According to the Gospel of Luke, six months before angel Gabriel visited Mary, announcing God's plan to kick start His salvation project, the angel visited Zechary in the Temple to tell this old man that he would have a son whom he should name John. Later, this John baptized the Jews in River Jordan. That is why he is called John the Baptist to differentiate him from John the Evangelist. A simple calculation shows that John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus. Therefore, the Church celebrates his birth six months before Christmas. That is today.
Christians look up to the Baptist as the Precursor of Christ, the forerunner of Christ. His mission was to prepare the hearts of the Jews so that they would be receptive to the coming Christ. He did so through his preaching and baptizing.
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins (Mark 1:4-5).
On the other hand, the Jews believed that at the end of the world, Elijah would return to prepare the coming of the Messiah. Putting the two together, we come to the understanding that the Baptist was this Elijah. Indeed, this was how Jesus answered the question of his disciples after his Transfiguration.
And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"
He replied, "Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands.
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13).
Wait a minute, did Jesus really say so? Not at all. Matthew was responsible for putting this interpretation into writing.
Indeed, it is always revealing to contrast the way the Evangelists told the same story. Take a look at Mark.
And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"
And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things; and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." (Mark 9:11-13)
Matthew had simplified Mark a bit, rearranging the verse about the maltreatment of the Son of Man to make it clearer. He added an interpretation not explicitly stated in Mark. I think this lends a greater weight for the priority of Mark, that Mark was written before Matthew. Therefore, though Jesus had not explicitly stated that John the Baptist was Elijah, the disciples understood it this way. That Mark did not put down this interpretation does not mean Mark, or even Peter, did not understand it this way.
Naturally, we may ask why Jesus did not say it explicitly?
Then, what did Jesus say about John the Baptist?
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11).
That isn't strong enough to prove that John the Baptist was Elijah. The Gospel only acknowledges the status of the Baptist. Yet, I still harbour the view that the Matthew community was trying to assert herself against challenges from the Baptist Movement. As discussed before, the Christian community had to fend off the embarrassment caused by Jesus' baptism. Yes, Jesus (Christians) acknowledged that the Baptist was the greatest among men. Yet he was insignificant in the Kingdom of Heaven. He was even unworthy to untie the sandals of Christ.
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16)
This famous formula is recorded in all the Synoptic gospels. The Christians understood that the Holy Spirit was the defining factor. They had the Holy Spirit while the Baptist Movement had not. Granted that the Baptist Movement was inferior to the Christ Movement, what was the relation between the two movements? Chronologically speaking, the Baptist Movement emerged first and Jesus was among one of the baptized, one of the members of the Baptist Movement. Then, the Christ Movement was a spin-off from the Baptist Movement. Christians should acknowledge the priority and even the primacy of John the Baptist. This would not be admissible in the Christ Movement. The viable option was to make the Baptist the Precursor of Christ. He came first. This much was undeniable. Yet, he was only "a voice in the wilderness" to prepare the way of the Lord. Was the Baptist Elijah? Jesus was silent.
The gospel of John, which I think retains the authentic voices of the Baptist, flatly denies that the Baptist was Elijah.
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No."
They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." (John 1:19-23)
Here, John contradicts Matthew, but not Jesus. The question remains open.
Dear Lord, may we follow the example of the Baptist, faithfully prepare the way for the people to receive You. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment