Fulfilling all righteousness

On Tuesday bible study, we had a lively discussion on the meaning and significance of the baptism of Jesus by John. I find myself still mulling over this and would like to further this discussion.

Firstly, the baptism of John is clearly a baptism of repentance from sins. John preached the coming of the kingdom of heaven and the coming of the King. Baptism is an acknowledgment of sin and repentance from sin, thereby making oneself ready for the coming kingdom and the coming king.

It is no wonder that John, initially refuse to baptize Jesus. It goes against his own understanding of his ministry and the significance of his baptism. Perhaps John did not understand fully the significance of Jesus' ministry on earth - that the Messiah is destined for the cross. And perhaps that is the reason why he finds it hard to understand why the Lord would leave him in prison and even let him face his eventual fate of being beheaded by Herod.

The Lord's answer to John's reluctance to baptize Him is:
15 “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

So the significance of this baptism is no small thing. Fulfilling all righteousness means setting right all that was previously wrong, for since the beginning of sin from Adam, the whole creation has been subjected to sin and death. 

Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,

So, the Law was unable to fulfill God's righteousness in the world because men has become inherently sinful. But by the coming and ministry of Jesus Christ, God is restoring the world to righteousness.

So in this baptism, we see the complete identification of the Son of God with sinful man. He that is without sin was baptised like sinful man, that He may be the sin offering.

If Christ's baptism testifies of His complete identification with man, our baptism speaks of our complete identification with Christ, being buried in Him and being raised in Him.

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death:

We should not discount the spiritual reality of testimony whether in word or deed. We often see our baptism or breaking bread as just symbolism, and take it lightly. But we see from Christ's baptism that it was hugely significant. Christ Himself said that His baptism fulfilled all righteousness. Then the Holy Spirit anointed Him, the heaven open and the Father spoke. And it was the start of His public ministry.

My thoughts turn to our own activities like baptism, breaking bread, prayer etc. They are all our actions or activities that should be our spiritual testimonies. We should do them with the right heart and not go beyond the faith God has given us. But equally important is that if we have the faith we should be doing these activities that testify of our faith, thereby also fulfilling righteousness in our actions.

God's diverse ways

This week as I pondered on the message of Matthew chapter 2, my thoughts turn towards the diversity of God's ways.

From the Magi (led by God) who journeyed far just to come to the presence of the Lord to worship Him. No doubt they were men of great standing in the ancient world to be received by Herod himself but their purpose was worship.

To Joseph and Mary, who in their quiet and humble lives were entrusted with the glorious and enormous task of bringing up Jesus into adulthood.

Then there was John, who prepared the way for the Lord's ministry destined to end up in prison and beheaded, but praised by the Lord.

Then there were Simeon and Anna etc.

The Lord showed that He had fulfilled His promises. He did not need men's co-ordination or planning. He uses faithful men and women, in their particular corners to weave the tapestry of his testimony.

I think one of the mistakes we often make is to impose on God, insisting that He must work according to the way that He has worked in our lives or in our church. God can and do use many diverse ways to accomplish His purpose.