Matthew 14:1-12
Matthew uses a flashback to inform his readers of what happened to John the Baptist. It is actually a very smooth transition: Herod hears what Jesus has been doing and thinks that John has risen from the dead. This, of course, begs the question, how did John die? Matthew takes us back to John's death.
This story contrasts the confidence and influence of Jesus Christ with the insecurity of Herod. Herod feels threatened because Jesus reminds him of John. Herod was first threatened by John because he was so adamant that Herod should not have married Herod's brother's wife while Herod's brother was still alive (which is pretty sick when you think of it). Herod wanted to kill John but was threatened by John's popularity with the common people. Herod was threatened by his guests' opinion of him and so he gave into his step-daughter's demand to bring John's head to her on a silver platter (which is another pretty sick story - unless my mind is just too depraved it would seem like Herod was so turned on by his step-daughter's dancing that he made a rash promise).
This story proves the parables of the kingdom that Jesus was sharing in the previous chapter. What started out as a mustard seed - a country preacher and his small group of unpolished disciples - has started to have influence in the throne rooms of the region. The leavened dough is starting to have an affect on society and those who currently have the power are threatened by it. The story also sets up Jesus' show down with the authourities in the region - the have been threatened by his influence.
There are a few lessons I take away from this. First, that I should have the boldness of John to speak up for what I know is right even if it means that I take on the powers of the land. Second, that the kingdom is not about seizing and holding on to power. It is about a quiet influence that shakes the very foundations of the power structures and the pyramid charts that our commerce and governments are built on. The Church has to stop trying to be a power broker and act more like a mustard seed and leavened bread.
Showing posts with label John the Baptist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John the Baptist. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, September 18, 2008
the last of the OT prophets
Matthew 3:1-5
John the Baptist is the main character in this section of the story. We've moved from Joseph to John. Matthew is careful to connect him to prophecy as well - he's the one who precedes the procession calling out, "Make way for the King!" John is a prophet in the OT sense - he wears weird clothes and eats weird food and I am sure that there is some significant symbolism to that. Perhaps it is that he rejects society. He is an outside observer that can speak to the society with objectivity because he is not wrapped up in it.
This is the first time that Matthew uses a phrase that will come up over and over again in his book: the kingdom of heaven. He has set up the use of this phrase by showing Jesus to be a legitimate challenger to Herod's throne and title. John's message was pretty simple: "repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Most of the Jews (and possibly even John) would have understood this to mean that the Messiah was coming to overthrow the Romans and to re-establish Israel to the status it enjoyed under David and Solomon. They would have also understood (from the prophets) that this would be a time of judgement and so they flocked to John to show their repentance by being baptized.
I need to be careful how I read and understand Scripture. Every time I come to the Word, I am affected by past teaching, my own understanding, my circumstances, my biases, previous knowledge. Just like the Jews in John's day, I may not completely understand the message I am hearing and I need to be humble enough to admit that I may not only misunderstand but also misapply what I am reading.
I also can learn from John. I think that sometimes we strive so hard to be culturally relevant and to wrap the message of Christ in a palatable way that we are no longer in a position to speak with any authourity to our culture. We look so much like everyone and act like them and think like them that we really have no voice. Now, I am not saying that we should wear camel clothes and eat locusts and I do think that we must be relevant enough to at least know what is going on in our culture. I also think that the use of technology and speaking in a culturally relevant way is great but I wonder where the line is. I want to be careful that I don't become so immersed in the culture that I begin to conform to it (I think there's a verse about that...).
John the Baptist is the main character in this section of the story. We've moved from Joseph to John. Matthew is careful to connect him to prophecy as well - he's the one who precedes the procession calling out, "Make way for the King!" John is a prophet in the OT sense - he wears weird clothes and eats weird food and I am sure that there is some significant symbolism to that. Perhaps it is that he rejects society. He is an outside observer that can speak to the society with objectivity because he is not wrapped up in it.
This is the first time that Matthew uses a phrase that will come up over and over again in his book: the kingdom of heaven. He has set up the use of this phrase by showing Jesus to be a legitimate challenger to Herod's throne and title. John's message was pretty simple: "repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Most of the Jews (and possibly even John) would have understood this to mean that the Messiah was coming to overthrow the Romans and to re-establish Israel to the status it enjoyed under David and Solomon. They would have also understood (from the prophets) that this would be a time of judgement and so they flocked to John to show their repentance by being baptized.
I need to be careful how I read and understand Scripture. Every time I come to the Word, I am affected by past teaching, my own understanding, my circumstances, my biases, previous knowledge. Just like the Jews in John's day, I may not completely understand the message I am hearing and I need to be humble enough to admit that I may not only misunderstand but also misapply what I am reading.
I also can learn from John. I think that sometimes we strive so hard to be culturally relevant and to wrap the message of Christ in a palatable way that we are no longer in a position to speak with any authourity to our culture. We look so much like everyone and act like them and think like them that we really have no voice. Now, I am not saying that we should wear camel clothes and eat locusts and I do think that we must be relevant enough to at least know what is going on in our culture. I also think that the use of technology and speaking in a culturally relevant way is great but I wonder where the line is. I want to be careful that I don't become so immersed in the culture that I begin to conform to it (I think there's a verse about that...).
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