Comments on: Q&A: Did John the Baptist Doubt Jesus?

By: Mike Bull

Mike Bull — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 10:33:25 +0000

Hi Tim
Well, John knew that Jesus was going to be “sacrificed,” and he knew the history of Jerusalem’s treatment of the prophets. So perhaps his expectations were based on that. There seems to be a baton-passing ministry of “binding and loosing.” John is bound that Jesus’ ministry (and those ministered to) might be loosed. Jesus is bound that the apostles might be loosed. The apostles are bound that the church might be loosed, etc. Saints in chains unleash the power of God.

By: Tim Nichols

Tim Nichols — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 19:06:34 +0000

Mike,

Jesus came to set the captives free, and said so in His preaching (see, for example, His preaching in Nazareth in Lu. 4). John had to be aware of what Jesus was preaching.

One of the prevailing messianic theories at the time was that there were two OT-prophesied messiahs, a suffering servant and a conquering king. I’m very sure John never doubted that Jesus was Messiah. I wonder whether he might have been asking “Are You all of it, or is there another one who fulfills some of the other prophecies?”

And I suspect very strongly that he is reminding Jesus “Hey, I’m a captive! If freeing the captives is your thing, how about getting *me* out of jail?”

I believe the final line in Jesus’ response is meant to encourage John not to be put out when Jesus fulfills all the prophecies, but it doesn’t look like what John was hoping for in some of the more personally significant details.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:00:25 +0000

Scratch that.
It’s on LOGOS. Even better.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:56:09 +0000

Joel’s book no longer available?
Be good to get a Kindle version.

By: Mike Bull

Mike Bull — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:00:18 +0000

The next cycle seems to be 9:1-45…

Creation – Authority – the twelve sent out (Transcendence)
Division – Herod hears and seeks to see (Hierarchy)
Ascension –
Jesus feeds the 5000
Jesus will be raised on the third day
Testing – Take up your cross / The kingdom of God
Maturity – The transfiguration / the cloud / two witnesses
Conquest – Demon-possessed boy returned to his father (Isaac/Abraham – Atonement)
Glorification – Understanding withheld from the twelve (judgment concealed)

By: Mike Bull

Mike Bull — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:12:46 +0000

Nice title! Wish I’d thought of that. And your fractal rundown is really good, too.

I’ll give it a go.

Am currently reading this book again – must have!
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Versus-Jerusalem-Joel-McDurmon/dp/1936577046/

By: Al Garlando

Al Garlando — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:08:43 +0000

And here’s my follow up to the discussion…
http://apologies.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/john-the-baptist-doubting-prophet-or-provocateur/

Any chance you can do the same for 9:18-9:50 before this Sunday?