MK
6: 14-29
5th / 6th S. after Pentecost
The more I think of John the Big Dipper, the more enigmatic I find him. A prophet called by God to begin a transition into a new Order. A transitional figure who can't himself quite make the transition, never quite makes it. Mind you, some of us are more like JB than we might like to admit, with our own ups & downs, our doubts & puzzling overs. It's better to admit them, admit that we, too, are in transition at this point, than make a pretence of absolute faith that doesn't fool us or anyone else. JB's a lot like our old friend Thomas. Let's not knock either of them without exploring the up-side of doubt. On the other hand, there's no ‘God- future’ in remaining wallowing in doubt, never getting beyond it.
Another enigmatic figure, the non-biblical, Josephus, suggests a
more
political reason for John's demise than his fulminating against the
moral
impropriety of Antipas' forbidden marriage. Herodias' daughter &
her story do
look a bit like an excuse for an already planned course of action, like
Henry
the 8th's move against
JB's death is as prophetic of Jesus' own death, as Lazarus' raising will one day become a sign of Jesus' raising. Jesus has no doubt what he's in for, right from the beginning. Both JB & Jesus begin with a message of, "Repent..", but only LK (3: 10+) goes on to tell us John's message has a strong social content, as of course Jesus' does. After all, social content inevitably challenges us to look to our margins! Rulers don't like that kind of thing. How many church members who claim to recognize & come under God's Rule don't seem to give evidence of knowing the "Repent!" bit must be followed by action that shows God's Rule biting in consequence of a life turned around in God's direction?
