeling inappropriately dressed or of the wrong ethnicity or culture?  Or could it be that because John lived in the wilderness he did not feel worthy because of where he lived or his environment?  Or was it simply that John got comfortable with the ordinary way of doing things, the thought that doing something as big as baptizing Jesus would disrupt what society told him was normal?

After sharing his feelings of unworthiness with Jesus, Jesus said to him, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires."  I venture to say that what Jesus was really saying to John is that God is not concerned with our appearance, or our race/ethnicity/culture, or our socioeconomic status.  What God is concerned with is our willingness to see that His word is fulfilled.  After being reassured by Jesus that he was worthy John agreed and baptized Jesus, then God announced His pleasure in what had just taken place.

God is not looking to do ordinary, mundane things nor is He looking for perfect neat little packaging.  What He is looking for is the unusual messenger.  Someone who despite their feelings of unworthiness will step out and see that His message gets out. Is that you?

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Discussion Questions

1. What feeling do you have that is blocking you from fulfilling your God-given purpose?

2. What do you think is required to be God's unusual messenger?

3. How would you compare John's response to Jesus to Romans 3:23-24?:

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.

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