John knew who Jesus was. He knew he was unworthy even to untie His sandals. He knew Jesus was the Lamb of God. So when Jesus came to be baptized, John’s reaction made sense: “I need to be baptized by You… and do You come to me?” Everything in John wanted to reverse roles. He felt inadequate, unqualified, too small for the moment. He tried to prevent it, because from his perspective this didn’t look right. But Jesus gently said, “Permit it.” Let it be. Let Me go first. Let Me do what I came to do. And Scripture says something subtle but powerful: Then he permitted Him. Before the heavens opened, before the Spirit descended, before the Father spoke love and delight over the Son… John had to release control. He had to stop resisting the way it “should” look. He had to surrender his understanding of order and worthiness, and simply obey. The blessing didn’t come when John had it all figured out. The blessing didn’t come when the moment made sense. The blessing came after surrender. John had to: step back allow Jesus to lead agree with God’s way even when it confused him make space for Jesus to fulfill righteousness first Then heaven opened. So often we long for God’s blessing, but we still want to hold the pen, define the plan, manage the moment, or tell God how it should work. We want heaven’s voice without surrender’s “permit it.” Yet God often blesses on the other side of letting Jesus go first—His will before ours, His timing before our comfort, His way before our logic. Jesus wasn’t correcting John; He was inviting him into partnership through surrender.

Where am I trying to “prevent” Jesus because the way He’s moving doesn’t match my expectations? What situation in my life needs the simple words: “Permit it, Lord—have Your way”?

Jesus, sometimes Your way confuses me. At times it feels backward or uncomfortable, and like John, I want to resist or rearrange the moment. Today I choose to permit it—to let You go first, to trust Your righteousness over my reasoning. I surrender my need for control and ask You to lead. Open my heart as You opened the heavens. Speak over me what is true, and align my life under Your will. You go first, Lord—and I will follow. Amen.