Today’s reading for reflection is simply entitled “Repent” and is written by William Willimon of Duke Divinity school. He focuses on the requirement of dying to self for discipleship. He brings into focus the baptism of Jesus and the powerful imagery of Christ going down into the depths. Willimon points out that Jesus used baptism to illustrate his impending death on the cross and to call his disciples to holy self-denial as well.
In reading, I was introduced to a new Greek term, metanoia. It simply means “to change one’s mind” but is tied to spiritual conversion and the idea of a changed heart. From Willimon, “ Jesus’ ‘baptism’, begun in the Jordan and completed on Golgotha, is repentance, self-denial, metanoia to the fullest.” Jesus, himself, did not need a changing of the mind/heart because he was not gripped by sin. Yet, He who became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) walked the path of repentance to show us how but also to enable our repentance. Death is scary, lonely, and dark but Christ went down into death. He felt it, he submitted to it and came out victorious. As we die to ourselves, our sin, our worldly values and perspectives, we come to life in Christ.
On our journey today may we see the going under in baptism as a challenge and an encouragement. May we be challenged to let our selfishness die. May we be encouraged that Christ not only enabled this change in us but demonstrated it Himself. We are on a journey down a trail that has been blazed by the “author and perfecter of our faith” may we endure with joy (Hebrews 12:2)
