New Life's Resolution: Matthew 3:1-17 - Baptism of Our Lord

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

According to most dog training experts, yes, you can!

A dog is always looking for guidance and direction, regardless of its age—and if that dog sees you as its calm, consistent leader, you can train it. Older dogs certainly will have had more time to develop bad habits which may demand more time and effort on your part, but all dogs live to please their owner. That is their purpose in life. 

But does the same rule apply to people?

You can never be too old to learn and master new skills. A person’s attitudes, values, and beliefs can all be changed. But most of the time, people are stubborn and set in their ways. We don’t seek out new information that challenges are prevailing assumptions and beliefs. We choose comfort over challenge; consistency over change. The worst habits are usually the hardest ones to break. And the biggest factor that separates human beings from our canine companions is that we are not inclined to surrender control over our lives to our Master, who is Christ the Lord. 

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This is the reason why John the Baptist clashes with the Pharisees and Sadducees who come out for baptism. Clearly, they were prominent and respected men, because how else would John and Matthew have known that they were Pharisees and Sadducees just by looking at them? Surely, they were as intrigued by John and his teachings as everyone else in the crowd had been. We know from the Gospels that John the Baptist was so charismatic that even King Herod Antipas, the demented egomaniac that he was, still enjoyed listening to John. 

But here’s what set them apart from the others in the crowd: the common folk were confessing their sins when they came forward for baptism. These prominent men were not. They were not seeking the radical transformation of their entire selves that baptism brings about. And why would they? They had much more to lose than the common people around them, namely, power, prestige, and wealth. Why would anyone seek new life if the one you have is just fine?

This is a serious problem, because the Christian faith is a transformative faith.

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, far too many will seek out baptism and follow Jesus solely for what they can get out of it. Some see Christianity as fire insurance; a way of making their reservations with God so that they know they’re guaranteed a place in heaven when they die. Some see Christianity as a means of securing the kind of life they want to live—the “name it and claim it” mindset behind Prosperity Theology, which is one of the greatest heresies afflicting the 21^st century church in America. Some Christians, however, are so discouraged and weighed down with fear, anxiety, or guilt that they doubt new life is even possible.

For as much as we get wrong about living the Christian life, do not forget that when you were baptized, Jesus was baptized into you every bit as much as you were baptized into him. When Jesus Christ lives in you and through you, you will be changed. To walk with Jesus is to embrace the change that he wants to bring about in you.

Very often, that change does not occur until everything in your life falls apart. When your strength fails; when you lose all control; when you can’t make sense of all that is happening, when there’s nothing else to hold onto; Christ takes hold of you, and you are born again. 

I’m sure that the people who responded to John the Baptist the most were in circumstances like those who responded to Jesus. They were broken and destitute, despised and rejected, lost and afraid; they knew that they were unrighteous and needed forgiveness; they recognized God’s grace as their only hope. 

If that sounds like a description of your life, you are standing on the precipice of new life. Let go of all the fear, bitterness, and shame and embrace the grace.

If, on the other hand, you enjoy comfort, security, and an abundance of daily bread, praise God! But remember that God has given you these things to be a blessing to others. But focusing only on yourself, on the other hand, means that you’re closing yourself off to amazing grace. 

One of the most important spiritual practices that we talk far too little about is letting go. The number one reason why you won’t grow in your faith is because you’re holding on to so many other things. This includes painful things, like shame, fear, grudges, and bitterness; but also the things we value to the point we feel we cannot live without. We seek out power and possessions to give us control, to make us feel secure, and to gain the approval and envy of others. When you pursue and hold tightly to these things, you will be spiritually dead. 

But you were created to live for the glory of your Master, who is Christ the Lord. Why not make it your new year’s resolution to let go and let God? There’s no need to hold on tightly to anything because Jesus has given you his everything. The things that truly matter in life matter to God, including the people you care about—and that your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met. 

No Christian should live in fear of the unknown, because God creates new beginnings out of life’s inevitable endings. There is so much that Jesus wants you to learn, to experience, and to accomplish in him. 

So, make it your spiritual new year’s resolution to make letting go a regular subject of your prayers, so that the grace of Christ, the peace of Christ, and the love of Christ may abound in you.