This week’s text jumps a bit from previous texts in this series. We started with Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians and Ephesians and then moved to Mark for two weeks. This week we jump to the Gospel of John with a text that seems to almost duplicate last week’s from Mark. Why would those who established the Lectionary do this? I don’t have an answer to this.
In comparing the Markan description of John the Baptist with that of John, one thing we may notice is each authors’ focus. While Mark very clearly tells us about the baptizer including his questionable fashion choices (yes, I know, these are intended to link him with Elijah), the Gospel of John continually points us away from the baptizer. He is interrogated, and in his responses he continually deflects attention from himself.
To whom does he direct our attention? Without ever uttering a name, John faithfully directs his interrogators and us to the one who will be called Emmanuel—God with us.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
19 This is John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 John confessed (he didn’t deny but confessed), “I’m not the Christ.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
John said, “I’m not.”
“Are you the prophet?”
John answered, “No.”
22 They asked, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied, “I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, Make the Lord’s path straight, just as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 Those sent by the Pharisees 25 asked, “Why do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
26 John answered, “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. 27 He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” 28 This encounter took place across the Jordan in Bethany where John was baptizing.
Consider these questions:
- Have you ever known those kinds of people who continue to draw attention, especially those who seem to invite and even crave that attention? Do you have a general assessment of these experiences? Do you think you fall into this category?
- Have you ever known those kinds of people who question everything? They question reality, they question the people around them, they question what they already know. Do you have a general assessment of these experiences? Do you think you fall into this category?
- In this Gospel, what does the author tell us about who the baptizer is? What does the author tell us about who the baptizer is not? Is this important?
- What does your faith tell you about you are? What does your faith tell you about who you are not? Is this important?