It is still a mystery what objections are raised by this
mystery man of religious convictions who appears out nowhere and just as quickly
disappears. We know that he has a
significant impact on John’s disciples, because these prophetic newbies run
back to John seemingly flabbergasted by the man’s criticism. It appears what may have begun as a religious
objection related to the custom of ceremonial cleansing practiced by many
devout Jews of the day, morphs into a concern about ministry market share.
I find it more than a bit humorous that these concerned
disciples of John could or would not even mention the name of “the one” who had
been baptizing together with John just a few days before. It is also a bit confusing to try to
understand their apparent ambivalence regarding the fact that Jesus was
baptizing people, on this side or the other side of the Jordan. According to John, the author of this Gospel
narrative, who was there by the way, they were in fact baptizing together. It can be surmised that these particular
disciples have not been in tune with what has been actually taking place at the
Jordan. In any case, they are in a
panic, surprised that the one whose name cannot be spoken is baptizing people
like their teacher John.
There is a second matter that is even more disconcerting to
them. Jesus is beginning to attract more
and more people. John’s market share is
shrinking. How their discussion regarding
ceremonial rites ends up in a bout of professional jealousy I do not know. Their fear that this Johnny-come-lately
preacher will impact their ministry blinds them to the reality that they are
working for the same God and under the same mandate. Jesus and John are not in competition, they
are in cahoots! They understand that
their calling is from God, their mission is to grow the kingdom, and their goal
is to save the lost. I do well to
remember this when my competitive religious juices cause me to lose sight of God’s
kingdom and His righteousness. It’s not
about me at all.
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