Not the Jesus He Wanted

Not the Jesus He Wanted
The Baptism of the Lord; Matthew 3:13-17
When Jesus came to John to be baptized,
the Baptist baulked, suggested roles reversed.
He wanted One whose power was recognized:
refining fire, not Human One immersed,
to surface breathless, shaking with the chill
of river running down a crack in earth.
“Now let it be,” said Jesus. “To fulfil
this rightness is shared sign of Spirit birth.”

Like John, we’d like our Jesus to aspire
to conquer evil, gather up the grain,
disposing of the chaff in judgement’s fire
so good will flourish without need of pain.
God’s Spirit came to Jesus like a dove,
a gentle creature, not a searing flame.
God’s voice assured him of his Father’s love,
well pleased he chose humility, not fame.

So when we want a Lord up in the sky
who reaches down to pull the puppets’ strings,
and sweeps away abusers from on high,
policing Earth with might on angel wings,
remember, Jesus lived to heal and teach;
he chose to share our suffering and death,
prayed desperately when God seemed out of reach,
forgave his enemies with laboured breath.

Now when Earth’s rulers claim God’s on their side
in war, harsh action and the need to win,
the god they worship is their power and pride.
Though propaganda justifies the sin,
their nation’s profit still is selfish gain.
The people who exemplify Christ’s way
do not hit back but face the risk and pain,
and sometimes bring to light a brighter day.
	Barbara Messner 7/01/2026