Sunday 12 July 2015
- Bible Book:
- Mark
“Some were saying, ‘John the baptiser has been raised from the dead and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’” (vv. 14-16)
Psalm: Psalm 85
Background
They say that children see the world through fresh eyes - thateverything is new and surprising when you're very young - and thisis certainly true of my two-year-old son. When faced with a new orunfamiliar thing or experience, he'll search his memory banks totry and help himself make sense of it. On seeing a picture of alizard, he'll declare "S'like dine-saur! RARR!" He also tells methat goats are "like a cow" and, apparently, wind is a little bitlike rain.
Even as adults, when faced with something new or unexpected, weoften compare it to other things to try and make sense of it. Thisis what people were doing when faced with Jesus.
There's no doubt about it, Jesus' ministry - and the subsequentactions of his disciples and followers - were beginning to cause astir in first century Galilee.
Everyone had just one question: "Who is this man?"
Perhaps he's like one of theprophets of old?
Maybe he's Elijah, returned as promised from the dead?
He's very like John the Baptist, with his preaching and disciples...
Jesus the puzzle.
Responding to God's call, following God's lead, can mark you outas different, unusual, strange and puzzling to those around you -even to people who've known you for many years. They will look forways to figure you out - to understand why you do what you do.What's your motivation? What's your agenda?
Sometimes their conclusions say more about them than about theobject of their speculation. In today's reading we see Herod'sparanoia go into overdrive as he reaches the conclusion that Jesusmust be the reincarnation of a prophet that both enthralled andterrified him - John the Baptist. Herod feared John because hedared to tell the truth and Herod sees those same qualities inJesus. It must have been his guilty conscience speaking.
To Ponder
- Does your faith mark you out as different or unusual among yourfamily, friends or workmates? Why or why not?
- How do people respond to you when they hear about yourfaith?
- Why do we fear truth-speakers?