quietthinker
Well-Known Member
John the forerunner is a nudging vessel......Appears to be yet another gospel.
Would we evangelize someone today by telling them that through them all nations will be blessed?
However, I would agree that there seems to be a thread that ties all these gospels together. A common thread.
But what is it?
Is it repentance, as you say? Or something else? The forerunner was preaching the baptism of repentance. ???
The Jews had it set in stone that forgiveness could only be obtained by the sacrifice of a lamb at the Temple.
John came along and dispensed with the temple and a sacrificed lamb. John's message was repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of sin.
Jesus comes along and unilaterally forgives sin without sending anyone to the temple with a sacrificial lamb. He also doesn't require repentance and baptism. In fact his first interaction with the paralytic let down through the roof was, 'your sins are forgiven'. The guy didn't ask, didn't repent and wasn't baptised, yet Jesus forgave him prior to his complete healing.
There is more to be said about this, but without enquiry, I wont.
Jesus has undermined the whole Temple economy by this trajectory and John was his co labourer bringing the people half way between the Temple and Jesus.
The authorities killed them both because their message hit their pockets. This was intolerable for them. Has it changed?
Was this 'another' Gospel? I don't think so.
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