Matthew 3:13-15 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.

I’m not sure I had ever thought deeply before about the fact that Jesus had made the trip from Galilee to where John was, specifically to be baptized. It was probably several days walk, and it was evidently a conscious embarkation on His ministry. We don’t know what the trigger was, but it seems probable that it was the death of Joseph, and that He set out after the standard period of mourning. We also don’t know how well Jesus and John knew each other, since they were relatives, and whether John’s hesitation to baptize Jesus came from direct revelation or simply from knowing what sort of person He was. However, Jesus was not to be deterred, and it is interesting how He chose to explain it: “that we may fulfill all right things.” He wanted to dot all the “i”s and cross all the “t”s before starting His public ministry. As the Son of God, He wasn’t going to claim any privilege and say, “I don’t need to do that.” Today we want to take shortcuts for anything and everything, but that wasn’t how Jesus operated, and His Father certainly responded to His obedience.

In my avoidance of legalism I have tended to go for shortcuts myself. I wonder how many blessings I’ve missed in the process? I need to be willing to dot all the “i”s and cross all the “t”s myself, knowing that God rewards faithfulness. At the same time, I am not to despise the liberty of the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17) I don’t have wisdom to keep it all straight, so I need to focus first on hearing God and walking in obedience. I also need to learn from Jesus that there is a right time for every activity, and seek God’s schedule for my life. Just as Jesus didn’t start His public ministry until the Father said to do so, and just as His arrest and crucifixion didn’t happen until the right time, I need to be willing to wait and willing to move at God’s direction, and not insist on my own timetable. At the same time, I’m not to use that as an excuse for laziness or impulsiveness. God knows what I need to be doing and when I am to do it far better than I do, and I need to listen and obey.

Father, thank You for the further training in this that You are giving us right now. Various things are not happening/have not happened on the schedule I would have chosen, and I need to let go of them and rest, relax, and rejoice in You. You have indeed poured grace upon grace out on us, and I need to recognize that and give You the thanks and praise You deserve. I ask for strength and wisdom for today’s activities, and for faith and trust not to be anxious about tomorrow’s. May my trust and obedience be an example for others, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!