Thunder in the Desert

From Darkness to Light 
God Prepares the Way
John the Baptist
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

John 1:15-28 The Message

15 John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word."

16-18 We all live off his generous abundance,
    gift after gift after gift.
We got the basics from Moses,
    and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
This endless knowing and understanding—
    all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
No one has ever seen God,
    not so much as a glimpse.
This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
    who exists at the very heart of the Father,
    has made him plain as day.

Thunder in the Desert

19-20 When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn't evade the question. He told the plain truth: "I am not the Messiah."

21 They pressed him, "Who, then? Elijah?"

"I am not."

"The Prophet?"

"No."

22 Exasperated, they said, "Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself."

23 "I'm thunder in the desert: 'Make the road straight for God!' I'm doing what the prophet Isaiah preached."

24-25 Those sent to question him were from the Pharisee party. Now they had a question of their own: "If you're neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?"

26-27 John answered, "I only baptize using water. A person you don't recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I'm not even worthy to hold his coat for him."

28 These conversations took place in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing at the time.


For Reflection

These opening passages read like a spaghetti western. Scene 1: Colorful wagon is driven into town by a slick but poorly-dressed bearded man. Scene 2: The man sets up shop near the river. Scene 3: Curious people gather around. Scene 4: The commotion catches the attention of the town's skeptical religious leaders.

But this is no carnie leadman. This man is not drumming the latest snake oil cure. This is not the wild, wild west, and it is not by chance that John will play out his role as the first to herald Jesus as the Son of God. 

The poor and marginalized people who hungered for a savior, a messiah, to remove the domination of a broken religion and the Roman occupation received John's message with joy and renewed hope. The people were eager to be purified by the water, to cleanse and prepare themselves for the anticipated messiah. John was among the last of those whom God sent to elevate the people's expectations for salvation. 

Pray

Offer prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for God's willingness to show his face to the world in Jesus. Prayerfully approach Advent with the anticipation of those baptized by John. Pray and be ready to renew your commitment to the Way of Jesus.

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