Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the martyrdom of John the Baptist.
The Baptist preached and baptized to prepare the Jews for the coming of the Messiah. He also baptized Jesus. Then he was arrested by Herod Antipas because he openly criticized him for marrying his brother's wife while his brother was still alive. Antipas had set up a very bad model for his people. Antipas knew that John the Baptist was a prophet. He respected him and wanted to protect him from the evil woman he had illegally married. Antipas made one mistake in order to cover up an earlier mistake. In the end, the mistakes he had made forced him to behead the Baptist.
The Baptist preached and baptized to prepare the Jews for the coming of the Messiah. He also baptized Jesus. Then he was arrested by Herod Antipas because he openly criticized him for marrying his brother's wife while his brother was still alive. Antipas had set up a very bad model for his people. Antipas knew that John the Baptist was a prophet. He respected him and wanted to protect him from the evil woman he had illegally married. Antipas made one mistake in order to cover up an earlier mistake. In the end, the mistakes he had made forced him to behead the Baptist.
While the Synoptic gospels tell us how Herod beheaded John the Baptist, the gospel of John paints us the mind and heart of the Baptist.
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full (John 3:28-29).
The Baptist knew his position well. He was the friend of the bridegroom, the precursor of Christ. He knew that he was not Christ, not the bridegroom because he did not have the bride.
Who was this bride?
I think the bride is the Church, the community of the redeemed. We belong to Christ because it is Christ who has redeemed us with his passion and resurrection. Christians do not belong to the Baptist. When Christ arrived, the Baptist's mission was accomplished. That is why he rejoiced greatly at the bridegroom's voice.
He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full (John 3:28-29).
The Baptist knew his position well. He was the friend of the bridegroom, the precursor of Christ. He knew that he was not Christ, not the bridegroom because he did not have the bride.
Who was this bride?
I think the bride is the Church, the community of the redeemed. We belong to Christ because it is Christ who has redeemed us with his passion and resurrection. Christians do not belong to the Baptist. When Christ arrived, the Baptist's mission was accomplished. That is why he rejoiced greatly at the bridegroom's voice.
He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
When you have done your job, you should withdraw. Otherwise, you are pouring fire on your own head and bring yourself self-destruction. This is typical Chinese wisdom but the context is totally different.
There is a Chinese idiom which says 「功成身退」 roughly translated as "Mission accomplished. Retire." If we are reluctant to let go our accomplishment, we tend to be boastful of our contribution.
Analect tells us the story of a Lu 魯 general called 孟之反 who covered his retreating soldiers so that they could safely returned to the fortress. Entering the fortress himself, he said that it was not he who dared to stay behind to cover them. It was his horse which refused to enter the city.
子曰：「孟之反不伐，奔而殿，將入門，策其馬，曰：非敢後也，馬不進也。」 【論語‧雍也】In explaining one of the 64 oracles of I-Ching, Confucius has the following commentary on the oracle of humility.
勞謙，君子有終，吉。子曰：勞而不伐，有功而不德，厚之至也。語以其功，下人者也。德言盛，禮言恭，謙也者，致恭以存其位者也。【繫辭上】
Humility is the secret weapon which helps you stay long in your position. This is Chinese wisdom.
Lao-Tze, one of the founder of Taoism, also offers a similar advice in his classic.
是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教，萬物作焉而不辭，生而不有，為而不恃，功成而不居。夫唯不居，是以不去。【道德經‧第二章】
Lao-Tze explains that since we do not cling to our accomplish, we are able to stay. Again, this is Chinese wisdom. Both philosophers focused on staying in position.
The Baptist is a beautiful illustration of the virtue of humility. But he did not intend to cling to his role as the forerunner of Christ. When Christ appeared, he retired. Yet, he continued his role as a prophet of God. For this role, he paid a price with his own life. He was not afraid because God was with him.
And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.
They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you (Jeremiah 1:18-19)
The Baptist dared to stand up against Herod Antipas to fulfil his role as God's prophet. No doubt, God was with the Baptist. Yet, God did not save his life. God's plan is truly beyond our intellectual capacity.
There is a Chinese idiom which says 「功成身退」 roughly translated as "Mission accomplished. Retire." If we are reluctant to let go our accomplishment, we tend to be boastful of our contribution.
Analect tells us the story of a Lu 魯 general called 孟之反 who covered his retreating soldiers so that they could safely returned to the fortress. Entering the fortress himself, he said that it was not he who dared to stay behind to cover them. It was his horse which refused to enter the city.
子曰：「孟之反不伐，奔而殿，將入門，策其馬，曰：非敢後也，馬不進也。」 【論語‧雍也】In explaining one of the 64 oracles of I-Ching, Confucius has the following commentary on the oracle of humility.
勞謙，君子有終，吉。子曰：勞而不伐，有功而不德，厚之至也。語以其功，下人者也。德言盛，禮言恭，謙也者，致恭以存其位者也。【繫辭上】
Humility is the secret weapon which helps you stay long in your position. This is Chinese wisdom.
Lao-Tze, one of the founder of Taoism, also offers a similar advice in his classic.
是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教，萬物作焉而不辭，生而不有，為而不恃，功成而不居。夫唯不居，是以不去。【道德經‧第二章】
Lao-Tze explains that since we do not cling to our accomplish, we are able to stay. Again, this is Chinese wisdom. Both philosophers focused on staying in position.
The Baptist is a beautiful illustration of the virtue of humility. But he did not intend to cling to his role as the forerunner of Christ. When Christ appeared, he retired. Yet, he continued his role as a prophet of God. For this role, he paid a price with his own life. He was not afraid because God was with him.
And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.
They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you (Jeremiah 1:18-19)
The Baptist dared to stand up against Herod Antipas to fulfil his role as God's prophet. No doubt, God was with the Baptist. Yet, God did not save his life. God's plan is truly beyond our intellectual capacity.
Dear Lord, I am sure You would not let the Baptist die in vain. The Baptist had done a beautiful witness job. Allow me to bear witness to Your truth bravely like the Baptist. Amen.
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