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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 name=":0" />  
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?