What my legs tell you about Jesus’ Baptism

As I’ve mentioned, I’m currently part of a Bible study in which we are working through St. Matthew’s Gospel. A couple of weeks ago we read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism…

This event is something of a head scratcher. I mean, who was it that had been coming to John for baptism? Sinners! So why did Jesus, the sinless Son of God, come to be baptized? What business had he there? In our perplexity, we are in good company since John the Baptist thought it kinda barmy too:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” – Matthew 3:13-14

So why did Jesus come to be baptized? During our discussion in the Bible Study I pointed at my legs and asked “What do these tell you?”

Hmmm…perhaps I should explain? Contrary to what you might think, I had not, in fact, completely lost my mind.

If you had been with us in the cafe that afternoon you would have seen that one of my legs was completely devoid of hair from the knee down.

Hmmm…perhaps I should explain that too?

One of my friends recently hurt his leg playing soccer/football and had to have surgery.  In preparation for his surgery, he had his right leg shaved below the knee. In response to this, a couple of my friends and I decided to shave our right legs as well, as a sign of solidarity.

My friends and I didn’t need surgery. We didn’t need to have our legs shaved. However, as far as possible, we went through the same process as our friend. We didn’t need the healing, but he certainly did…

So, returning then to Jesus, this is one possible reason why the Lord submitted Himself to be washed in the Jordan by John. In being baptized, the Saviour demonstrated His solidarity with the sinners He came to save.

How we get indignant when we’re accused of something falsely! This was not the way with Jesus though. To the rest of the world that day, He looked like just another sinner coming for baptism. However, he was not a sinner, but was instead the sinless one who had come to rescue us. We are the ones who need to be cleansed of sin. He invites us to follow Him into the waters and be reborn.

So, next time you hear the account of Jesus’ baptism, please think of me and my legs 🙂

This is, of course, only a partial answer as to why Jesus submitted Himself for Baptism. Much more could be said. If you’d like to learn more, I’d invite you to read Patrick Vandapool’s recent post on this subject.