Anthony Esolen writes that the mistakes of our day are born of over-familiarity. He says that with over-familiarity steals a weariness of the intellect and the imagination.
John's ministry awakened the minds and imaginations of the Jewish leadership of his day. It seems their minds were alarmed because he had failed to go through official channels before creating such a stir in all Jerusalem with his un-orthodox actions. In their imaginations, they could see this getting out of control - out of their control.
His ministry was a riddle. He failed to answer their questions regarding his identity and his actions. In answer to their questions of his identity, he replied that he was only a voice - but a voice whose message implied momentous events. He refused to explain his actions - actions that called on Jews to assume the place of Gentile converts - humiliate themselves in baptism in order to enter the Kingdom. His mindset was a riddle as well - humility, not self-importance. Why was he unworthy to untie someone's sandals - who is he talking about?
His explanations were riddles. He told them, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me." It only makes sense in light of what we have already read in John.
The most extraordinary riddle of all concerned the man whom he claimed not to know, but whose identity had been revealed to him. He was, "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Why the world - Israel is our concern? He was the one on whom he saw "the Holy Spirit come down and remain." That had never happened before. - what's this all about? He is, "the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." His testimony was that "this is God's chosen one." You mean this average looking guy who's standing in the crowd that we don't even know? When do we get to meet him to examine his credentials?
John turned their brains into scrambled eggs - the leaders that is. They knew what to expect. They were the learned ones -familiar with the ways of God. But for those in Israel who were turned off with the leaders deadening familiarity, John's message had an edge of exceptional life to it, and it created an unfamiliar expectancy.
As you travel the familiar terrain of this gospel, is there a weariness to your mind and dullness to your imagination. The problem is not with the story.
John's ministry awakened the minds and imaginations of the Jewish leadership of his day. It seems their minds were alarmed because he had failed to go through official channels before creating such a stir in all Jerusalem with his un-orthodox actions. In their imaginations, they could see this getting out of control - out of their control.
His ministry was a riddle. He failed to answer their questions regarding his identity and his actions. In answer to their questions of his identity, he replied that he was only a voice - but a voice whose message implied momentous events. He refused to explain his actions - actions that called on Jews to assume the place of Gentile converts - humiliate themselves in baptism in order to enter the Kingdom. His mindset was a riddle as well - humility, not self-importance. Why was he unworthy to untie someone's sandals - who is he talking about?
His explanations were riddles. He told them, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me." It only makes sense in light of what we have already read in John.
The most extraordinary riddle of all concerned the man whom he claimed not to know, but whose identity had been revealed to him. He was, "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Why the world - Israel is our concern? He was the one on whom he saw "the Holy Spirit come down and remain." That had never happened before. - what's this all about? He is, "the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." His testimony was that "this is God's chosen one." You mean this average looking guy who's standing in the crowd that we don't even know? When do we get to meet him to examine his credentials?
John turned their brains into scrambled eggs - the leaders that is. They knew what to expect. They were the learned ones -familiar with the ways of God. But for those in Israel who were turned off with the leaders deadening familiarity, John's message had an edge of exceptional life to it, and it created an unfamiliar expectancy.
As you travel the familiar terrain of this gospel, is there a weariness to your mind and dullness to your imagination. The problem is not with the story.
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Bob & Bloggers here is a poem about John the Baptist
ReplyDeletePrepare ye the way
Dwelling in the wilderness
Wandering
Listening
For a voice
But only silence exists
Covered by raucous amplifications
Of consumptive life
The clamor of zealots
Full of themselves
Absent of compassion
Excluding humanity
Centuries of Silence
Exceed the forty year wandering
Resulting in orphans
Out of the muteness
A herald arises
Bizarre unkempt
Breaking all traditions
Truth wounds
The indignant
The self righteous
But is a gift
To sojourners
And pilgrims
Out of the desert
Of nothingness
Hope springs forth
A voice calling out
“Prepare the way
Make straight the path”
John 1:23
©Ed Northen