Dearest e-votees-
Our appointed gospel reading comes from the first chapter of John
For a second week our emphasis is on John the Baptist.
Peace,
Karl
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6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for 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, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:6-8, 19-28, NRSV
John, like Mark last week, has none of the familiar Christmas birth details--no Mary, no Joseph, no census, no star, no shepherds, no angels, no wise men--none of that. There is the poetic and beautiful prologue of John which resonates so well with the beginning of Genesis. And then the text turns to John the Baptist:
The religious leaders come out and question John about who he is and why he is baptizing people.
He denies that he is the Messiah. He denies that he is Elijah (which the Messiah takes some issue with--see Matthew 11:11-15 and Matthew 17:9-13). He denies that he is the prophet. He self-identifies as the one Isaiah described as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” John the Baptist finds his roots and grounding in the Old Testament prophesies. Jesus also finds his roots and grounding in the Old Testament prophesies--he opened his ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4:16 ff. which quotes our appointed Old Testament text from Isaiah. John understands the work to which he has been called. He is grounded and rooted and steps courageously into the call God has given him. Jesus calls him the greatest born among women (see Matthew 11:11a).
John also knows that he is not the end all. He is sent to point towards another. He directs people towards one whose sandal straps he isn't worthy to loose. He is helping usher people into the kingdom of heaven. Anyone, even the least, who makes it into the kingdom of heaven is greater than John (see Matthew 11:11b). John must become smaller in order that Christ must become greater. John understands the passing nature of the work to which he has been called. He is rooted and grounded in that calling so he can humbly fade to the background.
God, give us courage to step into the bold callings you have on our lives. God, give us humility to let ourselves fade to the back so that you and your plans might come to the fore. Amen.
Our appointed gospel reading comes from the first chapter of John
For a second week our emphasis is on John the Baptist.
Peace,
Karl
------------
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said,
‘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, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John, like Mark last week, has none of the familiar Christmas birth details--no Mary, no Joseph, no census, no star, no shepherds, no angels, no wise men--none of that. There is the poetic and beautiful prologue of John which resonates so well with the beginning of Genesis. And then the text turns to John the Baptist:
The religious leaders come out and question John about who he is and why he is baptizing people.
He denies that he is the Messiah. He denies that he is Elijah (which the Messiah takes some issue with--see Matthew 11:11-15 and Matthew 17:9-13). He denies that he is the prophet. He self-identifies as the one Isaiah described as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” John the Baptist finds his roots and grounding in the Old Testament prophesies. Jesus also finds his roots and grounding in the Old Testament prophesies--he opened his ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4:16 ff. which quotes our appointed Old Testament text from Isaiah. John understands the work to which he has been called. He is grounded and rooted and steps courageously into the call God has given him. Jesus calls him the greatest born among women (see Matthew 11:11a).
John also knows that he is not the end all. He is sent to point towards another. He directs people towards one whose sandal straps he isn't worthy to loose. He is helping usher people into the kingdom of heaven. Anyone, even the least, who makes it into the kingdom of heaven is greater than John (see Matthew 11:11b). John must become smaller in order that Christ must become greater. John understands the passing nature of the work to which he has been called. He is rooted and grounded in that calling so he can humbly fade to the background.
God, give us courage to step into the bold callings you have on our lives. God, give us humility to let ourselves fade to the back so that you and your plans might come to the fore. Amen.
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