Who is Jesus? part 20

John the Baptist was about as eager to chat about himself as a cat is to take a bath. Now, my grasp on psychology is about as solid as wet spaghetti – just dangerous enough that you might want to take my advice with a grain of salt! So, I did what any sensible person would do: I Googled “reluctance to talk about yourself” and promptly congratulated myself on my investigative skills.

The first hit chirped, “It’s because you’re too self-conscious. Embrace yourself! Seriously, stop throwing a pity party and start hosting a self-love fiesta!” That utterly hilarious advice came straight from Quora. Now, to give it some credit, when I actually clicked the link, it was just one wildly colourful opinion out of the many on that site, but it highlights an issue with Google – always eager to showcase the most outrageous takes upfront!

²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 1:24-28 ESVUK

The story takes a daring turn: John the Baptist is out there making waves in the Jordan River at Bethany across the Jordan, and a group of Jewish leaders has decided to confront him, as the self-appointed guardians of their faith. They’re itching to find out if John fancies himself the Messiah, Elijah as foretold by Malachi (Mal 4:5), or the prophet that Moses was supposed to deliver (Deut 18:15). But John, with a provocative defiance, flatly claims he’s none of those.

A self-conscious John?

So, was John self-conscious? I would argue not at all. There seems to be no trace of self-loathing in him; instead, John possessed a clear understanding of his identity and his role in the grand scheme of things. He refrained from discussing himself, as his heart was set on guiding others towards Jesus, the Messiah, in a way that emphasized his dedication to their spiritual journey.

A new religion?

Having uncovered John’s activities, the committee faced a serious dilemma. Was John boldly attempting to launch a new religion? While priests had traditionally baptised Gentiles to usher them into Judaism, here was John, provocatively baptizing Jews instead. Was he making a radical move towards a new faith? This was particularly troubling for the committee, as John’s actions unfolded outside Judea, on the eastern bank of the Jordan, completely beyond their control. Breakaway sects like the Essenes and radical groups such as the Sicarii were common amidst this tumultuous landscape, making John’s actions even more alarming.

John had a unique opportunity to showcase his remarkable background. Priesthood ran through his veins, with his father, Zechariah, serving as a respected priest. Instead of the traditional path in the Jerusalem temple, he embraced his adventurous spirit by engaging with people in the wilderness, inspiring those beyond the country’s boundary. John’s presence was a fascinating puzzle to the priests and Levites, stirring curiosity and interest. They came to find out who John was. Itey left still purpleved

John went where God led him: Preparing the way in the wilderness.

That was day one…

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