Daily Devotional
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him."
Matthew 3:13
It is easy to read past this verse as a mere geographic footnote. Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan. But consider what this means: Jesus traveled approximately 70 miles to reach John the Baptist. This was no casual stroll or accidental encounter. Jesus made a deliberate, intentional journey to be baptized.
The scene at the Jordan was anything but calm. Crowds of people were crying out their sins publicly, confessing their deepest failures and shame. Tax collectors, prostitutes, soldiers, and religious leaders alike were wading into that muddy river, unloading the weight of their guilt before God. And into this chaotic scene of raw confession, Jesus deliberately walked.
He did not stumble upon this scene by accident. He did not happen to be in the neighborhood. He walked 70 miles with a purpose: to stand in line with sinners. This tells us something profound about our Savior. Jesus does not wait for us to clean ourselves up and come to Him. He comes to us. He enters into the mess of our lives. He travels whatever distance is necessary to reach us in our need.
Today, remember that Jesus came looking for you. Whatever shame you carry, whatever failures haunt you, He has already made the journey to meet you there.
Today's Challenge
What does it mean to you that Jesus deliberately traveled to where sinners were rather than waiting for them to come to Him? How does this change the way you approach Him with your own struggles and failures?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for not waiting for me to get my life together before coming to me. Thank You for traveling whatever distance was necessary to reach me in my sin and shame. Help me to grasp the depth of Your love that would walk 70 miles to stand with sinners like me. Today, I receive Your pursuit of me as evidence of Your unfailing love. Amen.
