MK 6: 14-29 

Marginally Mark…Pentecost + 8…Revised 2018  

The Baptiser’s ministry in life & in death is to point to Jesus. John is the hinge between the older & newer covenants. But from the very beginning (JN 1) every- thing hinges on Jesus who has now indeed, ‘Come’. Wisdom suggests preaching today’s Gospel in the light of fuller references to JB. His “Are you the One who is to come, or should we be looking out for another?” [LK 7: 19] is a good starting point. Jesus’ comment on this: “ Among those born…none is greater than John, yet the lesser in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.” [LK 7: 28] needs exploration, too.

What are our expectations of Jesus’ today when we’re locked up in, or by, some situation or another? When we’re feeling let down, does grasping we’re members of God’s Kingdom, under God’s Rule, not Herod’s or anyone else’s, help stabilise faith?

In what sense has Jesus ‘come;’ for us? Are we experiencing the ‘Kingdom of Now’? 

What does Jesus mean when He says JB is the greatest of human beings, yet that one lesser in the Kingdom is greater than John? ’Tis a puzzlement! One explanation that may hold up is that Jesus means John, fulfilling his role as Fore-runner, represents time past; the era before Jesus has inaugurated time present, the Kingdom of Now in His own Person. So, those who accept Jesus among them as God in Now Time are greater than JB. John remains Prophetic of the New Era Jesus ushers in, but hasn’t in himself seemingly become part of it. (Being of Celtic background, though, I find it hard to draw such a line between the Kingdom in heaven & on earth as this would mean attributing to Jesus.)

John, great Prophet that he is, can help us focus on our own calling to be ‘small p’ prophets. Let’s not leave John, questioning, & seemingly, disillusioned, without exploring the fact that faith questionings & struggles come with the territory for both ‘p’ & ‘P’ prophets. Do we discern the questionings, in people’s hearts, if not out loud? Might they, too, be ‘small p’prophetic in some way to advance God’s Rule?

Journeying in faith, living in the Kingdom of Now means accepting that in Jesus, God is always doing, & always will be doing things God’s own way; not John’s, not even yours, or mine. Hopefully, John discerns this before being put to death. Though we can’t know the rest of his spiritual journey, we are responsible for monitoring our own. Not least our call to have faith in the One Who has come. We have no need to look for ‘someone else’ when we discern God doing things in God’s loving way. 

Both John & Jesus begin ministering with a message of, “Repent...", but only LK [3: 10+] goes on to tell us John's message has a strong social concern, as of course does Jesus’. Many ‘out there’ are looking to see if God-in-Jesus has come in us today. May they recognise Jesus as ‘that One who has come’, by His Spirit in us! 

Brian