Before the Proof

Context

Before Jesus does a single miracle, before he picks one disciple, before he says one famous line, he walks down to a river to get dunked by his cousin. He's about thirty. People in his hometown just know him as Mary's son. No sermons yet, no crowds, no resume.

The man doing the baptizing is John. Locust-eating, camel-hair-wearing, calling-Pharisees-snakes John, who's been telling everyone the Messiah is right around the corner.

Story

Jesus shows up at the Jordan and John clocks him immediately. You can almost hear the record scratch. The guy who's been pointing at the horizon turns around and the horizon is standing in front of him, asking to be baptized.

John tries to talk him out of it. Like a junior engineer being asked to interview the CEO. Jesus tells him, let it be this way.

So John does it. Jesus goes under, comes up dripping, and right there, before he's preached one sentence, the sky cracks open. A dove comes down and lands on him. Then a voice.

"This is my Son, whom I love. With him I am well pleased."

Pleased. Before the miracles, before the sermons, before the cross. Just for showing up at the river.

What We Learn

We live in a world that affirms you on the back end. Hit the number, post the win, then we'll tell you we're proud. Output first, love second.

The Father does it the other way around. He says the line before Jesus has done the work he came to do. You don't have to wonder if God will be pleased once you finally get it together.

Love doesn't show up after the proof. The proof shows up after the love.