Lesson 10 - Looking for Jesus - His Life and Times

PART II

The Work Begins

 John, the Prophet of Doom

Before Jesus there was John. Though he was just a few months older, Jesus’ cousin was super influential. Notice the number of inches the gospel writers devoted to his story. He is also immortalized by Josephus, the Jewish historian. And in fact, there are more recorded accounts about John by the non-Christian historians of the times, than there are about Jesus.

When Jesus was ready to begin his own ministry, John was already well known by the people as well as the powers that be. So, let’s get our camera gear and back track in time for just a few more snapshots of John the Baptist. Let’s explore what was so special about this guy.

          We can catch a shot of him in the ‘wilderness’, which is actually not that far from anywhere else. He has decided to live off the ‘grid’ of civilization near the Jordan River. Think ‘hippie’ for the moment. He has chosen his clothing very carefully for maximum impact on his audience. His hair is long and probably unkempt. His body is covered not by the tunic and over mantle worn by most, but by camel skin caught by a leather belt. This is a specific statement. This is the costume of an Old Testament prophet. John was purposefully styling himself as a ‘present day’ prophet and his clothes and message were in your face strident.

          Paraphrasing he said something like this. “The end is really, really near. Any moment God’s wrath will strike down our oppressors (label them Romans) and those who sin. Then the purity of God’s Law will be restored. So, you had better be ready, now!”  This was John’s message and he screamed it loud, often and flamboyantly. He was especially critical of Herod Antipas and because of this paid the ultimate price. Herod had him arrested, imprisoned and when John still kept up the harangue he ‘cut off his head’. Well, we don’t actually know that part historically, but John was executed.

          John prophesized impending doom.  He was an ‘apocalyptic prophet’ and one of many that were running around the desert at that time. He was simply the most stridently obvious and well known. Jesus was his cousin and deeply affected by his message and methods. So, we will have to return to see just how Jesus’ baptism by John and Jesus’ blossoming ministry take an important turn after John’s death.

Questions to Contemplate and Discuss

1.     John’s choice of clothing and lifestyle was precise. What was the message this outfit sent to his followers?

2.     Why do you think the New Testament writers spent so much time on John’s story and message?

3.     How do you think Jesus saw and responded to his cousin’s self-appointment as prophet?