When Jesus Gets in Line

What happens when our expectations collide with God's plan? This reflection on Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:13-17 invites us into one of the most perplexing moments in Scripture: the sinless Son of God stepping into waters meant for repentant sinners. John the Baptist's confusion mirrors our own when God's ways don't align with our understanding. Yet in this seemingly backwards moment, we discover profound truth about identification, obedience, and divine approval. Jesus doesn't distance himself from us in our brokenness—he steps right into line with us, inaugurating his ministry not by separating from sinners but by standing among them. This isn't about Jesus needing cleansing; it's about fulfilling righteousness through radical obedience to the Father's will. The heavens opening, the Spirit descending like a dove, and the Father's voice declaring approval—all before Jesus performed a single miracle—reminds us that God's pleasure rests on identity in Christ, not achievement. We're challenged to embrace participation and obedience in God's saving plan, even when we don't fully understand the next step. Sometimes faithfulness means taking the journey without knowing every detail of the destination.