The Message and the Messenger (2)

As the baptizer, John is the one who made people fully wet by immersing them in the Jordan. There is no indication that God gave him this designation. It more likely came from the people. There is no evidence that Jesus ever called John “the baptist.” Preaching precedes baptism. So why wasn’t he called “John the Preacher?” Or, “John the Voice?”  And, another thing, was Jesus taking notes on how to preach so as to draw a crowd? When Jesus heard his cousin crying out the message of the kingdom, was He moved?  John’s message included “a baptism for repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Since this was a part of John’s introduction of Jesus, then how did these three concepts reveal the mind of Christ?

The focus of baptism for John was repentance and forgiveness. Repentance happens in the heart of a man. Forgiveness happens in the mind of God. Later John will demand some “fruit of repentance” from the Jewish teachers. Baptism without true repentance is a sham. The conviction of one’s heart toward his offence toward God was essential to receiving God’s forgiveness. God cannot forgive someone who does not want to be forgiven. You can’t pardon someone who does not want to be pardoned. The work of repentance is the knocking down of hills and the raising up of valleys in one’s life. This unobstructed pathway allows Jesus to enter a person’s life and provide the forgiveness they so desperately need. As in the Day of Atonement when Jesus comes into a person’s life, behind their veil (see 2 Cor.3), bringing out the sins and laying them on the scapegoat, the person goes away humbled by the experience. Forgiveness is the focus of the kingdom message. Jesus rules over forgiven people. Jesus rules over repentant people. Jesus rules over baptized people.

This kingdom is referred to in several ways in the New Testament: 1) Kingdom of God (Matt.6:33); 2) His kingdom (Matt.13:41); 3) The kingdom of our Father David (Mk.11:10); 4) The kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph.5:5); 5) The kingdom of Jesus Christ (Rev.1:9); 6) The heavenly kingdom (2 Tim.4:18); 7) The kingdom (Matt.8:12). Jesus’ thinking about the kingdom was fundamentally different than the average person of his day. It wasn’t that they did not think about the kingdom; it was that they had a completely distorted view of it. This is why repentance and forgiveness is critical to creating a new kingdom mindset. It personalizes the kingdom, Kingdom is no longer national. It is about my sin and my need. It is about the heart and not politics. It is “at hand” for each person, a kingdom that is near.

So what did John’s attire have to do with this kingdom message? Remember Jesus asks later in Matt.11:7-8, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken in the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king’s palaces.”  John’s very attire spoke to a different kind of kingdom from what most expected. The expensive and soft clothing of royalty in the Roman and Jewish world stands in sharp contrast to John’s camel hair suit and leather belt, and Jesus’ severely limited wardrobe. Kings ate sumptuously and slept on beds of ivory. John ate locust and wild honey, and Jesus did not have a place to lay his head. The very food, clothing and sleeping arrangements of Jesus and John spoke to the nature of this new kingdom.

Did anyone who came to John for baptism remember Naaman during the days of Elisha (2 Kings 5) who had to humble himself in order to be dipped seven times in this same muddy Jordan River? Naaman’s need was a cure for leprosy. Our need is a cure for sin. There is no more fitting opening act than John in the desert baptizing people for repentance and forgiveness to usher in a new understanding of the kingdom of God.

The Message and the Messenger (1)

The synoptic gospels record some interesting facts about the eccentric John the Baptist (Matt.3:1-6; Mark 1:2-6; Luke 3:3-6). These facts can be broken down into four parts: 1) Isaiah’s prophecy; 2) John’s basic message; 3) John’s baptism in the Jordan; 4) John’s food and clothing. John figured prominently in the ministry of Jesus and our understanding of the mind of Christ.

Isaiah’s prophecy (40:3-5) is included differently in each of the gospel accounts. Mark has verse 3, Matthew has verse 3, and Luke has verses 3-5a. However, Mark also adds a line from Malachi 3:1 though Mark also adds a phrase to Malachi’s text, i.e. “before your face.”  Why does Mark add this phrase? Perhaps it is his commentary on Isaiah 40:5 which speaks of the glory of the Lord being revealed and all flesh seeing it. And Malachi also mentions “the Lord who you seek will suddenly come to his temple” which reminds me of Psa.27:4 where God who is being sought in his temple is associated with seeking His face. So what is the purpose of quoting Isaiah and Malachi?

It was first to confirm that the promised “messenger” was in fact among first century Israel. Just as the angels announced the birth of Christ, so John, a human angel, announces the ministry of Christ. When important people speak before large crowds it is honor to be chosen to introduce the speaker. Later God Himself will make His own introduction from heaven. Of course, the bridegroom must be announced. It is fitting. For John this was part of the preparation, making ready or forming the way for Jesus. Every building needs to be formed before walls, roofs, and floors can be added. The 2/4’s come out, the footers are dug, and the trusses are put into place. This was John’s work. He was grading the road that Jesus would pave. I can’t help but wonder if Jesus and John had discussed this ahead of time. Did they spread out the house plans or the road construction plans, and plot out the job together? Did they discuss timing, and locations, and wordings? Was their ministries coordinated?

John was the VOICE. He was the spokesman for Jesus. He was his press secretary. He had authority to speak for Jesus. Twice more “voice” is mentioned, i.e. Rachel, the voice of Ramah, weeping for her children, and God Himself who spoke from heaven. These are the three voices in the life of Jesus: a voice of announcement, a voice of travail over the effects of sin, and the Voice of affirmation to the identity and purpose of Jesus. John’s voice was in the wilderness just as Isaiah said it would be. Perhaps God staged the announcement there so as to separate it from the noisy voices of the crowds in Jerusalem. In the desert John’s voice would stand out. There would be no competition from would-be messiahs. It is also fitting that John was in the very desert where the scapegoat was released on the Day of Atonement, the goat that takes away the sins of the people. The first two voices “cried” out. There is urgency. The third Voice answered.

John’s job was to make straight paths for the Lord. The word is euthus, a metaphor for right, upright, and true. This is the only path Jesus can follow. He is not crooked. Luke tells us the process involves filling in ravines and bringing mountains and hills low. John was a road-grader, and, if you have ever lived on a dirt road, you understand. Two words describe the road John must repair, crooked from skolia, from which we get scoliosis, and trachus which means rough, with a goal of making the road smooth. The word smooth is a word from which we get lego-"to lay, arrange, to-gather” or to otherwise put something in order. John and Jesus entered a world that was “out of order” and had to be straightened out. Jesus saw the world as messy, cluttered, disordered, chaotic, much like the world before creation, i.e. formless and void with darkness over the deep. Then, He spoke words of LIGHT into darkness, and He will do the same in His day.

Luke continues the Isaiah quote to include “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Jesus came in the flesh (John 1:14) to save all flesh, an important theological point according to 1 John 4. In Acts 2:17, another prophecy announces the pouring out of the Spirit on “all flesh.”  Luke’s quotation from Isaiah is the first mention of the mystery (See Eph.3) that salvation is for all, Jew and Gentile alike. It is going to take some significant actions by Jesus and the Father to get the early church to understand and apply this in practice. Jesus’ mind was firmly set on offering salvation to all men. The two people He commended for having great faith were both Gentiles. Though He trained the apostles on reaching the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” He personally ministered to everyone in His path, including the Samaritans (John 4).

This salvation is deliverance. Deliverance means to take a person from a state of danger and destruction and bring them into a state of prosperity and happiness, or from slavery to freedom. Jesus came to be a blessing (Gen.12:3). He would prove to be so to men, body, soul and spirit.

Life Summaries

Luke loves to give us some life summaries of John the Baptist and Jesus. John’s appears in Luke 1:80: “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Jesus has two summaries. The first is in Luke 2:40. “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.” The second is in Luke 2:52. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” These summaries or time-passing notations provide us with some insight into human development from a Spirit point of view. There is a human point of view as well.

Luke loves to give us some life summaries of John the Baptist and Jesus. John’s appears in Luke 1:80: “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Jesus has two summaries. The first is in Luke 2:40. “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.” The second is in Luke 2:52. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” These summaries or time-passing notations provide us with some insight into human development from a Spirit point of view. There is a human point of view as well.

We tend to look at children as they “grow and become” in relationship to their height. “You are getting so big,” we say. We would be worried if they didn’t grow physically. But, we seem to show surprise that they are doing so. Or we comment on school. “I can’t believe you are already in first grade. Seems like yesterday I was rocking you.” We comment on personality. “This child is introverted or outgoing, or fearful or fearless.” Or we comment on behavior. “This one is a handful.” But, though there is some of this in Luke, the emphasis of the summaries is spirituality and maturity.

All three emphasize growth, growth in strength of spirit, in wisdom, and in grace with God and men. And, Luke adds stature, though this could mean more than height. The word “stature” is also found in Ephesians 4:13 regarding our growth into the stature of the fullness of Christ. In this context this means 1) no longer being infants, 2) no longer tossed like a wave in regard to teachings and the deceitful schemes of men; 3) instead speaking the truth in love. Is this what Luke meant about Jesus growing in stature?

So how do we look for strength of sprit in our children and grandchildren? The world often defines this kind of strength as rugged independence. I recently watched a documentary on Jack Johnson, the heavy weight champion of the world at the turn of the 20th century. He was the first black heavy weight champion. The emphasis on his strength, besides his knockout punches, focused on the fact that he would not be defined by his blackness, and that he cared little for what anyone thought of his behaviors, including his many sexual encounters, even with white women, a taboo at the time. I doubt this is what Luke meant. True strength of spirit is found in a person who is strong in the Lord and His mighty power, one who is strong in faith and commitment.

Along with strength of spirit is one’s growth in wisdom. Proverbs is our primer for how a son grows in wisdom. He is one who listens to instruction, avoids the pitfalls of temptation, responds appropriately to correction, and stores understanding within the heart. This is certainly true of John and Jesus. Jesus was not merely knowledgeable, he was wise. From his debating within the temple courts at 12 to his standing before Pilate at 33, Jesus demonstrated supernatural wisdom, a wisdom from above.

Jesus also grow in grace with God and man. The favor of God and man was on Him. This goes beyond merely being liked. God and men wanted to help Him be successful. They invested in Him. They saw His potential, and He was given aid and assistance. Jesus learned to live in integrity so that others, including God, would notice that there is something different, and want to be a part of this young man’s future. Of course, this was expected of God, His Father, who sent Him and knew Him, but it became evident to the people around Him, at least until He started preaching and meddling. For some, favor turned to opposition.








These summaries give us insight into the mind of Christ. He was truly growing and becoming, and in this, leaving an example for all who would follow in His steps.

The First Recorded Words of Jesus

The First Recorded Words of Jesus

Luke gives us the event in Luke 2:41-50. This was not Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem for the Passover. His family went “every year.” (2:41) That is a big deal. The Passover lasted for a period of eight days total, and then you have travel time. Time off work. Planning. A place to stay. Packing. Coordination with the other pilgrims. No travel agents or event planners. Joseph and Mary have at least six other children to bring along (check it out in Matt.13:55-56). No wonder they lost Jesus. We had only five children and we left a couple of them at the church building on occasions, sleeping under the pews. I wish I could say when I found them they were intelligently conversing with the teachers of the law.

Growing up Jewish, Jesus was exposed to the history and the culture on a regular basis. His life had context. He probably asked the question in the seder, i.e. “What does this ceremony mean to you?” (Exodus 12:26) Context is important for any child. In our mobile and family-dysfunctional society many children do not grow up with the stories of their past. They don’t know who they are. For Jesus these stories were profound, because most of them pre-figured Him. He was coming to realize that He was the Lamb of God, slain, and whose blood is on the door-post of all who would seek deliverance from death. He was the first-born one whose sacrifice insured life for everyone qualifying them to be co-heirs with Him. When Jesus heard John proclaim Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) did He reflect back on the 30 Passovers He had celebrated with His family? How did He feel about eating lamb?

Luke calls Jesus “the boy” (2:43). One year later he will be declared a man. But, for now, He is Mary’s boy, and she was clearly not alright with His becoming more independent. How mothers love to hold on to their children! But, this was no ordinary child. Jesus was “gifted.” He had maturity beyond his 12 years. But, surely He should have not stayed behind. How did that happen? Was He so engaged in conversation with the Jewish scholars that He just did not realize they had left, and when He did He thought it better to stay with these responsible leaders instead of setting off on His own to find the family? Did He stay in the temple courts, a public place, to make it easier to be found by His family? Was He surprised it took three days? Was this a full three days, or was it like His time in the tomb, a part of three days, a minimum of 26 hours of separation from Mary and Joseph? Was this the longest period of time He had ever been away from His earthly family? He had already been away from His heavenly family for 12 years. The caravan was composed of his relatives and friends. (Some wonder why they get overlooked in a church. Jesus was overlooked in His company. See He does understand.) Freeze frame the moment for Mary when she realized Jesus was not with them. There is that separation anxiety that any parent would feel knowing their child is MISSING.  Posters come out. Radio, TV, and social media is utilized. Reward money is raised for information leading to any clue. The rescue dogs are brought out. What was He wearing when you last saw Him? Height? Weight? Color of Hair? DNA?

It was probably Joseph who first saw Jesus because He was likely in the court of the men, where women would not be allowed. Let’s size up the situation. Jesus is in the heiron-a sacred place. Joseph discovered Jesus conversing with the teachers, asking and answering questions. Amazement was the only word for the learning Jesus displayed. What topics were discussed? Did Jesus take notes? Years later does Jesus recall this discussion when He encounters the teachers of the law during His ministry? This is Jesus’ debate prep. They were amazed at His “understanding.” The word sunesis is where everything comes together, as when two streams merge. Jesus was putting things together at age 12.

Imagine Jesus reunion with mom. All that anxious adrenaline in Mary, fear, worry, anger, and relief came together in a moment. She didn’t know whether to hug Jesus or whip Him. She certainly took this matter personally. “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” (2:48) Later did Jesus recall this experience when He told the parable of the lost sheep (Matt.18:12) or the story of searching for the pearl of great price (Matt.13:35). Jesus’ response was calm and measured. When Jesus said, “Why were you searching for me?” He could have been saying, “Why are you questioning me?” He was not a runaway. He was not getting into trouble. He was not being disrespectful or disobedient. And, His being left behind was probably more His parents fault than His. Jesus seemed to expect that they should know what He would be doing.

The phrase Jesus uses to explain where He had to be is a little ambiguous. The words “house and business” are not found in the Greek. What He was doing pertained to His Father. It was about His Father. In fact Jesus’ whole life was about His Father. It was an obligation (had to be-must). These were the first recorded words of Jesus, unless we count the pre-incarnate words, “Let there be light!” These first words were not even understood. I guess Jesus had to get use to people not being able to understand what He was saying. They simply did not understand this unique and supremely important relationship Jesus has with His Father. This is key to understanding the Mind of Christ. Nevertheless, Jesus submitted to His parents and went with them. Things changed that day for Mary and Jesus. He is experiencing the implications of His heavenly origins and purpose, and Mary is storing these things in her heart, and beginning to realize what she has always known, this son of hers is no ordinary child.

A Model For Children

  There are two verses in the early life of Jesus that tell us how he is doing, Luke 2:40,52. "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."  What does this spiritual growth chart tell us about Jesus as a child? Before I delve into this, let me first say something about children today. My greatest fear about our kids is that we don't expect enough from them. I fear we have come to fear our children. Kids intimidate us because they seem to be able to play a trump card when we require "too much" of them, i.e. they tune us out. They have so many more ways to do that these days-they don't even have to leave the room. They can just push a touchscreen and get sucked into cyberspace, and they are gone. We love our children so much we allow them to check in and out at will because we fear they will check out and never come back.  I know I am being a little over dramatic here, but I don't think I am far from the truth. The ideals expressed in these two verses that constitute the "stature of the full of Christ" in his youth should be our standard for our kids. We say we want them to be like Jesus. Well what was Jesus like when he was a kid?

He was strong. How so? I assume there is some indication here that he was physically strong, but not completely. The other things being said here are spiritual in nature. I can't imagine that Jesus' physical strength is the focus on this word. In what ways do we want our children to be strong? How about standing up to bullies, or taking a stand in moral choices, or being strong in their faith. I was much more impressed with my children's ability to defend their faith than to prove how many muscles they had.  I want my grandchildren to be strong of heart, mind, will, and emotions. I want some spiritual toughness that can withstand the knocks of life.

He was wise. How so? He didn't do stupid things. A child's brain isn't fully formed until the mid-twenties. So they often do stupid things. But, do we assume because of this that this is par for the course? Jesus proved that a child can be wise. In our desire to be always "age-appropriate" do we fail to expose our children to the wisdom of the older generation that can help them reach maturity sooner? Wisdom begets wisdom. If a child is only around other children who are as immature as they are, then how do they gain wisdom. So at twelve Jesus is holding his own in the temple among the teachers of the law. Perhaps we should ask the question, "How was he able to do that and what went into his training that produced such an outcome?"

He had grace all over him. There is much that could be said about grace, but how did it manifest itself in a child?  Jesus learn to give. He was not selfish, self-centered, entitled. He received the grace of God into his life, allowing him to have grace to give others. A child can only pass on what they have. Is your child receiving the grace of God, knowing they are blessed, sensing his love and presence? I fear too many children are all about what is in it for them. Being able to sympathize with other children, to notice when a friend is sad or hurt, to sense when mommy is tired and care , is all a part of being full of grace. 

A child like Jesus does not happen by accident. There is a deliberate training and philosophy of child-rearing that produces these results. In knowing the mind of Christ, it is essential that we even explore his mind as a child. In doing so, we find nuggets (not chicken) of truth and insight that can pay tremendous dividends for our children. 

Early Childhood Experiences

“Experiences between birth and age 5 matter significantly to children's long-term emotional and psychological health, and changing these experiences for the better pays dividends, according to an editorial and several new reports in the May (2010) issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.” (Science Daily, May 7, 2010)

Have you ever considered the effects of the events of Jesus’ early life on him as he grew up?  Though some of these events are recorded, e.g. the slaying of the children in Bethlehem, the sojourn in Egypt, and the move back to Nazareth, there is very little to suggest the effects these events had on Jesus. But, we would be foolish to believe they had no effect on him.

I have snapshots in my head of events that happened in my life before the age of 2. These snapshots come mostly in the form of stories that I repeatedly heard growing up, an in a few cases the photographs that recorded the events. One photo that was particularly fortuitous was of me sitting in a pink bathtub on the back porch, and two snapshots in quick succession of me biting a cat’s tale as he ran by. Now, this wasn’t particularly traumatic (well the pink bathtub is troubling) for me since I don’t like cats much anyway, but I am sure the cat would have different memory of this event. Another memory I have is staying with my aunt Lois and her three daughters (my cousins) for a few days while my mother had some surgery when I was about a year old. I was told I would grab their hairpins, run to the far corner of my baby bed, gleefully exclaiming, “Can’t get, get.” I smile to think of this.

So what effect did the slaying of the babies in Bethlehem have on Jesus? What effect did the visit by an angel have on Jesus? What effect did fleeing to and living in Egypt have on Jesus? What effect did the long journey back to Nazareth have on him, and the fear that was associated with all these events? We don’t know, but we know He lived through these, and surely heard stories about them as he grew up. It was part of his human history. It was part of his life story. Though he was too young to understand, these events are significant and traumatic in the lives of Joseph and Mary. They were deeply affected by them. It is a big deal for a ruthless king to put out a “hit” on your baby! This king was no less than Herod the Great, a man who had his own children and wife killed to preserve his power.

The word “fear” seems appropriate to characterize the state of mind of this young family. There was much to be afraid of. A study conducted at King’s College in London and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2015 concludes that children who grow up in an atmosphere of anxiety tend to be more anxious. The stated results of the study are: For both anxiety and neuroticism, the models provide support for significant direct environmental transmission from parents to their adolescent offspring.

What was Jesus exposed to as a young child? How did this affect his view of the world? Did these experiences make him more vulnerable in some situations? Do these questions make you uncomfortable? Remember the Hebrew writer’s words: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity…” (2:14) Again, “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he Himself is subject to weakness.” (3:2) So when someone who lived in fear said to Jesus, “You could not understand” he might say, “Did you ever have a hit put out on your head by the most powerful king in our land?”

Teachable

"It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me." John 6:45 Jesus knew his Bible. He could quote it. He could apply it. He could use it in His own teachable moments. His text was Isaiah 54:13, a messianic continuation of the great "suffering servant" text of Isa.53. The chapter begins with the "barren woman" who never bore a child eventually having more children to the point of having to enlarge her tent. Paul quotes this in Galatians 4:27 as a reference to Sarah who stayed childless for years and eventually gave birth to a Promise through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. God's family is expanding and He must teach His children. 

But notice in Isaiah 54:13 that the intended outcome of the teaching of God is the peace or wellbeing of his children. Just as earthly fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath, our heavenly Father knows that his school must be a place of peace. Jesus' word for this wellbeing is "eternal life." The ultimate homeostasis is a result of being taught by our Father, the ultimate homeschooler. The key to this wellbeing is allowing ourselves to be taught by the Father. The chaos and confusion of lives is a direct indicator of an unteachable spirit. 

The text says the hearer or listener learns. Jesus told the Pharisees who complained against Him, "Go and learn what this means..." (Mark 9:13) The one yoked to Jesus' easy yoke learns from Jesus. (Matt.11:29) The children and grandchildren of widows must learn to put their religion into practice. (1 Tim.5:3-4) Timothy was admonished to continue in the things he had learned. (2 Tim.3:14) Notice, in this text, learning should lead to conviction. There is a certain way we "learn Christ" according to Paul in Eph.4:20, not as the Gentiles walk. 

To live in our Father's house is to be in an environment of learning. God doesn't entertain His children; rather, He teaches them. For us earthly fathers to be able to follow in the footsteps of our heavenly Father, we must serve as His teaching assistant to facilitate learning in our homes. Study and learning should be a natural practice in a Christian home, and certainly within the church. Though we bemoan the fact that the government has taken prayer and Bible reading out of their schools, we still have two other much more effective institutions, the home and the church, where we can provide as many godly teachable moments as we desire, without hindrance. But, for this to happen each of us have to be teachable.