No Bearing

by Mary Luti | published on Mar 28, 2025

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. – Matthew 3:13-15 (NRSVUE) 

John is rattled. This isn’t right. I shouldn’t baptize you, Jesus. You should baptize me. But Jesus says, Baptize me anyway. It fulfills God’s purpose. So John consents. 

God’s purpose is that the one who needs no washing should be washed. That the one sent should be a sibling, not a judge. That creation should be healed not from high up, but from down low.  

This isn’t the only time the Gospels report a protest against divine humility. Remember the Last Supper? No, no, poor Peter cries when Jesus arrives at his feet with a towel and a bowl. This is wrong, I should wash your feet! But Jesus says, You can’t be mine unless you let me serve you, unless you’ve been bewildered by my bended knee. So Peter consents. 

Sometimes I think that we should think of the Christian life as one long flustered objection followed by a bewildered consent to the unthinkable. Sometimes I wonder if we are meant to live not sure of very much, but rather disoriented, upended, and undone by the undignified ministrations of a servant God.  

Such that if we immerse ourselves alongside neighbors in their need, if we lower ourselves to wash their feet, it’s not because we know what we’re doing, but because we’ve lost our bearings, the old ones that always urged us up. It’s because we who have been so vastly loved, so sweetly served, so surprised, have no bearings at all. Except for Christ. Who bends us towards earth, who sends us down.  

Prayer
Bewilder us, Jesus, with your bended knee. Make your downward way our own.

Mary Luti About the Author
Mary Luti is a long time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Way and numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.