2nd Wednesday (December 10). Expectations of Jesus

Prepare to Listen.  This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.
 
Prayerfully Read Matthew 3:11-17
11 [John the Baptist said,] “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  12His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then he consented. 
16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him.  17And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
What do you think of John’s description of Jesus in verse 12?  How does it compare with your view?
 
It seems John had a narrow view of Messiah, one focused on punishment and ridding the world of evil and wrong doers.  He explained Messiah’s work with terms that describe judgment—fire, winnowing-fork, clearing the threshing floor.  He warned the people, as Wright notes, that Messiah will “sort you out … he’ll clean up God’s farm so that only the good wheat is left!”[1]  Then Jesus came, and John was surprised.  He wasn’t a judge with tools of destruction, but one of the many penitents waiting for baptism.  This wasn’t one who would sweep away all who failed to repent and change.  He wasn’t what John expected, so he protested when Jesus requested baptism.
 
Some concepts of Jesus today are as narrow as John’s.  Some warn us of God’s judgment (as in punishment) if we fail to live up to God’s standards as defined by them.  They expect a Jesus who will destroy their enemies, sweep away people who practice different moral codes, support different theological beliefs and political ideologies.  They even protest when hearing about Jesus’ sayings and actions that reveal he was humble, inclusive in showing mercy and forgiving sinners, was gentle and opposed to violence to destroy an enemy.  That’s not the Jesus they know or want.  John also struggled to accept the humble Jesus who identified with sinners.  He protested when Jesus came for baptism.  But he obeyed him, even though this wasn’t the Messiah he expected.  And that’s when he heard God’s remarkable words about God’s Son, Jesus.
 
What’s your view of Jesus and how does Matthew’s Gospel challenge or affirm it?  If our view is distorted, we’ll miss God’s words.
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord Jesus you always come in unexpected ways.  Keep me open and willing to learn more of you and let you change my expectations of who you are and what you do.  Amen.
 
Live Obediently.  See Jesus truly, not as you want him to be.
[1] Wright, N. T.  Matthew for Everyone, Part I.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.  2004, p. 21.