Thanks, Stewart. Really helpful sermon – and a great website! I find linking confession to naming the truth really helpful. I’m going to relect on that. I found myself wondering if there’s something else going on here: the people are longing for the arrival of God’s Kingdom. The rabbis tell them that it is being prevented because Israel isn’t keeping the Law perfectly. Both John and Jesus know that the issue isn’t that they’re “being naughty”; it’s that they’re entangled in Empire at every turn. So John’s baptism is a collective act of rebellion: recommiting loyalties solely to Yahew, not Rome … and not to Caesar, whom they are commanded to worhsip as Emperor. So when God says to Jesus, “You are my beloved Son”, it’s loaded: being the Son means living the Kingdom and calling time on Rome (the Way of the Cross).
Hi Lawrence. I completely agree! It’s such a powerful act and stands (and should still stand) in complete opposition to Empire. I’m really looking forward to this year with Mark and working my way through Myers’ brilliant Binding The Strong Man which I know you highly recommend!
Comments (2)
Lawrence
Thanks, Stewart. Really helpful sermon – and a great website! I find linking confession to naming the truth really helpful. I’m going to relect on that. I found myself wondering if there’s something else going on here: the people are longing for the arrival of God’s Kingdom. The rabbis tell them that it is being prevented because Israel isn’t keeping the Law perfectly. Both John and Jesus know that the issue isn’t that they’re “being naughty”; it’s that they’re entangled in Empire at every turn. So John’s baptism is a collective act of rebellion: recommiting loyalties solely to Yahew, not Rome … and not to Caesar, whom they are commanded to worhsip as Emperor. So when God says to Jesus, “You are my beloved Son”, it’s loaded: being the Son means living the Kingdom and calling time on Rome (the Way of the Cross).
Stewart Cutler
Hi Lawrence. I completely agree! It’s such a powerful act and stands (and should still stand) in complete opposition to Empire. I’m really looking forward to this year with Mark and working my way through Myers’ brilliant Binding The Strong Man which I know you highly recommend!