Sunday, February 16, 2025

Theme

John the Baptizer plays a significant roll in all of the gospels, and is there at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Biblical scholars like John Dominic Crossan suggest that it is likely that Jesus was himself a disciple of John’s who chose a slightly different path. Luke’s gospel even starts with the annunciation of John’s birth, with an angelic messenger appearing in the temple to Zechariah. The angel Gabriel tells Zechariah all sorts of wonderful things about the child to come, but also casts him with the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). For Second Temple Jewish people expecting the coming of Messiah (anointed one), this Spirit of Elijah would be a clear indication of this child’s role. For those of us less familiar, with First Century Messiah lore, the gospel writer makes it clear through the renewed voice of Zechariah when he says/sings,

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for God has looked favorably on God’s people and redeemed them. God has raised a mighty savior for us in the house of God’s servant David, as God spoke through the mouth of God’s mighty prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us… And you, child (John), will be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his/God’s ways, to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people by the forgiveness of their sins.” NRSV (with modification)

Elijah, the renowned prophet written about in 1 Kings, and who left the world in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2), was expected to return to prepare the way for the Messianic age. In fact, during the Passover feast, our Jewish siblings reserve a seat and cup for Elijah, and at some point during the Haggadah (telling) the children are asked to check at the door to see if Elijah has returned.

John is asked in Luke 3 directly if he is the messiah, and denies it. Towing the gospel writer’s assertion that John is important, but as the one making way for Messiah.

“As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:15-17 NRSVUE)

First Century Palestine was one full of expectation of Messiah, the descendant of David who was to restore the Kingdom and bring about a ‘messianic age’ of peace. In the 6th Century BCE, the descendants of Judah had been returned to the Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great of Persia. They remained vassals of the Persian empire until it was conquered by Alexander the Great and his Greek empire, which became the new overlords of the Hebrew people (and when they received the new moniker of ‘Jewish,’ descendants of Judah). After Alexander’s death and the Greek territory divided, the Jewish people were under the Ptolemy, and the Seleucid empires, with a brief glimmer of Judean autonomy during the Maccabean revolt of 152-141 BCE. The Seleucid (or Hasmonaean) Dynasty was conquered by the Roman Republic in 63 BCE. Pompey himself laid siege to and captured Jerusalem and appointed Hyrcanus II as ethnarch and High Priest, but denied him the title of king. Pompey would later be instrumental in transforming the Romans Republic into the Roman Empire in 27 BCE. In 40 BCE, Harrod the Great was appointed the “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate, and ruled Judaea as a client kingdom of Rome. After Harrod the Great died in 4 CE, his territory was split between his sons, his son Archelaus was made ethnarch of Judea, and Harrod Antipas governed Galilee. Just 2 years later, Archelaus was dismissed, and Judea was made a Provence of Rome.

Here is a thought experiment to put those dates into a context that makes more sense for us: Imagine if North America had remained a colony of Brittan, and then lost World War II and became the territory of Germany in the 1940s (in the 1980s the German government was officially reorganized into the Third Reich). The last time we had national sovereignty was a brief stint during the American Civil War (I suppose there are some who believe that, but that is besides the point). As recently as 2006, the Southern states have become official Reich states (while the Northern states remain Reich territories). All the while there are hushed rumors of a ‘son of Washington’ who would come and give us independence again*. The memory of pre-German rule is only two or three generations back, and most adults remember what it was like when they were not under direct Reich control. Now, Nazi Stormtroopers are everywhere, and occasionally militias and terrorist cells will rise up to fight. Charismatic leaders will claim to be the ‘elected one,’ most face gruesome ends. Most people try to keep their heads down, and silently hope that someone will come and save them.

*timewise, it would actually be something more like ‘Son of Arthur,’ but Washington sells the ‘freedom and independence’ side of this messianic hope.

 

In the midst of John’s call to prepare the way, and all of the messianic expectation, John sends disciples to see if Jesus is the one he is waiting for, or if he should keep searching.

Questions

– What evidence have you collected about Jesus, his wisdom, the king/kindom he talked about, the way that he treated people?

– How have you seen God at work in your own life, how have you experienced the salvation of Jesus, how have you been lead by the Holy Spirit?

– How much evidence have you collected about the world around us, those who are hurting, those who are dying, those who are lifting themselves up, the planet itself?

– What are you waiting for?

Reflections:

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany/Remembrance of Baptism

Introit: Hymns that reference our scripture reading mostly focus of verse 22, the list of signs that were to be reported back to John the Baptizer. While not a direct reference, the fourth verse of “God of the Sparrow” begins with “God of the hungry, God of the sick”.

Opening Hymn: One of the hymns with direct reference to verse 22, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”.

Transition Hymn: For the month of February is “I Depend Upon Your Faithfulness”.

Special Music:

Preparation Hymn: Hymn of Preparation for the Remembrance of Baptism for the year is “Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters”.

Sending Hymn: Chosen because the text reflects imagery found in Isaiah 61:1-2, a scripture passage that we have encountered previously in the Narrative Lectionary and also has similarities to verse 22 of our scripture reading from Luke: “Arise, Your Light is Come!”

Benediction: Our benediction for the month of February is “May the Love of the Lord”.