On Line Bible Study - For the week November 30-December 6, 2009
Lesson 416
Luke 1: ... you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
So ... who is this "John"? And how does his father react to the news that, in his old age, he and his wife Elizabeth are now to become parents?
First, we can say that John is one, literally and figuratively, born late in time. The unusual circumstances of his birth point to a special mission and ministry - like Isaac born to Sarah in her old age, and like Samuel born to Hannah following an extended period of barrenness. And, something we seldom connect to the ministry of John the Baptist - He will bring joy!
The stereotypical image we have of one not only "crying in the wilderness", but literally screaming at people in the wilderness, does not conjure up "joy"! So, is the angel lying? Or is there something we are missing?
In Lesson 414 we mentioned one of the themes for Luke in his gospel - Salvation. John is the harbinger of "joy" because his presence means the Messiah is near at hand! His "greatness" is not so much coming from within him as it is the result of the message he bears. The "power" in his life is that of leading people to repentance. Many will be brought back to the Lord their God...
We have reason to believe there was confusion with regard to the identity of John; there may possibly have even been some competition - if not directly between John and Jesus, then between their followers. Luke joins the other gospel writers in making it clear that John is the forerunner to, not the person of the Messiah.
Here is the catch ... How will I know ...? That's the question Zachariah asks. Well, one might say: Give it time and it will become obvious! Is Zechariah questioning that his wife will give birth to a son? Or is he doubting the particular mission the angel is scripting for the boy? In other words, is he struggling with the content of the message, or the process by which God's work will be done?
This is not an insignificant distinction. Isn't it true that it is sometimes easier to believe in an ultimate outcome than it is to accept the means by which the ends come to pass? For Elizabeth it will mean labor; for the Messiah to come it will mean a sometimes-wrenching return to the ways of God.
Often times it's not the miracle that trips us up; it's the manner in which the miracle is delivered.
For next time we will continue to look at this story, with particular attention to Elizabeth.
So ... who is this "John"? And how does his father react to the news that, in his old age, he and his wife Elizabeth are now to become parents?
First, we can say that John is one, literally and figuratively, born late in time. The unusual circumstances of his birth point to a special mission and ministry - like Isaac born to Sarah in her old age, and like Samuel born to Hannah following an extended period of barrenness. And, something we seldom connect to the ministry of John the Baptist - He will bring joy!
The stereotypical image we have of one not only "crying in the wilderness", but literally screaming at people in the wilderness, does not conjure up "joy"! So, is the angel lying? Or is there something we are missing?
In Lesson 414 we mentioned one of the themes for Luke in his gospel - Salvation. John is the harbinger of "joy" because his presence means the Messiah is near at hand! His "greatness" is not so much coming from within him as it is the result of the message he bears. The "power" in his life is that of leading people to repentance. Many will be brought back to the Lord their God...
We have reason to believe there was confusion with regard to the identity of John; there may possibly have even been some competition - if not directly between John and Jesus, then between their followers. Luke joins the other gospel writers in making it clear that John is the forerunner to, not the person of the Messiah.
Here is the catch ... How will I know ...? That's the question Zachariah asks. Well, one might say: Give it time and it will become obvious! Is Zechariah questioning that his wife will give birth to a son? Or is he doubting the particular mission the angel is scripting for the boy? In other words, is he struggling with the content of the message, or the process by which God's work will be done?
This is not an insignificant distinction. Isn't it true that it is sometimes easier to believe in an ultimate outcome than it is to accept the means by which the ends come to pass? For Elizabeth it will mean labor; for the Messiah to come it will mean a sometimes-wrenching return to the ways of God.
Often times it's not the miracle that trips us up; it's the manner in which the miracle is delivered.
For next time we will continue to look at this story, with particular attention to Elizabeth.
posted by Mark D at 12:43 PM
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