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 …
Tag: John the Baptist
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 …
Sunday, December 6
Psalm: 113, 115 Meditation Luke: John (the Baptist) was born to a Levitical family – his father Zechariah was among those serving in the Temple. Zechariah would closely adhere to the Law thus when John was 8 days old, he was thus circumcised. That was the day the child would be named. John’s name was …
Friday, November 6
Psalms: 69 Meditation Matthew: this is Matthew’s account of the death of John the Baptist. It is Herod Antipas’ birthday and he gives to Herodias’ daughter the head of John the Baptist (at the behest of her mother). When Jesus heard of this He withdrew to a solitary place. The death of John was very …
Monday, October 19
Psalm: 9 Meditation Matthew: Jesus has compared Himself to John the Baptist – funny thing: both are found wanting. John is just plain strange –he doesn’t eat much (locusts and wild honey) and doesn’t drink, whereas Jesus is accused of being a “winebibber” and a glutton. As I say, one can’t make everyone happy – …
Friday, October 16
Psalms: 17 Meditation Matthew: John the Baptist sits in prison at King Herod Antipas’ pleasure. When John would die is anybody’s guess, but it was in the king’s power. Since John has time to think about it, he now wonders if Jesus is actually “the One”. He may even have doubted. Earlier John had pointed …
Friday, September 11
Psalms: 54 Meditation Matthew: John the Baptist made no attempt at popularity. Like any prophet worth his salt, John was no fashion-plate either, proclaiming “Repent” – the only thing missing from this caricature was the sandwich board reading: “The end is near.” He was fearless confronting king, Pharisee and priest alike warning even them that …
Saturday, September 5
Psalms: 32 Meditation Mark: As Jesus hangs on the cross He cries out “My God, my God…” in either Aramaic or Hebrew which is mistaken by some as a cry for Elijah. Elijah was to play an important role in the life of John the Baptist. It was a cherished belief that Elijah would return …
Monday, July 27
Psalm: 148 Meditation Mark: This rather grizzly account of the death of John the Baptist typifies how prophets were treated. John the Baptist “spoke truth to power” reminding Herod (Antipas) that it was unlawful for him to take and marry is brother Philip’s wife Herodias. There is no record of divorce between Philip and Herodias. …
