ADVENT 2
by Bob Wickizer
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, Psalm 72:18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12
Advent 2
Bob Wickizer
Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Come Down to the River to Pray
Those of you who were here last week may recall that my voice was almost gone and I was beginning to come down with a terrible cold. That malady lasted almost a week and I can today say that things are much better. I am thankful for your prayers and concerns. I am thankful for modern medicine. And I am thankful for the gift of healing however long it takes.
Today we travel about thirty miles from Jerusalem, but 3,800 feet in elevation down to the chalky wilderness where the Jordan River meets the Dead Sea. This is one of the hottest places on earth since it is 1,400 feet BELOW sea level. Annual rainfall totals about 2.5 inches. Plant life is sparse, scrubby and low. Not much grows in the dry, alkaline soils. This is the wilderness where John the Baptizer preaches repentance.
Only the narrow strip of fresh water from the Jordan extending maybe sixty yards either side offers any respite from relentless sun. From the air, the Jordan looks like a green ribbon cutting through a moonscape of rocky dessert. I wonder if the physical process of hiking down to meet John at the river and the strenuous, uphill grind getting back to the city might be a good model for repentance then and now.
First, we need to understand a couple of important things. Jews at the time of Jesus practiced baptism for converting non-Jews to the Jewish faith. This practice was discontinued around the second or third century when Christianity overtook Judaism in size and political importance. Secondly, John's baptism was neither Christian NOR Jewish. John immersed people in the Jordan so that they could turn from their former lives and begin to live a new life in the kingdom of God. Christian baptism converting people to become followers of Christ will not begin for another decade or more.
A second challenge we have is the idea of repentance itself. Modern Chris ...
Bob Wickizer
Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Come Down to the River to Pray
Those of you who were here last week may recall that my voice was almost gone and I was beginning to come down with a terrible cold. That malady lasted almost a week and I can today say that things are much better. I am thankful for your prayers and concerns. I am thankful for modern medicine. And I am thankful for the gift of healing however long it takes.
Today we travel about thirty miles from Jerusalem, but 3,800 feet in elevation down to the chalky wilderness where the Jordan River meets the Dead Sea. This is one of the hottest places on earth since it is 1,400 feet BELOW sea level. Annual rainfall totals about 2.5 inches. Plant life is sparse, scrubby and low. Not much grows in the dry, alkaline soils. This is the wilderness where John the Baptizer preaches repentance.
Only the narrow strip of fresh water from the Jordan extending maybe sixty yards either side offers any respite from relentless sun. From the air, the Jordan looks like a green ribbon cutting through a moonscape of rocky dessert. I wonder if the physical process of hiking down to meet John at the river and the strenuous, uphill grind getting back to the city might be a good model for repentance then and now.
First, we need to understand a couple of important things. Jews at the time of Jesus practiced baptism for converting non-Jews to the Jewish faith. This practice was discontinued around the second or third century when Christianity overtook Judaism in size and political importance. Secondly, John's baptism was neither Christian NOR Jewish. John immersed people in the Jordan so that they could turn from their former lives and begin to live a new life in the kingdom of God. Christian baptism converting people to become followers of Christ will not begin for another decade or more.
A second challenge we have is the idea of repentance itself. Modern Chris ...
There are 5949 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
