Dearest e-votees-
Our appointed text for this coming Sunday is the first 8 verses of the Gospel of Mark.
It is interesting to see what level of detail Mark has about the birth and early childhood of Jesus.
Peace,
Karl
------------
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:1-8, NRSV
In Mark the beginning of the good news (aka the Gospel) of Jesus Christ is found in the prophecy in Isaiah. The fulfillment of the prophecy is found in the ministry of baptism of John at the river Jordan.
We have records in Mark of neither angels nor shepherds; neither betrothals nor virgin births; neither extraordinary star nor ensuing gift bearing wise men; neither divinely caused inability of speech nor divinely inspired uttered Magnificats; neither newborn king nor attempted assassination of said king. Mark offers none of the Nativity details of Matthew and Luke (which are often hopelessly conflated) but rather begins with the account of John baptizing.
John is dressed in the garment of a prophet and was proclaiming that people should repent and be washed in preparation for the one who was yet to come (no mention of the familial connection). John isn't worthy to even touch the shoestrings of the one who is coming (in contrast to that one washing the feet of all of the apostles if we fold the testimony of the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John into the story). There is one coming who is holy and to be treated with great respect. Yet this one to come puts aside this regard and takes his place among saints and sinners both, among religious leaders and tax collectors, at the basin with a towel and on the cross with a mocking crown. Jesus comes but not as John expects which explains his dispatch from prison in both Matthew and Luke asking if Jesus was really the one to come.
Jesus comes into this world but not as we'd expect. We need the Holy Spirit to help us see and believe in the message he bears. Thankfully Jesus gives the Holy Spirit away just as John gives away opportunities for repentance. As we linger in Advent waiting for Jesus to come into the manger liturgically and to usher in the full reign of God at the end of all time perhaps we might trust that God, the Holy Spirit, will continue to draw us into these holy promises.
God, blow your Holy Spirit into our waiting that we might have revelation and hope; power and wisdom; peace and joy. Give us courage and faith to trust that the good news that began in Jesus Christ will find its end there too all to your glory. Amen.
Our appointed text for this coming Sunday is the first 8 verses of the Gospel of Mark.
It is interesting to see what level of detail Mark has about the birth and early childhood of Jesus.
Peace,
Karl
------------
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In Mark the beginning of the good news (aka the Gospel) of Jesus Christ is found in the prophecy in Isaiah. The fulfillment of the prophecy is found in the ministry of baptism of John at the river Jordan.
We have records in Mark of neither angels nor shepherds; neither betrothals nor virgin births; neither extraordinary star nor ensuing gift bearing wise men; neither divinely caused inability of speech nor divinely inspired uttered Magnificats; neither newborn king nor attempted assassination of said king. Mark offers none of the Nativity details of Matthew and Luke (which are often hopelessly conflated) but rather begins with the account of John baptizing.
John is dressed in the garment of a prophet and was proclaiming that people should repent and be washed in preparation for the one who was yet to come (no mention of the familial connection). John isn't worthy to even touch the shoestrings of the one who is coming (in contrast to that one washing the feet of all of the apostles if we fold the testimony of the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John into the story). There is one coming who is holy and to be treated with great respect. Yet this one to come puts aside this regard and takes his place among saints and sinners both, among religious leaders and tax collectors, at the basin with a towel and on the cross with a mocking crown. Jesus comes but not as John expects which explains his dispatch from prison in both Matthew and Luke asking if Jesus was really the one to come.
Jesus comes into this world but not as we'd expect. We need the Holy Spirit to help us see and believe in the message he bears. Thankfully Jesus gives the Holy Spirit away just as John gives away opportunities for repentance. As we linger in Advent waiting for Jesus to come into the manger liturgically and to usher in the full reign of God at the end of all time perhaps we might trust that God, the Holy Spirit, will continue to draw us into these holy promises.
God, blow your Holy Spirit into our waiting that we might have revelation and hope; power and wisdom; peace and joy. Give us courage and faith to trust that the good news that began in Jesus Christ will find its end there too all to your glory. Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment