Psalm: 97, 99 Meditation: JohnHow many times do the followers of Jesus have to attest to the truths they believe to the same people? Is it human nature to ask the same questions hoping for a different answer if you did not agree with the first answer? John the Baptist’s own witness showed that he …
Tag: John the Baptist
Wednesday, August 3
Psalm: 119:97-120 Meditation: JohnJohn the Baptist, like David before him, said that the one that came after him was actually before him. Contemplate how confusing this statement would have been to those receiving it. If you were one of John the Baptist’s followers would you have left him and followed Jesus? Gospel:John 1:29-42 …
Wednesday, April 6
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 …
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 …
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