14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me ?”
Verse 14 - text of the animation by R David Foster
14But Joan tried to deter One saying, “ I need to be acknowledged by you and do you come to me?
Verse 14 Discussion
Yeah, John tried to argue, almost, with Jesus! This must have been like someone arguing with a person who has just complimented them for some reason. “No, my drawing is not any good, and I cannot draw well!” The draftsperson is too focused on how far their work is from perfect, and looses their awareness of how much more they have achieved than if they had never made an attempt ! John was very aware of his shortcomings in the sight of God, and had lost sight of how much he had accomplished on God's behalf. He blazed a trail for Jesus that was straight and true. Jesus came to John and continued on. Jesus walked in the path of an itinerant preacher as John had. The people were accustomed to preachers, partly because of John, and they were aware that things could be better, as well due to John's work. John had the peoples attention, and the people were now of a mind that was open to Jesus.
John knew Jesus and Jesus knew John, since they were cousins or something, and John had jumped in his mother Elizabeth's womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came into Elizabeth's presence. They were well aware of one another, so that Jesus sought out John's acknowledgement when he had decided to begin his mission. This would have been important to Jesus, the man, that John, who had an established ministry, acknowledge Jesus as worthy of engaging in a similar type of endeavour. Jesus was a man, who had doubts, which he wrestled with, as any man does, and overcame as God does. John's acknowledgement was important to Jesus, and this was the righteousness that was to be fulfilled, for if John had misgivings about Jesus beginning a public ministry, . . . . Jesus had to allow the opportunity for John to express any concerns he may have about such an endeavour on Jesus' part.
John had no misgivings about Jesus' ministry – he was overjoyed to see it coming ! This must have been a great relief to Jesus, who had not acknowledged his own worthiness outside of his own mind. When he saw John's overwhelming Joy and encouragement of his decision, he must have felt wonderful, and this Joy was apparent to all present. John's emotion must have been greater than the joy of a father's when the lost son gets accepted to university and intends to follow in the father's career choice.
Both John and Joan have been working hard for a distant goal, that they may never see in their lifetime. They both know that whether Jesus, or the One, there is another who will take their work far further than they ever could. They long to see the completion of their work, by the saviour for whom they labour, every day. John is preaching a more thorough adherence to the law, and Joan is preaching a more thorough adherence to following Jesus, which she preaches leads to a One of marriage. Joan is not married, and John cannot die for the forgiveness of humankind's sins, yet they both long for their goals, whether the One of marriage or the salvation of humankind from their sins.
Both John and Joan know they need Jesus or the One more than Jesus or the One need them. This is why they protest. Nevertheless, both John and Joan are essential to the work. The One must be acknowledged, so that there is an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace. That is it – there is no more ! There is not any magic although there is likely a great deal of overwhelming emotion, for all present.
Finally, in today's marriages, the celebrant at the ceremony merely acknowledges the witness of the spouses that there is a sacred relationship, or One, that exists between them, the spouses. There may or may not be certain tests that the celebrant may attempt to use to verify the existence of a sacred relationship, but such a relationship is beyond any tests, so they are meaningless. But when there is a sacred relationship, or One, the celebrant needs to be acknowledged by the couple, and this is not such a radical idea. Many couples today, who have drifted away or outright chosen to not participate in any organized religion, have voted with their feet that the church or other religion has failed to serve their spiritual lives. They fail to acknowledge the validity of the celebrant and the organized religion, and therefore do not bring their relationship to be acknowledged by an organization that they themselves do not acknowledge. This is akin to Joan saying “I need to be acknowledged by you, and do you come to me ?” Couples procreate, so if there is to be a continued organized religious presence, it is very important to that organization that families participate. Don't get it mixed up the other way around ! The fact that couples may be a greater resource than anything else demands religions' attention. Keep in mind that a religious marriage does not in any way incline the relationship to last. And a casual relationship without determined forgiveness will fail to last . This is more important than any ceremony.
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Monday, June 6th, 2011
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