John the Baptizer

Shema – Hebrew

Shema Israel, Adonai elohenu – Adonai echad

Ve’ahavta et Adonai eloeikahB’khol levavkahUve’khol naphshekahUve’khol m’odekahVe’ahavta le’reacha Kamocha, Amen

Shema

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord alone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

And Love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.

Background

• Son of a priest – from Aaron’s line• Set apart – similar to Samson• Spirit of Elijah will be on him – Luke 1:17– Put on an Elijah suit and head out to the desert• Mark 1:6

– Ate locusts and wild honey• Food of a desert wanderer• Not necessarily the bug or honey from a bee

– Although could be – Leviticus 11:23

Carab Tree

Locust Bean

Honey

Training

• Possibly studied with Essenes – Luke 3:2– Many of his teachings matched theirs– They were also in the desert

• Baptism ideas like Essenes’– Mikvah – ritual cleansing– Must have “living water”– Repentance not salvation – get back on the right path– Need a witness to hold you accountable• Someone you respect• Equal or more spiritually mature than you

Jordan River from Qumran

Near Traditional Baptism site

Jordan River north of Sea of Galilee

Jesus Baptism

• Trinity present• When God speaks, he quotes his book– This is my son – Psalm 2:7 – writings – Whom I love – Genesis 22:2 – Torah – With him I am well pleased – Isaiah 42:1 – prophets

• The whole Tanakh declares Jesus is the messiah

Rabbinic discussion

• Where did you get AUTHORITY – Matthew 21:23– s’mikhah– Special authority to interpret scripture

• Answer a question with a question– Answers the question and gets to a deeper level– Where did John get his baptism from?

• Jesus got his s’mikhah directly from God• Elders wouldn’t play, so Jesus left

Rabbinic discussion• Are you the one? Luke 7:19• What is said:– Blind receive sight – Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 35:5– the lame walk – Isaiah 35:6– those who have leprosy are cured– the deaf hear – Isaiah 29:18– the dead are raised – Isaiah 26:19– the good news is preached to the poor – Isaiah 61:1

• What is not said:– Justice for the innocent – Isaiah 29:21– Ransomed of the Lord will return – Isaiah 35:10– freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the

prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

John will die

• Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. Luke 7:23

• John’s disciples must have gone away terribly sad

• Jesus had NO respect for the man who killed John

Next week

• Matthew 4• Temptation of Jesus• Calling of 1st disciples