Psalms:70, 75 Meditation John: Matthew tells us in his chapter 15 that as Jesus was going about in Tyre & Sidon that He was sent to call the lost sheep of Israel. Like John the Baptizer, Jesus’ ministry was mainly calling the Jews to repentance. The “other sheep” are Gentiles; so here Jesus gives us …
Tag: John the Baptist
Wednesday, January 26
Psalm: 89 Meditation Mark: The death of John the baptizer. King Herod (this one being Antipas) took it upon himself to marry his brother Philip’s wife. Under the Law this was not acceptable (at least while Philip was alive). Herodias (with a name like that must have been somehow related to King Herod the Great …
Tuesday, December 21
Psalm: 19 Meditation Luke: Unlike Mark, Luke is far more generous with the details surrounding John the baptizer’s conception. Gabriel’s description of what John’s life will look like takes on all the trappings of a nazarite and I am not certain they even existed anymore at the time of his birth. The last notable nazarite …
Saturday, December 18
Psalm: 34 Meditation Luke: This is Luke’s rendering of John the baptizer’s ministry. We live in a world today which seems to think that feelings and niceness are of paramount importance. Look at this: “You brood of vipers” John addressed the crowds. That’s nice – a great way to turn hearts and to win the …
Friday, November 12
Psalm: 139 Meditation Luke: Ever eager to be “nice”, Jesus addresses some well-meaning Pharisees who were warning Him of Herod’s unveiled threat to Jesus. Like John the Baptist, Jesus advances rather than retreats, explaining that He must continue His good work. This is also a reference to His passion, suffering and death. “Today and tomorrow, …
Wednesday, October 13
Psalm: 39 Meditation Luke: John the Baptist was a Levite, Jesus of the tribe of Judah. Isaiah in chapter 40 prophesies John’s coming. By the time John arrives on the scene, there had been no prophet in the land – numerous false messiahs but, alas, no prophets. John had received the gift of the Holy …
Tuesday, September 28
Psalm: 90 Meditation Luke: John the baptizer, recognized by Jesus Himself as the “greatest of men born of women”, was no coward. Please forgive me for such a crude comparison, but John may have sounded in his day (especially to the priests, elders, scribes, and Pharisees) as abrupt and unpolished as President Trump was given …
Wednesday, June 23
Psalm: 139 Meditation Matthew: The admonition here to become like little children, i.e., to be wholly dependent upon God, hearkens back to Matthew 11. There Jesus makes an astounding pronouncement: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom is …
Friday, February 26
Psalm 95, 40 Meditation: Mark – Not only does this passage show Jesus eating in the house of tax collector with other tax collectors and sinners, it also shows him asserting that he is the one they were preparing for. The fasting of John’s followers and the Pharisee’s disciples was in preparation for the coming …
Tuesday, January 12
Psalm 6 Meditation: John – In this passage, John the Baptist tells the priests and Levites that he is not the Messiah but the one preparing the way for him. They even ask if John is Elijah or a Prophet. John had his own position. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. John recognizes his …
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