Thursday, December 14, 2006
John the Baptist...John the Teacher
When we think of John the Baptist our thoughts often draw us to the man who called out for people to "Make way for the coming of the Messiah." We hear an interesting story in The Gospel of Luke, chapter 3, verses 10 thru 19.
The crowds asked John the Baptist , "What should we do?" John said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise."
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to John, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."
Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. (Christ means "the Anointed.")
John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier that I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchchable fire."
Exhorting then in many other ways, John preached the good news to the people.
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John was teaching the people in terminology that the people were very used to hearing. Just as an example, Tax Collectors would often charged the people far to much. This was politics and who said it was fair? John took a stand on this unfair practice. John told the Roman soldiers not to bully people or extort money from them.
One might think that the Pharisees, Scribes and Levites would enjoy this thinking but do not forget if you upset Rome too much these men could loose some of their power. John called the Pharisees "a brood of vipers."
John the Baptist wanted people to be happy with what they had; in anticipation of the comming Messiah.
All of these words were spoken over two thousand years ago but the message remains the same. As we await the coming of our God remember to be kind to your fellow man for God created him as well!
