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Humility Always Precedes Exaltation

I’ve been reading (wrestling) through early passages in Matthew. My hope is to re-read through the Gospels with fresh eyes. Even in the early chapters of Matthew, I’m already finding new things.

One of which is the story told in Matthew 3:13-17, in which John the Baptist baptizes Jesus.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

A verse I was particularly struck by was 15; mainly because I had to camp out on “to fulfill all righteousness.” Honestly, I didn’t know what it was referring to. When I began centering on the idea that Jesus asked John to baptize him, I started thinking about what about that act fulfills all righteousness. I drew several conclusions:

– To fulfill God’s plan?
– Does righteousness = obedience to God (being obedient to baptism)?
– Does the word “fulfill” refer to prophecy that He would be baptized?
– To remain sinless (being obedient to the ritual of baptism)?

Reading Matthew Henry’s commentary, I realized something new about all this. I knew it was an act of humility; a submission to ritual, even (maybe even to maintain the “sinless” status?). Henry helped me to remember, though, that this wasn’t the only time Jesus showed humility (in this specific form). He washed Peter’s feet. And in like manner with this passage, Peter “forbade” him to wash his feet. Like John “forbade” Him to receive baptism from John.

Interesting correlation. My main take-away (among others in the future, I’m sure): “Humility always precedes exaltation.”

What do you think?