Blog:"none greater than John the Baptist": Difference between revisions
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John baptized a lot of people -- and everyone knew of him, all the way to the court of Herod, the chief priests<ref>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21:23 Mt 21;23]</ref>, and into the histories of the late first century Jewish historian, Josephus.<ref>his "Antiquities of the Jews," Josephus wrote more about John than Jesus, but think audience: he wrote under Domitian, who horribly persecuted Christians. Later manuscripts have Josephus mentioning Jesus as the "Messiah", but these were likely added to the original text.</ref> | John baptized a lot of people -- and everyone knew of him, all the way to the court of Herod, the chief priests<ref>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21:23 Mt 21;23]</ref>, and into the histories of the late first century Jewish historian, Josephus.<ref>his "Antiquities of the Jews," Josephus wrote more about John than Jesus, but think audience: he wrote under Domitian, who horribly persecuted Christians. Later manuscripts have Josephus mentioning Jesus as the "Messiah", but these were likely added to the original text.</ref> | ||
Jesus himself brings up his names to the Pharisees after he enters Jerusalem for his Passion. They demand to know "by what authority are you doing these things?"<ref>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?23 Mt 21:23]</ref> Jesus turns it on them, and asks, <blockquote>Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?”<ref name=":0">[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?25 Mt 21:25]</ref> </blockquote>The pharisees debate whether or not to answer the question, deciding not to answer what they really believe, that John was of "human origin", out of "fear of the crowd."<ref | Jesus himself brings up his names to the Pharisees after he enters Jerusalem for his Passion. They demand to know "by what authority are you doing these things?"<ref>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?23 Mt 21:23]</ref> Jesus turns it on them, and asks, <blockquote>Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?”<ref name=":0">[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?25 Mt 21:25]</ref> </blockquote>The pharisees debate whether or not to answer the question, deciding not to answer what they really believe, that John was of "human origin", out of "fear of the crowd."<ref>[https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?25 Mt 21:25]</ref> There in Jerusalem, days before the Crucifixion, Jesus is still pointing to John's role as Forerunner and Baptizer. | ||
Take away the Baptizer, Jesus has no context, no introduction, no "forerunner." But why would that be necessary for God? | Take away the Baptizer, Jesus has no context, no introduction, no "forerunner." But why would that be necessary for God? | ||