What John the Baptist Doesn't Say

Last night in the Bible study that I lead at church on Wednesdays, we were looking at Luke's account of John the Baptist in chapter 3. John is addressing a Jewish audience, an audience that sought him in the wilderness. These folks, apparently inquisitive enough to come looking for him, wanted to be baptized. John, not one to mince words, tells them that their family history alone does not put them in right relationship with God; on the contrary, only those who are acting in ways consistent with repentance (change of mind and actions) are in right relationship with God.

So obviously this crowd want to know what to do, and here is where we get John's answer. John tells those who have two tunics to share with someone who has none. The one with food should do the same.

Does that strike you as odd? Why doesn't John address the ones who don't have two tunics, or don't have food. Surely they must share some responsibility in their situation, right? What about some personal responsibility? They need to get their act together before getting any handouts--am I right???. After all, this is the way the world works. Soon enough they're going to become dependent upon the giver, right?

The truth is we don't know what John may have thought about those folks who were the recipients--he doesn't tell us. All we have is these few sentences in which he addresses those who want to be baptized. John says if you're going to be baptized and follow the Messiah this is what you're focus is to be. Stop looking to the right and to the left. Put your picket signs down. Stop pointing fingers. Be single-minded and do the sorts of acts consistent with your changed lifestyle.

Want a better idea of what this lifestyle looks like that John is talking about? Keep reading in Luke and follow Jesus all the way to the cross.

Jesus, Addie, and School

On Wednesday nights at church I have been leading a Bible study and we are currently reading Luke's gospel. For this week we are focusing on the portion in chapter two where Jesus' family travels to Jerusalem for a festival. As they head back home they realize Jesus is not traveling in their company, so Mary and Joseph head back toward Jerusalem to find their boy.

As I have been reading this over the last several days I've had a difficult time understanding their reaction. I figured that Mary, who had been pondering stuff in her heart, had a better inkling of what Jesus was to be about. However, Jesus' parents were angry with him for staying behind and not joining them as a boy his age should have. He wasn't old enough to be sitting around with teachers and playing adult games like this. He was a boy after all and they were his parents. It wasn't time for this yet, right?

Tonight we went to a Back to School night for Addie's pre-school, which is located in a local grade school. The minute we walked in things felt funny. It was chaotic. Lines here, forms there, sign-ups for PTO, Fundraising, etc. Then there was the big gym and a bunch of classrooms with kids and parents going every which way. Next to me is my little three-year-old, pint-sized daughter wearing her Princess Tiana backpack. On her tiptoes she's barely able to get a drink from the fountain and in two days she would be starting pre-school.

I get where Mary and Joseph are coming from. I want to protect Addie from the chaos of the world. She doesn't need to learn "adult" stuff yet, that'll come all too soon. I want her home with her mom and me where we can control her little world. I get Mary and Joseph's reaction now--I don't think they were angry with Jesus, I just think they weren't ready for him to be about his Father's business. After all it's the unknown that's out of our control.