A Better Plan – January 13, 2020

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?”
Matthew 3:13,14

A Better Plan

You can understand why John the Baptist was hesitant to baptize Jesus, can’t you? He was going to baptize Jesus? That seems oh-so-backward, doesn’t it? Consider the contrast: John was mortal; Jesus was immortal. John knew a few things; Jesus knew everything. Perhaps most importantly, John was a sinful human being; Jesus was perfect.

And so, yes, we can understand why John tried to deter Jesus. Jesus’ plan just didn’t make any sense to John. So, John thought he needed to deter Jesus because John thought he had a better idea!

Wait. A sinful human being thought that he had a better idea than God? Really? Yes, really!

And, how easy it is for us to do it, too. How easy it is to question God’s plans for our lives. Or, how easily we think or act in ways which are contrary to God’s Word, which is really saying, “No, Lord, I have a better idea.”

Amazingly, Jesus didn’t get angry at John or even chastise John. Instead, Jesus simply, said, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). What patient grace!

And God will always show that amazing, patient grace to you, too—over and over again.

Oh, and by the way; you can also count on the fact that God’s ideas will always be better than your ideas!

Prayer:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. Please show me your patient grace, O Savior, even when I question You. Amen.