By Matthew Sherman, January 9, 2026
In this beautiful reflection, Matthew Sherman, a Saint John’s School of Theology faculty member, shows how Jesus asks us to follow in His obedience to the Father, through a posture of repentance — and a recognition that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who serve and don’t expect to be served.
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew Sherman serves as the Director of Lifelong Learning and Educational Effectiveness, as well as faculty in Moral Theology, at St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary. He and his family live in St. Joseph, MN.
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