John's Expections and Jesus' Baptism
A Sense of Divine Mission and Approval
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
This passage picks up at the end of the lectionary texts from two weeks ago (Dec. 14 & 15), and as such acts virtually as "part three" in repeated coverage. But I suppose that's the thing about scripture: we keep coming back to it, looking at it again and again.
This is still the story of John - he has whipped up people into a frenzied excitement; they are eager to see and work toward an in-breaking of the reign of God, and they look to him for leadership. Wisely, John demurs, and explains that he is merely starting us on the journey, preparing us for the work, that there will be a leader who will demand and guide us to greater things. John is taking the role of the prophet - declaring his sense of God's Will but not taking the responsibility away from the people themselves to answer that call or not, nor to what degree or what kind of answer they will make. John will not accept the hope and expectation they project on him. One way he does this is by anticipating another leader who will be worthy of their confidence and allegiance.
But this is the story of John's expectations for Jesus, too. John declares that Jesus will baptize with the Spirit and fire - Jesus will take the kindling spirits of those John has sparked and set them on fire. You think you're excited now? John seems to be saying. You think you're ready to work for the Kingdom of God now? You think I have a sense of what this new world can be? Wait until you meet Jesus - he's gonna blow you away.
John immediately sets into a work-metaphor: winnowing and harvest (anyone who's forked hay before knows that this is long, hard work - not for the faint of heart or weak of will). This is important. John is communicating right from the get-go that this in-breaking of the reign of God is going to mean hard work for a lot of people. This isn't some return to Eden where everyone is happy all the time and no one works for their food or medical care. This is going to be work, actual work, not just "spiritual" work - but it will be work worth the effort.
John then descends into rough judgment language - pursuing the metaphor too far, in my mind: gathering the wheat is a good image, but burning the chaff with unquenchable fire seems excessive. John is an apocalyptic thinker, remember; he isn't the Messiah and doesn't even claim himself to have a full grasp on the love and dynamics of God's revelation-to-come. (Does one even burn chaff? I thought chaff just blew away in the wind when winnowing in the old style. This may give us a clue as to John's excessive language. And when winnowing, it isn't as if the harvester has any ill-feelings toward the chaff - it's just part of the work to bring in the harvest, not an object of loathing upon which to wreak vengeance. A more appropriate use of the metaphor would have been if the chaff is just let go of... but that wouldn't quite have the sharpness that John was after.) John was also trying to captivate his audience, keep them waiting for something indefinite and uncertain (however glorious). We all have seen how fear captivates people's hearts and minds, especially when directed at some unknown fate. Fear of horrific judgment keeps people in line (at least in the short run), and this may be a strategy of John's to capture the attention and loyalty of his listeners. The baptismal scene of Jesus doesn't carry any of this judgmental tone - and in fact, if anything, seems a loving contrast to John's vindictiveness.
In this baptismal scene, I can understand how "adoptionists" could imagine that Jesus was "adopted" by God and made God's son, not born God's son. It is too bad this interpretation was declared (and violently enforced) as heretical, because it seems a lovely way to represent God's relationship with all humanity: each person, any one of us could be the adopted child of God, so we shouldn't treat anyone with disrespect or unkindness. (Another chit for adoptionist heresy is the footnote: "Other ancient authorities read You are my Son, today I have begotten you.")
It is important that the heavens opened and that Jesus was beloved and approved of before his work began. Similarly, when we are baptized, we are beloved and approved of, God's spirit descends on us, before we're worthy of any such confidence. We just declare our intention, our will to bring about Zion, and God is pleased. We still have the work to do, but we don't have to prove ourselves or earn the affection or approval of God. Picking up our own winnowing fork is a first and glorious step, and the heavens open up and we can hear the voice of Creativity and Love encouraging us, urging us on.
Now, that's confirmation!
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
This passage picks up at the end of the lectionary texts from two weeks ago (Dec. 14 & 15), and as such acts virtually as "part three" in repeated coverage. But I suppose that's the thing about scripture: we keep coming back to it, looking at it again and again.
This is still the story of John - he has whipped up people into a frenzied excitement; they are eager to see and work toward an in-breaking of the reign of God, and they look to him for leadership. Wisely, John demurs, and explains that he is merely starting us on the journey, preparing us for the work, that there will be a leader who will demand and guide us to greater things. John is taking the role of the prophet - declaring his sense of God's Will but not taking the responsibility away from the people themselves to answer that call or not, nor to what degree or what kind of answer they will make. John will not accept the hope and expectation they project on him. One way he does this is by anticipating another leader who will be worthy of their confidence and allegiance.
But this is the story of John's expectations for Jesus, too. John declares that Jesus will baptize with the Spirit and fire - Jesus will take the kindling spirits of those John has sparked and set them on fire. You think you're excited now? John seems to be saying. You think you're ready to work for the Kingdom of God now? You think I have a sense of what this new world can be? Wait until you meet Jesus - he's gonna blow you away.
John immediately sets into a work-metaphor: winnowing and harvest (anyone who's forked hay before knows that this is long, hard work - not for the faint of heart or weak of will). This is important. John is communicating right from the get-go that this in-breaking of the reign of God is going to mean hard work for a lot of people. This isn't some return to Eden where everyone is happy all the time and no one works for their food or medical care. This is going to be work, actual work, not just "spiritual" work - but it will be work worth the effort.
John then descends into rough judgment language - pursuing the metaphor too far, in my mind: gathering the wheat is a good image, but burning the chaff with unquenchable fire seems excessive. John is an apocalyptic thinker, remember; he isn't the Messiah and doesn't even claim himself to have a full grasp on the love and dynamics of God's revelation-to-come. (Does one even burn chaff? I thought chaff just blew away in the wind when winnowing in the old style. This may give us a clue as to John's excessive language. And when winnowing, it isn't as if the harvester has any ill-feelings toward the chaff - it's just part of the work to bring in the harvest, not an object of loathing upon which to wreak vengeance. A more appropriate use of the metaphor would have been if the chaff is just let go of... but that wouldn't quite have the sharpness that John was after.) John was also trying to captivate his audience, keep them waiting for something indefinite and uncertain (however glorious). We all have seen how fear captivates people's hearts and minds, especially when directed at some unknown fate. Fear of horrific judgment keeps people in line (at least in the short run), and this may be a strategy of John's to capture the attention and loyalty of his listeners. The baptismal scene of Jesus doesn't carry any of this judgmental tone - and in fact, if anything, seems a loving contrast to John's vindictiveness.
In this baptismal scene, I can understand how "adoptionists" could imagine that Jesus was "adopted" by God and made God's son, not born God's son. It is too bad this interpretation was declared (and violently enforced) as heretical, because it seems a lovely way to represent God's relationship with all humanity: each person, any one of us could be the adopted child of God, so we shouldn't treat anyone with disrespect or unkindness. (Another chit for adoptionist heresy is the footnote: "Other ancient authorities read You are my Son, today I have begotten you.")
It is important that the heavens opened and that Jesus was beloved and approved of before his work began. Similarly, when we are baptized, we are beloved and approved of, God's spirit descends on us, before we're worthy of any such confidence. We just declare our intention, our will to bring about Zion, and God is pleased. We still have the work to do, but we don't have to prove ourselves or earn the affection or approval of God. Picking up our own winnowing fork is a first and glorious step, and the heavens open up and we can hear the voice of Creativity and Love encouraging us, urging us on.
Now, that's confirmation!
Labels: Luke
posted by Christian at 1:53 PM
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