I read an insightful reflection on this week's Gospel text, Mark 1.29-39 on the website Working Preacher. Insight is helpful since, as usual, Mark either gives us too much (three distinct portions to the larger assigned text) or too little (Mark always skimps on details).
Dr. David Lose, of the Luther Theological Seminary in Minnesota, points out two ways to distinguish individuals: either people are in need of help, or they are in the position to help others. Another way to put this: either we are in need of care, or we are in need of a calling. On any given day, you and I could be one or the other....or maybe on a particularly active day, each in sucession.
We understand the part about being in need of help. In fact, it appears too often that when we speak of faith we speak about God's ever present help in times of trouble. In fact, in the Old Testament text of Isaiah, the term 'everlasting God' is (according to the scholar, not me) a translation for "God of forever".
I like the sound of that. Like everyone else, I know what it means to be in need of care. In the moments when I am hanging on by a thread, when I need someone/some being larger than I to provide strength and sustenance, then I am ever grateful for the God who loves and cares for me.
But, in 'need of a calling' - that might require more explanation. Dr. Lose is responding to the portion of Mark's story where Jesus' heals Simon's mother-in-law (MIL) and she gets up and serves them. At first glance, this whole healing story looks a little self serving on the part of the disciples and Jesus, and not all that flattering to we women of the church who have worked long and hard to be accepted as more than altar guild attendants. (and thanks be to God for the altar guild!)
Dr. Lose, however, points out that while Simon's MIL is laid low with a fever, she cannot participate in her world as she is called. She cannot show hospitality to her guests; she cannot make their day more pleasant. A fever has cost her her place in the community. When Jesus heals her, she is able to rise up and be who she is called to be for the sake of the community and in entertaining Jesus, for the sake of the gospel. Many commentators refer to this unnamed woman as the first model disciple of Mark's gospel.
I quote the website: Through Jesus' healing "new strength is imparted to those laid low by illness, unclean spirits, even death, so they may rise up and take their place in the world." The woman is restored to health, community, and her calling. You and I know that any extended illness pulls you out of the current of life around you. You lose touch; you cannot participate; your calling is gone.
To serve is our calling. Just as Jesus came 'not to be served, but to serve others' God preserves us so we might continue to serve in his name.
Here is an old prayer (found in the hymnal) that includes that thought
O Lord, suport us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hused, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. then, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last through Christ our Lord.
AMEN
Peace
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
You shall mount up on wings like eagles
It is hard to fly with eagles when you are working with turkeys.
So goes one of those 'pithy' sayings (which I think gives some comfort when life is being particularly annoying). It refers to an Isaiah text
"Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD whall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint." Isa40.30-31
I have often used this text at the funeral of an elderly person who has persevered - through personal tragedy or the long drawn out dying that is the path for some. In the face of circumstances that would crush many, these believers were able to put one foot in front of the other, one day after the next, and continue to hold fast to the hope that lies in the promises of Jesus Christ.
It only takes an hour with a 3 year old to realize that this text is contradictory - as is so much of the God/humankind relationship. Young people are stronger than the elderly. It is the young who can run those long races and still have energy left.
But relationships require much more than simple physical strength. Relationships require strength of character, commitment, ability to forgive, vision for tomorrow.... Folks who have been married for a half century will tell you that true love isn't found in the romantic or sentimental, but it is found in the cracks of life, in the hard places. If you can't take the heat of life's kitchen, you will flee in the face of life's trials and blows.
Walking with God requires a greater degree of trust than any human relationship. Yet it promises that, should we hold on and persevere, we will walk with God. Either that promise is good enough for you or it is not.
Those who wait for the LORD...........may you mount up with eagles.
So goes one of those 'pithy' sayings (which I think gives some comfort when life is being particularly annoying). It refers to an Isaiah text
"Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD whall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint." Isa40.30-31
I have often used this text at the funeral of an elderly person who has persevered - through personal tragedy or the long drawn out dying that is the path for some. In the face of circumstances that would crush many, these believers were able to put one foot in front of the other, one day after the next, and continue to hold fast to the hope that lies in the promises of Jesus Christ.
It only takes an hour with a 3 year old to realize that this text is contradictory - as is so much of the God/humankind relationship. Young people are stronger than the elderly. It is the young who can run those long races and still have energy left.
But relationships require much more than simple physical strength. Relationships require strength of character, commitment, ability to forgive, vision for tomorrow.... Folks who have been married for a half century will tell you that true love isn't found in the romantic or sentimental, but it is found in the cracks of life, in the hard places. If you can't take the heat of life's kitchen, you will flee in the face of life's trials and blows.
Walking with God requires a greater degree of trust than any human relationship. Yet it promises that, should we hold on and persevere, we will walk with God. Either that promise is good enough for you or it is not.
Those who wait for the LORD...........may you mount up with eagles.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Don't worry....God will forgive
The Epistle lesson for this coming Sunday comes from Paul's first letter to the believers at Corinth, the 8th chapter.
The believers in Corinth were primarily Greek. They were raised in Greek culture, with Greek gods, Greek values and a Greek social system. They had little or no understanding of the Hebrew God YHWH and the relationship YHWH had developed with the people of Israel through the millennia.
Greek gods were beings to be avoided. You paid your sacrifice; hoped the sacrifice was sufficient and kept your head down the rest of the time so that the gods did not take notice of you. The type of relationship that is revealed in the Psalms (where one calls on the name of the Lord in thanksgiving and lament, in fear and in joy) was unknown to Greeks.
So hearing about a God who reached out to bring new life into the lives of humans was a new idea indeed. To think that God would take on the form of a human (not all that unusual in Greek mythology) and then sacrifice himself for the sake of less valuable humans was a foreign idea. Forgiveness was unheard of as was the concept of 'unconditional love' especially for the last, the lost and the lonely.
Once you start believing that this God - YHWH - truly loves humankind, especially the underclasses who were rejected as less valuable by Greek society; once you start believing that this God not only could love you (a servant/slave of foreign birth) but will continue to love you through Jesus.....well, what more could anyone say?
Unfortunately, the forgiveness of God through Jesus that was first a gift became a license for many within the Corinthian community. It became the 1st century version of Bob Marley's 'Don't Worry. Be Happy.' Forgiveness became a tool or technique to get ahead, do whatever one wanted without worry. [The issue in the 8th chapter is around food sacrificed to idols. Believers knew that the idols weren't real gods and the food sacrificed was simply food, but to others who were watching their actions, they appeared wanton, sacrilegious and brought a bad name to Christians].
Is there something here for us to think about? Do we Rely on God's forgiveness or Live in God's forgiveness? That is, do we live our lives as we please, or to please ourselves, relying on God to forgive us whenever we throw an 'I"m sorry' in God's direction? Or, do we boldly take up the task of being a Christian, living for others, granting grace, feeding the poor, forgiving our enemies, knowing we will in fact fail too many times to mention, and yet are covered by God's forgiveness in Jesus? Or as Martin Luther said, "Sin boldly.....but act even more boldly still" Forgiveness is not license but life force. It is to be the blood that flows through our bodies, giving us life, and empowering us to give life to others. In God's name, for the sake of the world.
Pax
The believers in Corinth were primarily Greek. They were raised in Greek culture, with Greek gods, Greek values and a Greek social system. They had little or no understanding of the Hebrew God YHWH and the relationship YHWH had developed with the people of Israel through the millennia.
Greek gods were beings to be avoided. You paid your sacrifice; hoped the sacrifice was sufficient and kept your head down the rest of the time so that the gods did not take notice of you. The type of relationship that is revealed in the Psalms (where one calls on the name of the Lord in thanksgiving and lament, in fear and in joy) was unknown to Greeks.
So hearing about a God who reached out to bring new life into the lives of humans was a new idea indeed. To think that God would take on the form of a human (not all that unusual in Greek mythology) and then sacrifice himself for the sake of less valuable humans was a foreign idea. Forgiveness was unheard of as was the concept of 'unconditional love' especially for the last, the lost and the lonely.
Once you start believing that this God - YHWH - truly loves humankind, especially the underclasses who were rejected as less valuable by Greek society; once you start believing that this God not only could love you (a servant/slave of foreign birth) but will continue to love you through Jesus.....well, what more could anyone say?
Unfortunately, the forgiveness of God through Jesus that was first a gift became a license for many within the Corinthian community. It became the 1st century version of Bob Marley's 'Don't Worry. Be Happy.' Forgiveness became a tool or technique to get ahead, do whatever one wanted without worry. [The issue in the 8th chapter is around food sacrificed to idols. Believers knew that the idols weren't real gods and the food sacrificed was simply food, but to others who were watching their actions, they appeared wanton, sacrilegious and brought a bad name to Christians].
Is there something here for us to think about? Do we Rely on God's forgiveness or Live in God's forgiveness? That is, do we live our lives as we please, or to please ourselves, relying on God to forgive us whenever we throw an 'I"m sorry' in God's direction? Or, do we boldly take up the task of being a Christian, living for others, granting grace, feeding the poor, forgiving our enemies, knowing we will in fact fail too many times to mention, and yet are covered by God's forgiveness in Jesus? Or as Martin Luther said, "Sin boldly.....but act even more boldly still" Forgiveness is not license but life force. It is to be the blood that flows through our bodies, giving us life, and empowering us to give life to others. In God's name, for the sake of the world.
Pax
Monday, January 23, 2012
Deuteronomy 18 it's Moses again
Moses is such a central figure in the story of YHWH - God's relationship with humankind that we not only have lots of stories about him in our lectionary, but there are multiple sides to each story. Just as George Washington or John Adams or Abraham Lincoln's names are invoked when political/governmental/foreign relations questions are raised, so too, Moses is the go-to guy when themes from the Old Testament come up.
He a versatile figure: reluctant leader, miraculous birth, contact with and marriage to a foreigner, poor speaker with a less brilliant but silver tongued brother, a murderer, the one who met with God face to face, the bringer of the Law, the prophet above all others (until Jesus).
So, with a little re-reading, a creative student of scripture could use Moses to represent or to introduce a wide range of topics.
This week, it is prophecy. Poor little Samuel had to contend with the compulsion to speak what the Lord puts in his mouth. It is speak or die (well, most of the time. Perhaps just be really miserable, but that's not how Jeremiah puts it, "your word is a fire in my belly and I cannot keep it in" look in Jer 20).
Therefore, to bear the word of the Lord to others is a burden, a weight, and one that cannot be ignored. Amos, the prophet, when confronted by the King of the North for being a foreigner, indicated that he wasn't doing this because it was fun....he was a farmer, and as soon as he said what needed to be said he was going home.
Most people of faith can blur the lines around any message from the Lord. They can turn their deaf ear. They can take off their eyeglasses so to dim their sight. They can walk away and put it on their To Do list for another day. So, although they often think that knowing exactly what the Lord is saying would be a hoot, when confronted with a taste of God reality, they hesitate.
Not so the prophet. For many preachers it is the same. The Word is like a fire burning within and although we might try to keep it in, we cannot.
So, I am sure there was little rejoicing around the dinner table when little Johnny came home and told Mom and Dad, "I want to be a prophet when I grow up." It is a profession that does not generally make many friends.
He a versatile figure: reluctant leader, miraculous birth, contact with and marriage to a foreigner, poor speaker with a less brilliant but silver tongued brother, a murderer, the one who met with God face to face, the bringer of the Law, the prophet above all others (until Jesus).
So, with a little re-reading, a creative student of scripture could use Moses to represent or to introduce a wide range of topics.
This week, it is prophecy. Poor little Samuel had to contend with the compulsion to speak what the Lord puts in his mouth. It is speak or die (well, most of the time. Perhaps just be really miserable, but that's not how Jeremiah puts it, "your word is a fire in my belly and I cannot keep it in" look in Jer 20).
Therefore, to bear the word of the Lord to others is a burden, a weight, and one that cannot be ignored. Amos, the prophet, when confronted by the King of the North for being a foreigner, indicated that he wasn't doing this because it was fun....he was a farmer, and as soon as he said what needed to be said he was going home.
Most people of faith can blur the lines around any message from the Lord. They can turn their deaf ear. They can take off their eyeglasses so to dim their sight. They can walk away and put it on their To Do list for another day. So, although they often think that knowing exactly what the Lord is saying would be a hoot, when confronted with a taste of God reality, they hesitate.
Not so the prophet. For many preachers it is the same. The Word is like a fire burning within and although we might try to keep it in, we cannot.
So, I am sure there was little rejoicing around the dinner table when little Johnny came home and told Mom and Dad, "I want to be a prophet when I grow up." It is a profession that does not generally make many friends.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Jonah.....what can we say?
If your understanding of this Old Testament story (actually the story is the entire book of Jonah) begins and ends with a whale, then you've got the drama but missed the point.
Jonah was called by God to be a prophet. To Ninevah. His arch enemies.
Jonah didn't like the call; didn't want to preach repentance to Ninevah. So he took a ship in the opposite direction. (to Tarsus)
That didn't work out so well and ended up with him first in the belly of a whale and then vomited (literal translation) onto the beach. This brings us to chapter 3 (our lesson for Sunday) and the story begins again.
God calls Jonah. Sends him to Ninevah to preach repentance. Jonah is no happier now than he was in the beginning but perhaps sees the uselessness of resisting.
Now you are ready for Important Point #1 from the story of Jonah. Resist all you want, God will stay the course. Our plans are not God's plans and in the end, God will proceed as God sees fit.
What I love about the story of Jonah is my ability to hear my own voice coming from Jonah's mouth. Really? You want me to work hard to bring the people of Ninevah to repentance and life in you, O God? Substitute any person or peoples that have caused you pain, are historically repulsive to you/your family/your tribe/your nation and then you will get a glimpse at what Jonah was thinking. And I do the same thing.....instead of following God's direction, I buy a ticket for a ship sailing in exactly the opposite direction.
I am not alone in this; it is the nature of sin. Sin is our desire to go our own direction, in our own time, for our own purposes without reference to God's desire and love and will. There are many who will take that ship to Tarsus and never ever look back; never turn their ears to listen again for God's voice; never agree to do the Lord's work. They will sail off into the sunset, turning their backs to God and God's plan for the world.
We know these people. On a bad day, we are these people. In time they have sailed so far away from God they can no longer hear God's voice.
Some people, even when they have caught a ride to Tarsus, never truly turn off their ability to hear God. Jonah was one of these. His relationship with God continued - notice in chapter 2 how he is busy praying to God and offering up his worship. When he is thrown up onto the beach and God calls again, it is time for Jonah to re-consider his position and God's command to go to Ninevah.
The argument between Jonah and God is not over. Jonah has not turned into some perfectly obedient servant of God. There are still lessons to learn before this story is over in a few chapters. Lessons about Jonah (the reluctant prophet? the common believer?) and lessons about God. But that is a tale for another day.
Listen to the Lord while he may be found. Turn your heart towards his voice, his calling, his plan.
Blessings
Jonah was called by God to be a prophet. To Ninevah. His arch enemies.
Jonah didn't like the call; didn't want to preach repentance to Ninevah. So he took a ship in the opposite direction. (to Tarsus)
That didn't work out so well and ended up with him first in the belly of a whale and then vomited (literal translation) onto the beach. This brings us to chapter 3 (our lesson for Sunday) and the story begins again.
God calls Jonah. Sends him to Ninevah to preach repentance. Jonah is no happier now than he was in the beginning but perhaps sees the uselessness of resisting.
Now you are ready for Important Point #1 from the story of Jonah. Resist all you want, God will stay the course. Our plans are not God's plans and in the end, God will proceed as God sees fit.
What I love about the story of Jonah is my ability to hear my own voice coming from Jonah's mouth. Really? You want me to work hard to bring the people of Ninevah to repentance and life in you, O God? Substitute any person or peoples that have caused you pain, are historically repulsive to you/your family/your tribe/your nation and then you will get a glimpse at what Jonah was thinking. And I do the same thing.....instead of following God's direction, I buy a ticket for a ship sailing in exactly the opposite direction.
I am not alone in this; it is the nature of sin. Sin is our desire to go our own direction, in our own time, for our own purposes without reference to God's desire and love and will. There are many who will take that ship to Tarsus and never ever look back; never turn their ears to listen again for God's voice; never agree to do the Lord's work. They will sail off into the sunset, turning their backs to God and God's plan for the world.
We know these people. On a bad day, we are these people. In time they have sailed so far away from God they can no longer hear God's voice.
Some people, even when they have caught a ride to Tarsus, never truly turn off their ability to hear God. Jonah was one of these. His relationship with God continued - notice in chapter 2 how he is busy praying to God and offering up his worship. When he is thrown up onto the beach and God calls again, it is time for Jonah to re-consider his position and God's command to go to Ninevah.
The argument between Jonah and God is not over. Jonah has not turned into some perfectly obedient servant of God. There are still lessons to learn before this story is over in a few chapters. Lessons about Jonah (the reluctant prophet? the common believer?) and lessons about God. But that is a tale for another day.
Listen to the Lord while he may be found. Turn your heart towards his voice, his calling, his plan.
Blessings
Monday, January 9, 2012
Samuel, Samuel.....Here I am
For many, this calling of the young Samuel by a voice in the night is a favorite Bible story. Our focus is naturally drawn to this young boy and his response to God's call. I would like us to pause first and think of Eli, the old priest whom Samuel serves.
Eli is the chief priest in the temple. He has been a prophet - that is, God has spoken to him and through him to the people. Eli is a charismatic prophet (no, that doesn't mean he's good looking). This means that he has a special outpouring of the Spirit, a gift (charisma) which is manifest in his speaking for God.
However, the story in 1 Samuel 3 begins by telling us that the Word of God was scarce in those times and there were no visions. For whatever reason, God was not speaking to God's people. Eli had nothing to say.
Why would that be true? Israel could have assumed that God's silence was either 1) everything is OK, continue what you are doing or 2) God was very unhappy with them.
What reasons could we summon? 1) God was gone, busy with other matters. 2) The people had turned 'deaf' to God's voice, that is, totally unable to hear the divine voice guiding them. 3) The people heard God, they just ignored what was being said. [For a prophet to ignore the word of God that comes to him, to refuse to speak that word to the people was considered a very dangerous path. On a couple of occasions God has promised destruction to false or reluctant prophets.]
The story next tells us that Eli was dim of sight, and could not see. Notice how that is a doublet: telling us the same thing twice emphasizes its importance. This all takes place at night.
Add to all this the fact that Israel had strayed far from the path of rigtheousness. The powerful opppressed, took advantage of those who were powerless. This behavior was evident even at the temple where Eli's two sons worked as priests, but were corrupt and instead of giving the fat portions of offerings to YHWH, they reserved them for themselves.
Now you can see that this sentimental call of Samuel to be a servant and prophet of God is set in a time of darkness - literal and spiritual - and the mantle of God's call is being passed from Eli to Samuel. Eli knows what is going on; he has chosen not to rein in his two sons. It is Eli who recognizes the call from God to Samuel and it is he who points the way for Samuel to respond. Eli becomes the light in the darkness, showing the way to a younger person of faith, even knowing that this meant the end for him.
The role of Eli is an important one. Let's talk about how we can encourage, equip, and engage the role of Eli in our faith community.
More later.
Pax
Eli is the chief priest in the temple. He has been a prophet - that is, God has spoken to him and through him to the people. Eli is a charismatic prophet (no, that doesn't mean he's good looking). This means that he has a special outpouring of the Spirit, a gift (charisma) which is manifest in his speaking for God.
However, the story in 1 Samuel 3 begins by telling us that the Word of God was scarce in those times and there were no visions. For whatever reason, God was not speaking to God's people. Eli had nothing to say.
Why would that be true? Israel could have assumed that God's silence was either 1) everything is OK, continue what you are doing or 2) God was very unhappy with them.
What reasons could we summon? 1) God was gone, busy with other matters. 2) The people had turned 'deaf' to God's voice, that is, totally unable to hear the divine voice guiding them. 3) The people heard God, they just ignored what was being said. [For a prophet to ignore the word of God that comes to him, to refuse to speak that word to the people was considered a very dangerous path. On a couple of occasions God has promised destruction to false or reluctant prophets.]
The story next tells us that Eli was dim of sight, and could not see. Notice how that is a doublet: telling us the same thing twice emphasizes its importance. This all takes place at night.
Add to all this the fact that Israel had strayed far from the path of rigtheousness. The powerful opppressed, took advantage of those who were powerless. This behavior was evident even at the temple where Eli's two sons worked as priests, but were corrupt and instead of giving the fat portions of offerings to YHWH, they reserved them for themselves.
Now you can see that this sentimental call of Samuel to be a servant and prophet of God is set in a time of darkness - literal and spiritual - and the mantle of God's call is being passed from Eli to Samuel. Eli knows what is going on; he has chosen not to rein in his two sons. It is Eli who recognizes the call from God to Samuel and it is he who points the way for Samuel to respond. Eli becomes the light in the darkness, showing the way to a younger person of faith, even knowing that this meant the end for him.
The role of Eli is an important one. Let's talk about how we can encourage, equip, and engage the role of Eli in our faith community.
More later.
Pax
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The baptism of Jesus Mark 1.4-11
A few 'facts' to get us started on what may look like a mundane story from the gospels:
The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of his ministry in the Gospel of Mark. In fact, Jesus has no history before the appearance of John the Baptizer and the subsequent baptism of Jesus.
John the Baptizer was baptizing 'for the forgiveness of sins.' This raises a good question: Why, then, did Jesus need to get baptized? Or, could it be that Jesus didn't 'need' baptism, but submitted to this ritual for a different reason? What reason could that be?
In the gospel of Mark, the heavens are ripped open (skidzo in the Greek - the same root word for schizophrenic) and the Spirit descends. This is extreme language on Mark's part. What is the point of this emphasis?
The gospel of Mark begins with "The beginning of the good news (or 'gospel' - the Greek can be translated either way) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Although our reading this coming Sunday does not begin at the beginning (verse 1) but rather at verse 4, we might miss this significant opening. These words about 'beginning' make a strong link to the creation story of Genesis 1 ('in the beginning'). Could the appearance of John, the baptism and ministry of Jesus and the descent of the Spirit be rooted in the very beginning, in the creation plan of God?
What are the relationships between the baptism of Jesus by John and our own baptisms?
Well, I will take one of these thoughts and expound a little more for those of you who are still reading.......
During the inter-testamental period (the time between the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament) it was believed that the Spirit of God (God's Wisdom, the spirit of prophecy) was locked into the heavenly places. Charismatic prophecy had ceased; the faithful were looking for the next great prophet who would lead to the Son of Man/Messiah.
The writer of Mark works hard to present John as the next great prophet (wilderness, clothing, wild honey) or possibly even the return of the prophet Elijah (a clear signal that the Messiah was imminent). At the baptism of Jesus, the great Spirit of God is released from heaven and alights on the one who is anointed for God's ministry - "the beloved one, in whom God is well pleased." Jesus has been anointed with the Spirit; he is now ready to take up his ministry. For the faithful of Israel, this would be a marker of a new era, perhaps the last era before the Son of Man came and ruled.
With Jesus' baptism, the players are all now in play and the great drama of Jesus can unfold. We go from water to desert as Jesus is driven out to the wilderness in the very next verse. In the gospel of Mark, no time is wasted - Mark drives us onward to embrace the whole of the story - which will end (and only make some sense) with the cross.
The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of his ministry in the Gospel of Mark. In fact, Jesus has no history before the appearance of John the Baptizer and the subsequent baptism of Jesus.
John the Baptizer was baptizing 'for the forgiveness of sins.' This raises a good question: Why, then, did Jesus need to get baptized? Or, could it be that Jesus didn't 'need' baptism, but submitted to this ritual for a different reason? What reason could that be?
In the gospel of Mark, the heavens are ripped open (skidzo in the Greek - the same root word for schizophrenic) and the Spirit descends. This is extreme language on Mark's part. What is the point of this emphasis?
The gospel of Mark begins with "The beginning of the good news (or 'gospel' - the Greek can be translated either way) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Although our reading this coming Sunday does not begin at the beginning (verse 1) but rather at verse 4, we might miss this significant opening. These words about 'beginning' make a strong link to the creation story of Genesis 1 ('in the beginning'). Could the appearance of John, the baptism and ministry of Jesus and the descent of the Spirit be rooted in the very beginning, in the creation plan of God?
What are the relationships between the baptism of Jesus by John and our own baptisms?
Well, I will take one of these thoughts and expound a little more for those of you who are still reading.......
During the inter-testamental period (the time between the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament) it was believed that the Spirit of God (God's Wisdom, the spirit of prophecy) was locked into the heavenly places. Charismatic prophecy had ceased; the faithful were looking for the next great prophet who would lead to the Son of Man/Messiah.
The writer of Mark works hard to present John as the next great prophet (wilderness, clothing, wild honey) or possibly even the return of the prophet Elijah (a clear signal that the Messiah was imminent). At the baptism of Jesus, the great Spirit of God is released from heaven and alights on the one who is anointed for God's ministry - "the beloved one, in whom God is well pleased." Jesus has been anointed with the Spirit; he is now ready to take up his ministry. For the faithful of Israel, this would be a marker of a new era, perhaps the last era before the Son of Man came and ruled.
With Jesus' baptism, the players are all now in play and the great drama of Jesus can unfold. We go from water to desert as Jesus is driven out to the wilderness in the very next verse. In the gospel of Mark, no time is wasted - Mark drives us onward to embrace the whole of the story - which will end (and only make some sense) with the cross.
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