Or: Tossing off the Baggage of Lies.
Once again live in Church House studio, but missing a co-host, we glide into
our Meet the Hosts segment to give an update on doctor appointments, and
upcoming surgery for Chris. We also had a house full of kids for the past week,
reminding grandma and grandpa why people stop having them. Hey, we love the
kids, but admittedly, the house hasn't had the need to be child proof for some
time, and it shows. Plus you get reminded of how noisy, messy, andsmelly little
kids can be. It was good to have them over for their Spring break, and leading
into Easter weekend.
Trying a new approach, we look at some Dumb News headlines, and comment on what
the story was like based on the headline. No quizzes, just weird people, doing
weird things.
Main Topic
To roll into our topic of who John the Baptist was, Keith talks about the
merits of using labels or descriptions. Labels are good shorthand, as long as
both parties in the conversation understand what it means. Descriptions may be
cumbersome, but go a long way to put a well crafted definition to a matter.
Does the label still fit, after the thing is described? Or is there still
baggage that clings, and refuses to break free of baggage, bias, and
assumptions?
John 1:19-28 (ESV)
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
21 And they asked him,
"What then? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."
22 So they said to him,
"Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say
about yourself?"
23 He said,
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, '
Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ,
nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
26 John answered them,
"I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to
untie."
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was
baptizing.
Profile of John:
He bore witness
He emphatically claimed he was not Messiah. ((confessed and did not deny. v20)
He was not Elijah, or the prophet. (Wasn't he? Didn't he know he was? see
politics)
His claim was to quote Isaiah. (Descriptions, not label)
He was the one crying in the wilderness.
Making straight the path of the lord.
John Answers regarding baptism:
John's was of water, (other gospels make it more clear, water vs spirit and
fire baptism.)
John claims: One is coming who they don't know.
(also see preceding verses. 6-8 and 15)
(Also: The word coming to his own, and not being known.)
Messiah was already in their midst, and they haven't recognized him.
The one coming is one John wasn't worthy of lacing his shoes. (emphatic through
all the gospels)
Profile on Scribes and Pharisees:
Sent by the jews.
v24 clarifies they were messengers, sent by the Scribes and Pharisees.
See Politics.
The questions:
(They were right to ask, and validate his authenticity as a prophet. But they
had other motives. politics.)
Asked if he was Elijah, or the prophet. (labels, not description)
(Who are you? What do you say about yourself?)
What's this baptizing?
(They had never read about it. Was it connected in some way to the prophet?)
Location:
Other side (East side) of the Jordan.
Symbolic of the entering of the promised land. (shedding a stiff necked
generation)
Repenting, prepared to receive the promise.
Politics:
Scribes and Pharisees had become lovers of money, paying shallow, surface
appearance to worship. .
Jesus: Called them hypocrites, white washed tombs, clean on the outside, but
not the inside, and more.
The traditional belief:
The prophet, and Messiah were promised. They would come.
The tradition was that a new political power would be set up.
As insiders to the profession of keeping God's word, they expected to be with
the in crowd.
John's ministry fulfilled the truth of the prophecy, but without the baggage.
Breaking the mold of their traditional expectations, this might rock the boat
for them. By John's avoided use of the label of "the prophet", or "Elijah", he
didn't play into the political tradition, or attempt to lead them further into
their false security.
John answers regarding his identity:
Emphatic. (Each gospel records similar confrontations)
Not the prophet,
Not the Messiah,
One is coming who he isn't worthy to touch his shoes.
John described his call, not his title.
Religious leaders heard well defined answers, but didn’t hear.
They saw the witness, but didn’t see.
John's message of repentance must have been powerful. Many were baptized.
Religious leaders were curious, and gave him attention.
Elsewhere, Jesus was clear that John was Elijah, or came in the spirit and
power of him. From other gospel descriptions, his physical appearance was
similar, even including his diet, and clothes. Being so clear and emphatic may
seem silly today, but it needed to be clear for the time.
keith <http://podcast.heltsley.net/?author=2> | April 18, 2017 at 8:55 am |
URL: http://wp.me/p5uvFj-8z ;<http://wp.me/p5uvFj-8z>
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