Accept/Reject

This is the liturgical season of Epiphany. Last week was the Epiphany and the Wisemen. This week is the baptism of the Lord. In the ancient church these events were significant markers in the worship calendar and connected to the life of every day Christians. I will have the great pleasure of baptizing a new baby this Sunday. Such events are always a joy for the family and for the wider parish church. New life!

In Mark's Gospel (chapter 1) the narrative runs pretty cleanly. John the Baptist is introduced first, preaching repentance. Then, suddenly, Jesus is baptized. He sees the heavens split (the Greek word is schizo, which means cleave, echoes the language of Isaiah 64:1: O that you would rend the heavens!). He watches a dove/Spirit ascend from heaven (echoes of creation, a wind/spirit hovers over the waters of chaos -and- Noah's ark, the second creation, where a dove hovers over the chaos waters of the flood as the world prepares for round two of the creation). He hears a voice from heaven ("You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased." language that echoes wht God said about Isaac to Abraham). Like I said recently, got to know that Ancient Covenant (OT) text to see what is going on in the New Covenant story! The baptism of Jesus is about new creation, fulfilling the longing for God's Kingdom and the (eventual) sacrifice of the Son of God for the children of Abraham/Isaac.

Jesus then gets driven into the desert by the Spirit. Now they did not have cars, so driven (Greek is ekballo, the same word used of Jesus' exorcisms!) probably connotes being tossed there. This is not gentle leading but a powerful hand of God hurling His Son into the dangerous land of desert sand and sun. In epic stories the hero must face a trial (the Greek word, peirazo, means both test and tempt). In the epic story of Israel's exodus there is a desert experience as well. And they do not do so well. Remember, also, that the river Jordan, where Jesus is baptized, is the same river which dries up (at Adam, a city) so the people can cross on dry land into the promised land. Layers and layers of meaning and fully-filled-ment here! Jesus and Joshua are the same name in Greek and Hebrew. The early church always saw that connection and you should, too!

After successfully facing down the Satan (literally Adversary) in the desert, Jesus returns to proclaim that the time is filled up and the Kingdom is near. His two fold invitation is Repent (Greek: change your mind, Hebrew: change your direction in life) and Believe the Good News. Immediately He gathers disciples and immediately they follow (though the Fourth Gospel fleshes the call of Andrew and Peter out a bit, which helps make it more understandable). Then He goes to a synagogue where His preaching leads to wonder and amazement. After all, Jesus preaches well, with authority, He heals sick people and He tosses out a demon. There is little wonder why His fame spread.

Looking at Luke there is an interesting addition. [We read Luke this year, so we will spend more time with him on this blog.] Later in Mark 6 we will read about the resistance to Jesus, but Luke raises the spectre immediately but transporitng that parallel to the beginning of the story. Luke paints a more detailed picture of Jesus' preaching, including a visit to His home synagogue where He unrolls the scroll to Isaiah. Reading the Messianic verse, He declares that the fulfillment has occured in their hearing.

The initial response is positive, but then there are questions. Who does this guy think he is, literally, "Is this not Joseph's son?" In Mk 6, however, it says, "Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary?" (Which may  be an allusion to the sketchy birth of Jesus. Mk, writing earlier, has no account of the birth, but the unusual reference to Mary as mother, and no mention of father, may be a hint that Jesus was viewed as a bastard?) Matthew 13 changes "the carpenter" to "the son of the carpenter" not clear why, but maybe he was offended by the implication... At any rate, folks feel like they know who Jesus is. As Luke uses the name Joseph, he may be reinforcing for us that people do not know. Earlier, in the chapter just prior to this, Luke listed the ancestors of Jesus, which began "it was supposed he was the son of Joseph."  So the reader knows, when Luke writes "isn't this the son of Joseph?" the answer is, "No, but He is the son of God (Lk 3:38)" If you do not read the whole story you miss that!

The people reject Jesus and decide to kill Him, but He 'passes through' the crowd. The term, passes through, is a favorite of Luke. He uses it to describe Jesus' great journey to Jerusalem (and His cross). Every where else, Jesus is 'passing through.'  Jesus cannot die on the hill by the synagogue, Luke implies, because His date with death is destined to be the Great City. Perhaps this is why Luke mentions "a hill"? (There does not seem to be an actual hill in the area near the synagogue, but Jerusalem in built on hills!)

Today, as then, Jesus is a controversial guy. Today, as then, the revelation of God found in the Jewish Bible offends. The claim that God chose a people as His own to save the world is offensive (John 4:22, Jesus said, "...salvation is from the Jews."). The idea that from that people (Abraham, David) God placed His Son as the actual means of that salvation is offensive. Multiple roads to god (as defined by us) is the preference. However, this is not new. From the beginning, the declaration of God (This is my Son) has led to two responses: accept (the apostles) and reject (the offended synagogue folk). The teaching, preaching, healing and exorcism are seen as God' voice and hand at work; or not. It depends on what we are willing to accept and believe.

For those who do accept and believe, faith is a journey. It is following the one who calls. He travels in strange and sometimes dangerous places. He expects the ones with Him to illustrate the values of the Kingdom by their acts of love, kindness, and justice. He expects their values to be shaped by the Kingdom. And He expects them to have a "passing through" agenda, a way of being on the road to their own crucifixion. There are trials, exciting adventures, and epic battles with the adversary. And it all hinges on a decision. To accept the call or reject. To embrace Jesus or "tolerance." To submit to God or be god myself.....So choose!