R
eligious authority did not know what to do with John. To them, he was a prophet, but one of nominal consequence. Except of course, for the fact that he stirred up so much interest and that so many followed him. The issues surrounding John must be addressed, but just how to do that appeared difficult for the moment. They did not understand where John fit in the over-all religious schematic. He was an anomaly. He himself was an issue. Meanwhile, John spoke of something else that was a total mystery to the religious community.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but there is someone coming after me who is mightier than I.” John paused, his voice softened. How had he come to start baptizing people? Clearly, it began with his sense of purpose. From a child he had known that God would require something of the hearts of men. His life, he felt, was dedicated — purposed — to assist in bringing about that requirement. It is only right that there should be a symbolic ritual. As circumcision indicated Israel’s separation to God, so should there be something befitting one’s dedication to God, something confirming one’s desire for forgiveness. What could it be?
John loved water. There was a special spot along the Jordan just south of Galilee, where the water flows fast, sluicing through the rocks with a roar. In that spot John discovered two pointed rocks protruding from the bottom of the stream which he could grasp. In doing so, he lay out flat against the current while he held on tightly, his body bouncing and snapping as a flag in a stiff wind. The cold water and its roaring froth felt like a thousand thorns pricking his skin. Refreshing, pounding sensory overload, he returned there again and again.
While he wore the most primitive of clothing and consumed the most rudimentary elements for food, he bathed every day, living a life of meticulous cleanliness. He spent his entire adult life in the environs of rivers and streams. Cool waters invigorated him. Could it be something as simple as dipping a soul beneath the surface of water? Oh my God, what do you want? It was a good thing, bathing, in likeness worthy to cleanse the soul as well as the body. His communion with God complete, the matter satisfied and so at peace John came, preaching a “baptism” of repentance. Even more provoking for John was that from a child he had struggled with the notion that he was sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah, the Anointed One. He believed this, yet it seemed so implausible.
His thoughts momentarily somewhere else. In his reverie, he had forgotten his audience, “I am not fit to remove his sandals,” continuing, his eyes pensive. “When he comes, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Again, John’s voice lifted, “His winnowing fork will be in his hand, and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor. Clear it, do you understand!? He will clear it so that there will not be so much as one wisp of chaff left to consider! He will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." The words poured out of him in rising crescendo as though some invisible force were controlling his speech. Visibly shaken and out of breath, the ‘Baptist’ sat down.
