Permit

“But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time”” Matthew 3:15

Permit – The first recorded word spoken by Jesus sets the stage for His entire ministry.  It is the right word for the beginning of a year and the beginning of a life.

In Greek, the word is aphes.  It is from a verb that combines apo (from) and hiemi (to send).  Do you see the sense of it?  “To send from” or “to send away”.  Now let’s paint the picture and see what it means.

John sees Jesus coming to him to be baptized.  John protests.  “No, Lord.  You should be baptizing me.”  But Jesus says, “John, it’s OK.  Let it go.”  Send away your concern, John.  Release yourself to my desire.  I know what is needed.  Just do what I ask.

Jesus wrote the original score for Paul McCartney’s hit Let It Be.  Jesus knew that life begins with letting it be.  He came to John in humility and asked John to just do what He wanted to be done.

“Don’t worry, John.  I know what is necessary.  I am in control here.  Just do what I ask.”

How often have we been confronted by this simple request?  “Just do what I ask”, says Jesus.  And we hesitate.  “No, Lord.  It doesn’t seem right to me.  You must be mistaken.”  But, of course, He isn’t.  He knows exactly what He is asking.  So He reminds us, “Just let it be.”

You can start this year in the water of the Jordan with John.  Jesus comes to you and to me.  He asks only one thing:  Just do what I ask.  Let the rest go.

Will you be able to do what John did?  Standing before him was the Son of Man.  John understood.  Aphes – let it go.  John took Jesus in his arms and fulfilled Jesus’ desire.  That is all we need to do.  Let the rest go.