The gospel writers had to make sense of the baptism of Jesus. They each developed a theological perspective to explain why the sinless Son of God would be baptized. St. Matthew captures the puzzlement that the Church faced in the interchange between John the Baptist and Jesus. Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Perhaps the questions arise because we have a difficult time accepting the radical embracing of Jesus’ humanity. Surely, we are tempted to think, as the Son of God he was a step above the rest of us not needing acceptance and consolation. The baptism is the counterpoint to that temptation. Jesus was truly one of us which means that we are one with him when God says to each one us along side of Jesus: “This is my beloved child with whom I am well pleased.”
