IN THE WORDS OF JESUS–Part 176

YES, HE is Talking to YOU! (continued)

Love is the Fulfilling of the Law

Having just completed a rather lengthy journey through the sayings of the Master regarding John the Baptist, we should have somewhat of a better idea of two things. First is that the role of the Baptist was certainly to herald the coming of the Christ; it is written that “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2). In this idea of preacher we have the generally understood Christian idea of all teachers of the word, all ministers and priests and pastors, are preachers  and we should here try to gain a better insight into the biblical use of this word. It is translated from the Greek word kerusso which the lexicon tells us means: to be a herald, to officiate as a herald, to proclaim after the manner of a herald, always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done; used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers². Strong’s tells us similarly that kerusso means to preach, proclaim, tell, often urging acceptance of the message, with warnings of consequences for not doing so³. We can see here either the origin of the common understanding of this word or we can see how this understanding became the defining terms. It matters not which as these issues do go both ways and we frequently point out that the definitions, in both these reference texts as well as Vine’s and Vincent, often reflect the common Christian understanding in their day which is, of course, then forwarded on to us.

In the case of this word however there is a splitting of opinion regarding the usage of the word  kerusso which is translated as preach(ing). Vine’s tells us that there are two words translated as preach, the other being euaggelizo which he says is almost always used of “the good news” concerning the Son of God as proclaimed in the Gospel⁶. This word, according to the lexicon, means to instruct (men) concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation², among other similar ideas. Of kerusso, Vine’s tells us that we should understand it as (a) “to be a herald,: of, in general, ” to proclaim” and he gives us several references of usage; (b) “to preach the gospel as a herald,”⁶ and again with several references. While this may seem unimportant, and in the reality of life it is, it helps us to understand how the use of words can distort our thinking. Here, we should be seeing John the Baptist, Jesus and some others of the apostles in a very different light than we see the common Christian preacher but in the general understanding of the word there is no delineation. Vincent comes to our aid in explaining this word kerusso for us this way: originally, to discharge the duty of a herald; hence, to cry out, proclaim (see on 2 Pet. ii. 5) the standing expression in the New Testament for the proclamation fo the Gospel; but confined to the primary announcement of the message and facts of salvation, a not including continuous instruction in the contents and connections of the message, which is expressed by didasko (to teach)⁴.

According to Vincent we should have here the idea that what we see in the gospel message regarding the saying above about John that; he is proclaiming, heralding, the coming of the Kingdom of God and the arrival of the Master while Jesus in turn is heralding the same message and is instructing His disciples to do the same. The picture that we should see when we read these lines is one of announcement of these things and whatever other things that there are that are  of the nature of a primary announcement. So again then this is our first point: ‘that the role of the Baptist was certainly to herald the coming of the Christ’. In this we should see the working of a Great Plan, a Plan which considered deeply the nature of man. Our second point regarding the Baptist is that he is a trusted ambassador of the Kingdom of God and his life as the Baptist is interwoven with the life of the Christ and the salvation of Humanity from the perspective of bringing the whole of the human family closer to that lofty goal of being in the Presence of God. Jesus came to us as the Son and as One with God; His purity allowed for Him to bring to physical presence on this Earth the full potency and power of God. This is referred to by the Apostle Paul in his saying about the Master that: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Such was not the case with the Baptist. John is however born in a controlled environment and to Zacharias, a priest, and his wife Elisabeth of whom we know little except what is written saying: “a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they wereboth righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord” (Luke 1:5) plus that she is a cousin to Mary the Mother of the Lord. We also know that his birth was made possible through the action of ‘the Spirit of God’ which enables this couple to conceive where before it had not been possible.

We know also what is said of this child John by the angel of the Lord who speaks with Zacharias and although we do not understand the nature of the angel we can be sure that there is a definite and clear message from the spiritual realm to Zacharias which is clearly and understood even through the doubt expressed in flesh. We should see here from the above text that Zacharias is a spiritual man and in touch with his own Soul and that his communication comes via this ‘Soul’ channel and that the angel, being an apparition, it is not viewed with the physical eye but by that spiritual perspective that we can call today revelation. This angel of the Lord appears to Zacharias thus:

“And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:11-17).

We should see in in the Great Plan and we should see also the role of  Elias who we should know as the Old Testament Prophet Elijah. If we look back at the Old Testament story of Elijah we should also see that even in that day he was a man of God with a role and responsibility above other men and that he was of such a high regard, if that term can be used, that he did not die a physical death but was rather taken directly to what we can call today the Kingdom of God. Let us look briefly at Elijah’s story: “And it came to pass, as they still went on , and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven“. Can we see the ‘discipleship’ nature of that Spirit that appeared as Elijah and then again, according to the text above and to the words of the Master, as John the Baptist. The Angel Gabriel tells us of John that “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias” which the Master confirms to us saying also of the Baptist that “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come” adding afterwards His words for those who cannot believe  “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:14-15). And, so that there is no confusion on this point, the Master also tells us again elsewhere: “And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed , as it is written of him” (Mark 9:11-13).

So here in this Great Plan of God we have our first part of our Christmas story; not in the story of Christmas as a day but in the idea of the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child and the life of the Christ. This is His precursor, John the Baptist who said “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias” (John 1:23). In closing today let us look at the way this story of John the Baptist is told by the Apostle John:

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world……John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou ? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?  He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record , saying , I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending , and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after John stood , and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:1-9, 15, 19-34)

So here we have John the Baptist heralding the coming of the Lord and the eternal message “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). John introduces the era of the Christ and in this way he is a large but forgotten part of the celebration of Christmas which we should consider not only as the birth of the Master but His life also.

Note on the Quote of the Day