February 3, 2013 Baptism

Matt 3  John knew the new kingdom was coming, and he knew that the kingdom had something to do with fire.  He did not know exactly what it looked like, but he knew that there was something broken with the current kingdom that the new kingdom would totally fix, and that the new kingdom was better, even if it took a little suffering to bring it in.  He imagined, one day, the true king would come with his kingdom, and he would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  He envisioned the purification of mankind that results from burning away everything that is not of value.  He foresaw the “real” truth replacing the “supposed” truth.

Jesus visited him as he was baptizing at the Jordan, and John recognized him, his cousin, and the One.  Jesus submits to be baptized in the river at John's hand.  John was confused himself at what this really meant.  For him, the more righteous should baptize the less righteous, but Jesus rejects his religion for the truth of obedience.  

When Jesus is baptized it expresses something profoundly true.  It proclaims the meaning of the kingdom of heaven, all wrapped up in a one act play.  It means that God's righteousness will atone for the errors of mankind, reuniting God and man after death.  It means that the Christ is willing and wanting to be burned by the will of God, that he is willing to be forced into death by the hands of men, that he is resigned to be man, and obey the will of God to be made like them and suffer for them.  It means that the salvation of God is present, and happening according to plan.  It means that Jesus has humbled himself to suffer and pour out his love on humankind.

As Jesus confesses his desire to be judged by God in the act of baptism, to be submersed in fire so that God's judgment could purify mankind, to be symbolically buried in death by the hands of men, and brought back up in submission to the will of God, something amazing happens.  In that moment, as God the Father watches the event, he is so moved Joy He rips the barrier between heaven and earth and proclaims his love, “My SON!  I am so proud of you!  I Love You!”  

This is baptism, and it is very, very good.

January 13, 2013 JTB and Authority

Bad hair, bad clothes, good message

Matt 3  John the Baptist came proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven is near, and people ought to repent and be baptized.  This man and this message receive the highest commendation when Jesus says, “There is none greater among the sons of men than John.”  John was a man on the fringe, a dangerous man to a civilized society.  And his message was one of a personal decision to submit to an authority higher than any institution of man.   

His message was that a new kingdom was near, and as all are subjects of that kingdom, all ought to repent, be baptized, and prepare for it.

Baptism is a spiritual exercise of identification with this new kingdom.  An outward sign of submission to God's truth, and an affirmation of the necessity for personal obedience.  John proclaimed this truth into a society ruled by law and religion, which are the right and left hands of the institutional government.  And the truth John proclaimed was different from what the authorities claimed was "true".

Is there any chance that John could avoid being in conflict with the government, since he was proclaiming a new kingdom?  Is there any possibility that he could go un-challenged by the ruling class?  Do you think that the authorities should have been concerned at all about John baptizing people in order to prepare for a new kingdom?

Imagine being in a class room full of students.  The class in being taught by a policeman.  The policeman is dressed up in his uniform.  His shirt is pressed and tucked in, he has a beautiful and threatening gun strapped to his side.  He has a tie and a hat which he takes off to set on the desk as he begins to tell the class something of great importance.  He says, “This is the way the world is”. He says, “It is important that we are all on the same page here, so trust me, it is true.”   

Then, in walks John the Baptist, covered in smelly clothing, and looking pretty dirty and rough. He says, "I tell you the truth, the world is actually this way, not the way the policeman here has said”.  Some of the class appear to like what John said, so they start nodding and bobbing their heads, until the police officer loses his temper and must make a decision about what to do with John.  

What should he do to this person who just interrupted his class with a version of the truth which is different than his own?  Who would you be more inclined to believe?  What if the policeman said, “Ok, fine, if you want to believe what he said, I’ll handcuff you and throw you into jail.  On the other hand, if you want to believe what I said, I’ll give each one a candy bar.”  Who would you believe then?   

God's truth has often been brought by men like John, and the Devil's truth, which is no truth at all, is often brought by people with pressed shirts and guns.

December 16, 2012 Gabriel

Matt 2  The angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel (Daniel 9) and pronounced the number of “weeks” until the savior would come.  About this same time, Daniel's friends experience a baptism in a furnace which seem to summon the presence of a man, or a god, or a god-man, none the less, a being that seemed to enjoy showing up to a party which included people being scorched for their allegiance to God. 

While this "god-man of fire" is rejoicing and dancing in the fiery furnace with these three young men who have willingly submitted to be baptized in such a way, the mighty angel Gabriel proclaims that he has actually seen a plan and a timetable for the fire baptizing god-man to bring down his reign upon the whole earth.  

490 years later, this same Gabriel, barely aged at all since his last visit shows up in a field outside Bethlehem to proclaim the birth of the god-man to shepherds.  Imagine the anticipation from the view of the angels, counting down the days, minutes and hours until the secret is revealed, and the joy of proclaiming as the glory unfolds.  Imagine the conversations that were taking place leading up to those events in heaven.  Imagine how badly Gabriel wanted to scream, "I told you so!!!!" when Jesus was finally a real baby, lying in a manger.