NOTES for Mat 3:13-15
Jesus comes to John… Is it not surprising that He comes himself, instead of John going to Him? But this is His style: He will always henceforth come Himself to all and everywhere; always the first and unrecognizable, though expected.
They will know each other … Special language – language of love to the Scripture, language filled with the Scripture and consisting of Scripture’s words. “Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me” (Ps 101:2) – It is not only a question, but a prayer and an expectation of many years in john’s life, many generations of righteous persons. Jesus’ answer is full of psalms’ words. “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” (Ps 103:17-18). And “Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times” (Ps 106:3). And again “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (Ps 119:160). Finally, blessing words from Deuteronomy: “And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel…” (Deut 33:21). “A portion of the lawgiver” is Jesus himself. He has been chosen by the Most-high for the special service, unprecedented and unique. He is henceforth the stumbling stone till the end of times. John didn’t stumble and didn’t fall. Recognizing in Him the Messiah, he humbles himself, giving Him everything, even his favorite disciples. They – John the future evangelist and apostle of love, and Andrei bring immediately Simon, then Phillip and Naphanail.
The kernel of the community of future disciples was formed few days after the baptism. Who was capable to such an unprecedented generous gift? Would we not hear in Christ’s multiple parables on gifts a hint to John? This sounds in Jesus’ words about the widow’s mite: “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luc 21:3-4). Jesus takes the gift from John, as the free gift of baptism, because the “accomplishment of truth” giving by the Heavenly Father is proper to Him: bestow to people paradise on earth, drive them into the Kingdom of Heaven. He will proclaim, preach, and teach many parables from now on. And very soon will come the moment when He will propose absolutely to everyone entry into the Kingdom as a new covenant concluded in His blood.
He Himself is the door to the Kingdom of Heaven
He Himself is the way to the kingdom of Heaven
He Himself is the truth, which is the core of the life to come in the Kingdom of Heaven
He Himself is the life, which is the Kingdom of Heaven itself.
But tragic and awful is His question to us: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luc 18:8).