John the Baptist bursts onto the scene with one basic agenda – preparing the way for Jesus’ public ministry; calling people to ‘a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ John was doing what the prophet Isaiah had previously spoken of – making a pathway for the Lord to return to his people. And this was now the time. Salvation was at hand. The people must return to God in word and deed. Love and justice really do matter.
• What do you need to turn away from that’s currently hindering your obedience to God?
• How does the idea of Jesus being judge as well as saviour make you feel?
• Is your understanding of Jesus too tame?
• What situations of injustice, whether local or global, might you begin to confront?
I'm delighted that Jesus is judge as well as saviour. I want justice.
ReplyDeleteIf Jesus was only our saviour then it would be hard to hold him in the same regard. If someone has to judge then who better than the person who lived among us and died for us?
At the weekend we were reminded how King David reacted when confronted by Nathan after his sin with Bathsheba - with godly sorrow (see Psalm 51). How different the reaction of Herod, who reacts as power normally does when it is confronted by truth - by attempting to silence it.
ReplyDeleteHow much better the reaction of the ordinary people - "what shall we do?" And John gives them simple, ordinary ways of showing repentance: by acting generously and being content.
Found this a very challenging passage to read, do I know this Jesus with is winnowing fork who will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire? Think I maybe more comfortable with gentle Jesus meek and mild. Much more for me to learn about the Lords character I think.
ReplyDeleteWhen thinking about these two different aspects of who Jesus is I'm always reminded of Lucy's encounter with Mr Beaver in the Chronicles of Narnia, when Lucy heard about the great saviour king who was a lion. 'A lion?!' she says, 'I thought this was going to be someone good, someone coming to save us from the wicked witch, a lion? They're not safe are they?' And Mr Beaver says to Lucy, 'Safe? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he is good. he's the king, I tell you.'
Delete