T
he next day as John stood knee-deep in the waters of the Jordan river. His camelhair tunic lay in a heap on the riverbank, his hairy chest heaving in rhythmic cadence to his words as he preached to the people congregated on the shore. Unexpectedly his exhortations ceased. Hands arrested in mid-sentence lowered to his side. His eyes focused on a figure moving in the crowd.
Jesus stepped from the crowd into the water’s edge. A smile on his lips, Jesus removed his tunic and laid it beside John’s. “Greetings, cousin.” he said quietly.
It took a moment for John to find his tongue. When he did, he spoke not to Jesus, but to his hearers, "See now for yourselves!” voice trembling just above a whisper. Gesturing toward Jesus he exclaimed, “Here standing before us . . . is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Muttering softly, unheard among the crowd.
For John it all began to come back. He recalled the countless nights in which his mother had told him the story of his aunt Mary, and the birth of this cousin. Told him of what God had done. Told him of his own special birth to them in their old age. How many times had his father told him of how he was special to God. He had only seen Jesus a few times as they both grew up. They lived too far apart and even when the family came to Passover, the sheer number of people made it too difficult for much visiting to take place. But he knew Jesus well enough to recognize him easily. He knew enough to sense the exigency of the moment. Intuitively, he knew that Jesus had come to be baptized, yet . . .
Incredibly, he thought of that moment in the olive grove. He thought of the shame. Why has he come to me? It was a question of honest inquiry. I am the one in need of change. Not him! John did not understand. “I . . . I can’t do this . . .” John stammered.
"John, please. This is your hour, and mine. This is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness. It is what the Father wants. You will see in a moment."
They stood together in the river, John’s arm embracing the broad carpenter shoulders of his cousin. Turning again to the crowd standing by he said, "This is he of whom I spoke, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize him at first. But I knew he was coming and I knew that I was sent to prepare the way for him. Now therefore, in order that he might be manifested to Israel, I baptize him in this water." Then Jesus knelt in the water and John laid him beneath the eddies.
