But that's understandable. Because John doesn't fully know his cousin at this point. He only knows the curriculum vitae of the expected Messiah. Hence the back and forth with Jesus about "to baptize or not to baptize." Elsewhere Jesus introduces himself using the servant language of the prophet Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . ." (Lk. 4:18-19). Here in the account of Jesus' baptism in Matthew, Jesus introduces himself with servant actions rather than with quoted words. He submits to be baptized by John to symbolize his repentance for sins of which he himself is not guilty. Here is the action of the Lamb of God we will encounter in next week's text from John 1:29-42.
John the Baptist has done the best he could with his introduction of Jesus as future judging Son of Man (Mt. 3:11-12). Now God takes over the job. "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" (Mt. 3:17). In the account of Jesus' baptism in Matthew, the voice from heaven that accompanies the dove makes a declarative statement, probably intended to be overheard by both John and the crowd. (Judging from the temptation account that comes directly after this baptismal scene, someone else overheard it too.)
In the baptismal accounts in Luke and Mark (Lk. 3:21-22; Mk. 1:9-11), God speaks directly to Jesus, underscoring his own identity. "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." There is a lovely continuity in God's introductions. They boil down to this affirmation: As with the servant and the people in Isaiah, the Son's identity and mission come from God. To my mind, the voice from heaven at Jesus' baptism solidifies God's status as the Introducer par excellence.
Now that we know who we are and who the keynoter is, it is time for the main event. There is no "further ado" in the gospels (especially in Mark!)
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" (Mt. 3:17).
"And the Spirit immediately drove him out into wilderness" (Mk. 1:12).
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness where for forty days he was tempted by the devil" (Lk. 4:1).
The beginning of a New Year, with its challenges and trials, is a good time to remember that our identity and mission, like that of the servant, the people, and the Son, comes from God. Now is a good time to remember who called us, who takes us by the hand, and who energizes us to introduce Jesus to a hurting world.
Return next Monday for a new lectionary reflection from the weekly column Edgy Exegesis at the Mainline Protestant Portal.
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