David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Let it be

Matthew 3:15

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

The nature of sand castles is that they remain but for a short while before being washed away.
The nature of sand castles is that they remain but for a short while before being washed away.

Oh that we would remember that this life is but for a fleeting moment in the greater time span of eternity! It would help.

When Jesus came to be baptized by John, it was not what John expected nor what Jesus needed for His own sake. Naturally John hesitated: This isn’t right is the essence of his comment to Jesus. Jesus agrees, but goes on to say, in effect, “That’s OK, I know. For this moment I’ll endure this, for I am here to do and be all the the Father intends mankind to do and be.” [That’s the David Bahn paraphrase of John’s and Jesus’ conversation!]

Literally, Jesus says to John, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” I get two things from this small verse:

Jesus is willing to be in a place of undeserved discomfort, and misunderstood submission for a time. He knows it’s undeserved and misunderstood; but he also knows it is but for a relatively brief time. A friend used to say, “This life is just a speck of time when compared with all eternity!” Jesus came from eternity and was going back to the Father for all eternity.

Jesus and John are doing something that will further the cause of justice. Surely this is difficult to see! How does an admittedly unjust situation – the sinless Jesus steps into the muddy waters of the Jordan river to be baptized by one who called people to repentance – bring justice or further its cause? But this is the point: Justice is furthered whenever people put their faith in the Father. God is the final arbiter of justice. And he will see to it that justice is served.

It is easy to ignore the deep issues of justice relating forgiveness and justification. But Paul says in Romans 3:25-26 that, “God presented [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Jesus tells John, “Let it be so now.” He knew that God would make all things right. He entrusted Himself to the Father in all things. Today would be a good day to do the same – no matter what situation we may face.

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