Jack Hardaway
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A forgotten old bucket sits outside, dry and full of dust. The rain starts to fall and the bucket slowly fills up until it overflows. Filled full. Fulfilled.
The bucket fulfills its obligation, its purpose when it holds water.
The Holy Spirit broods over creation at the beginning, creation is fulfilled when God’s breath enters the dust formed flesh of humanity, filled full with the stuff of life. Fulfilled.
John the Baptist concedes the point and agrees to Baptize Jesus, even though it makes no sense to him, it fulfills all righteousness, God’s intention, desire and command are fulfilled, filled full when the water flows and the Spirit descends and anoints. God wanted John and Jesus to be connected in this moment of Epiphany, of the Beloved, in whom God is well pleased.
It fulfilled God’s will that Jesus be anointed as the Messiah when John immersed him in the river. An obligation was met, a commandment obeyed, a purpose was met. Filled full. Overflowing.
Each of the four Gospels is unique. One of the striking things about Matthew’s good news story is the language and significance of fulfillment. Over and over again Jesus fulfills scripture and righteousness. Not meaning that scripture foretold a particular event, it isn’t about predicting the future, it isn’t fortune telling.
It means that God desired and commanded it, and that Jesus obeys, filling full his purpose and obligation as God’s son. Matthew is the Gospel of fulfillment, of being filled full, of purpose and obligation and command being met, like Jesus and John meeting in the wilderness. The Gospel of overflowing.
Jesus fills full the purpose of scripture.
Jesus fills full the purpose of righteousness.
It is a mysterious and awesome thing to consider when Matthew points this out over and over again. Do we want to know the purpose of scripture? Look at Jesus. Do we want to know what righteousness is? Look at Jesus.
It is God’s will that the Holy Spirit breathe into creation once more in Jesus when John baptizes him in the Jordan. It was not a solitary occasion. It brought people together. God moved through John.
Faith is like that. We come to faith through other people. We receive the Holy Spirit through other people.
We are fulfilled when that life moves through us into others, and when we receive that life from others. It is like Jesus and John meeting in the wilderness and God breathing life into creation once more.
Bringing us together. Filling full and overflowing the purpose of our humanity. Sharing in what makes for life. Righteousness becomes clear. Scripture becomes holy rather than servile.
Jesus does these things and we see Jesus when we see these things happen.
Jesus reveals that God is like this. Filling things full of purpose. Overflowing.
You ever feel like a forgotten dusty old bucket?
Be fulfilled.
We now renew our baptismal covenant.