Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Reflection
Baptism is how Christians demonstrate that they identify themselves with Jesus and his kingdom. John was surprised to see Jesus coming to him for baptism because, as John had just said, he was baptizing those who needed to turn away from their sin (Matt. 3:11). However, even though Jesus never sinned, he came to John to be baptized in order to show his followers the importance of this symbolic action.
Romans 2:12-24
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Reflection
Paul continues to explain humanity’s separation from God due to their sin. There are two kinds of people on earth: those “without the law,” known as Gentiles (non-Jews); and those “under the law,” the Jews (Rom. 2:12). Gentiles have an inner awareness of God’s moral demands (v. 15) but do not live up to their own sense of right and wrong. Jews are descendants of Abraham and of Moses, who received the law from God. But God is not pleased with people based on their lineage: he wants his people to obey what he told them to do (v. 13). Paul charges the Jews (his own people; see 9:3; 10:1; 11:1) with dishonoring God by violating the law he gave them (2:23). This gives God a bad name among the Gentiles.
Paul will eventually turn from his focus on sin and judgment to talk about the gospel (see 3:21). But this portion of Romans helps us understand the true sinfulness of humanity. Readers and hearers of Romans can be confident that all this bad news will help us more clearly see the beauty of the good news that Paul will begin sharing in the next chapter.
Psalm 138:6
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
Because we are all guilty of sin, our hearts should take a humble posture before God, admitting our need for his salvation. Cultivate this humility by openly sharing with God several ways in which you are aware of your need for Christ today.