From:?Gregory Fry
Today's Scripture:
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”?
So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.”?
“Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”?
So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.”?
Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”?
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
--John 1:6-8,19-28
Have you ever played a game like "Twenty Questions?" The idea is to guess what an object is in 20 questions or less. It can be quite entertaining--and quite frustrating. You either ask the "right" questions to come up with the right answer, or you waste your questions by heading in the wrong direction--you never quite "get" it. The same may be true of any investigation: it's often much easier to discover what something isn't than what it is--just ask my doctors!
In today's Scriptural account, we are given a scenario where a delegation is sent to ask John the Baptist questions about who he is. John is indeed questioned--and John answers the questions. Were these questions the right ones to ask? Did they really clarify what John was about to those who questioned him? Do they for us?
We are told that the questioners in this scene are sent from the Sanhedrin--consider that the "supreme court" of Jewish legal matters, headed by the high priest of the religious establishment. To be fair, it is their job to question and identify those who draw a following in preaching religious matters, and/or claiming to be in a particular religious role, such as "messiah". There were many "false prophets" then, just as there sadly are now.?
But the Pharisees were also jealous of?their?role,?and the privileges that came with it. They were the ones who wished to impress people with their "holiness" and status and lay down laws and regulations for others to follow.? John was threatening this exclusive franchise of theirs. People were coming from miles and miles away to hear him preach, and were commenting that he spoke with great authority. He was drawing followers.? Perhaps they could trap this upstart into making a claim that he could be prosecuted for.? Is this a delegation that really wants to find the "right" answers about John's ministry in the first place??
So, in our imagined game of "twenty questions" (actually only five questions in this case) we see that the interrogators are already off to a bad start.
The first question: "Who are you?" This time John answers the implied question: "I am not the Messiah." A lesser person might have been tempted to say something like "I know I am a compelling personality and I am drawing followers who think I preach wonderfully and I can see that it would be easy for you to mistake me for the messiah." John did not succumb to that temptation and his answer was unequivocal.? He is not claiming that status. So much for that trap.
The second question: "Well then are you Elijah?" John answers their direct question: "I am not." There is supreme irony to this question. Elijah was prophesied in the OT book of Malachi chapter 4 to return before "the great and terrible Day of The Lord." The questioners equated the coming of Elijah as preceding the coming of the messiah.? John has been preaching that a great one is coming.? He has said that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.? Therefore the "Day of the Lord" must be near.??
But where is Elijah?? The Day of the Lord cannot come until Elijah first appears on the scene.? So they ask: IS John Elijah, bodily returned? Had they asked if John had the role of Elijah the answer would have been entirely different. So close--but wrong question.
The third question: "Are you THE prophet?" "THE prophet" in this case is the one specifically mentioned in Deuteronomy, whereby Moses promised that one day God would raise up another prophet like himself. This prophet would speak and the people would listen to him.? The people have been listening to John. Perhaps he is that prophet. But John answers "No."
Note that each of John's denials become shorter and shorter, and more specific to the question as posed. John could have mentioned many things. He could have said he was the son of a priest. He could have said he was a man sent from God. He could have said that he was "A" prophet. He knew, however, that they were asking the wrong questions.
Finally, a question born of frustration from the previous "wrong" questions: "Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" Finally a "right" question, albeit inadvertently and for the wrong reason, and John answers in detail. He identifies himself with a prophecy from the Book of Isaiah: "A voice is calling: 'Clear the way for The Lord in the wilderness: make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.' " [Isaiah 40:3]
Herefore all questions asked had to do with office or specific status or who John claimed to BE, rather than what his ministry was ABOUT. They only cared who John WAS, not what he was preaching. When they finally asked what John had to say about himself, he told them. He identified only with a "voice." Who he "was" wasn't important--his message and ministry was.
Now the final question, and one which again demonstrates how far off the mark the questioners are: "Why are you baptizing then if you are not the Christ (messiah), and not Elijah, and not (THE) prophet?" John doesn't have a "degree." He's not "ordained" to do any of these things. He is no specific person who would be "sanctioned" to perform this activity. Lost in trivia and useless legalism.?
John doesn't even bother to address how his perceived "status" relates to his "right" to baptize. He simply responds: "I baptize with water; but there stands among you--unknown to you--the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal strap." Complete humility on John's part, yet imparting the most important message that his questioners needed to know--and seemed least interested in.
When approaching Jesus, it's easy to come up with the wrong questions, and therefore the wrong answers. Jesus can seem scary. If we ask Him questions we realize in advance that we might not like the answers. "Hey--look at that nice church over there! It's a beautiful building, has lots of followers, and is presided over by a pastor who has all sorts of degrees to his credit! He's spent a lifetime studying this stuff--he must be a real expert! I like this church! They don't ask uncomfortable questions! They know how to tone down or explain away some of the more radical sayings and demands of Jesus. They say all sorts of consoling things and make few demands. I like this place--very comfortable indeed!"
It's easy to fall into that trap, isn't it?
Christmas is coming, and with it the celebration of the birth of our Messiah. Let's recall John's words of "making a smooth highway for the coming of our Lord." I don't know about you, but I've got a lot of work to do in that regard!
Thanks be to God for telling us what we NEED to hear, not necessarily what we WANT to hear! As for all who do so--with the right spirit and for the right reasons--we find fulfillment in following God and His word, even as He asks much of all of His followers! Thanks be to God that His purpose in demanding repentance of us to follow His will, we get a taste of heaven in the peace, joy, love and understanding that awaits us in God's good time, even though we need to embrace our crosses along the way! Thanks be to God that whatever He asks of us, it is for our own best interests and the best interests of others, as we love and serve Him and love and serve others in His name!
Thanks be to God for that indeed!!
AMEN!!
Mary Live long and prosper
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