The Burr in the Burgh

“And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. . . . At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the River (Mark 1)."

Do you remember that old Sesame Street ditty? There'd be three apple pies and one piece of chocolate cake and they'd sing:


One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

That's what come to my mind when I consider the baptism of Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, it is recorded that John strenuously tried to deter Jesus from being baptized. But the Lord said it must be done to fulfill all righteousness.

What was the Holy One of God doing there amongst all the sinners? He had no sins of His own to confess? Of what did He need to repent? He didn't need the baptism of John for His own sake. But the Righteous One became the Chief Sinner in order to pardon the truly guilty.