The Gospel of John describes a scene where John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and he made the following statement:
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is
the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed
me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the
reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to
Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down
from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know
him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man
on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one.” (John
1:29-34)
At first sight, it seems the writer was describing the actual baptism itself, as per Matthew’s account. However, the next few days finds Jesus choosing his disciples – not going into the wilderness as the Synoptics relate it. So, is this scene a ‘revisit’ so to speak? Is it Jesus coming out of the wilderness, walking past John, at about Passover season, some months following his actual baptism?
If so, then the Gospel of John is not recording the baptism event directly, but is recording John B’s testimony of that event. In other words, John B. sees Jesus returning, and calls out, “This is the man I baptised several months ago! This is the man the dove descended upon!”
So, is the Gospel of John recording the actual baptism event, or is he recording an occasion when Jesus revisited the same place on his way back from the wilderness? The latter explanation may reconcile some of the perceived differences between John and the Synoptic Gospels.
Louise Cummings
Amen.
Varnel Watson
to receive migrants and care for strangers Joe Absher
Isara Mo
Troy Day
No .
Varnel Watson
Isara Mo
Yes?
Isara Mo
Troy Day
If America was impoverised would migrants and strangers flock there?
I agree there are genuine cases of endangered lives or civil war which can be justifiable cause for asylum seeker..
But a people leaving their country to seek ” a better life?””..
They should seek.first the kingdom of God then seek.a better life..
False compassion is a spirit…
Isara Mo
Troy Day
Arent there already enough homeless impoverised Americans ?…
How can you love your neighbour without loving your self first?
Hypocrisy…
How can you take take care of migrants and strangers while you have a section of the community in dire need?
Hyoocrisy.
First take care of your household…
Isara Mo
Troy Day
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8 NIV
?
Isara Mo
Troy Day
//Poverty data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on September 12, 2018 show roughly 12.8 million America children lived in poverty in 2017, about 450,000 fewer than in 2016. The national child poverty rate declined from 18.0 percent in 2016 to 17.5 percent in 2017, though the decrease was not statistically significant.Sep 12, 2018//
I read this somewhere….
Isara Mo
Troy Day
And this//
Search Results
Featured snippet from the web
National Alliance to End Homelessness
According to the report, homelessness has increased slightly by 0.3%, or 1,834 people, between 2017 and 2018 nationally. Approximately 552,830 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2018 during the Point-in-Time (PIT) count.May 1, 2019//
Isara Mo
It is a mockery to feed your neigbours children while yours are starving…
Jim Price
Doing things for the community takes time and money and like in the church often brings criticism. What pastor is willing to share his members with the community and especially to share money? Since I have been ” retired ” I have have helped raise money for our cities christmas lights, my wife and I have been judges for entries in the christmas parade several years in a row. I have chaired our labor day festivities, etc.. Yes Joe we have raised money to help one migrant family get legal.
Varnel Watson
Jim Price Nelson Banuchi Philip Williams I dont see how anything else could be a Christian Pentecostal response
Nelson Banuchi
Not all are able, that is why it needs to be a corporate – church – effort to do justice, love mercy, and tread carefully in God’s Presence…
Varnel Watson
Nelson Banuchi what other ways could be there?
Nelson Banuchi
No other way, I suppose…
RichardAnna Boyce
but our political masters wont encourage us if we reach out to strangers.
Nelson Banuchi
RichardAnna Boyce they sure are discouraging us from reading out to immigrants.
Varnel Watson
Nelson Banuchi I really see NO other way
Varnel Watson
the church should not need political masters to do good Nelson Banuchi which is precisely the problem today Isara Mo
Nelson Banuchi
Troy Day yep, welfare should be the work of the Church, at least, predominantly if not exclusively.
Varnel Watson
Nelson Banuchi not sure in what Isara Mo said
Nelson Banuchi
Troy Day Just read his comments. Seems that Isara Mo’s ideas about love and the Bible are a bit skewered, imo.
Varnel Watson
Nelson Banuchi well now – thats a bit harsh eh?
Nelson Banuchi
Troy Day Don’t think so. Couldn’t think of a more polite word…
Varnel Watson
Nelson Banuchi which you aint got many of anyway 🙂 BUT lets allow Isara Mo to make hist point first
Nelson Banuchi
I thought he made it in his six comments, seemingly concluding that “It is a mockery to feed your neigbours’ children while yours are starving…”
??
Why can’t we do both, Isara Mo?
Varnel Watson
Nelson Banuchi yeah – so did I
Isara Mo
Nelson Banuchi
Then church should be running the government not the other way round..if that was the case.
During the apostles time there was a government in place and your skewed ideas on love and charity didnt fit then…as they wont fit now .
Couldnt think of a bette way to respond to your viewpoint..
Isara Mo
Nelson Banuchi
What is your right ideas on love and the Bible?..
Isara Mo
Nelson Banuchi
If within your own household there are really needy people it is utter foolishness to leave the needy in your own and cater for the “needy “(if they are really needy) in the neighbourhood.
Nelson Banuchi
Isara Mo why not do both?
Nelson Banuchi
Isara Mo I like the “skewed” part… ?
Isara Mo
Troy Day
I bet with his all his rhetoric on love and the Bible he had been sleepi g well, eating well, enjoying his worship and praise songs and possibly preaching and teaching on love and the Bible but has never taken the steps the POLITICAL MASTERS took..of going to the scene of the hapless migrants…and do sth.
Baluchi have you skipped your meal or bath or sleep since the day you heard of the hopeless situation at the border?..
Isara Mo
Nelson Banuchi
Good ..do both with a clear heart..
Nelson Banuchi
A meal or two, a bath or two… not sure if because of the border situation…
Isara Mo
Troy Day
I asked you to send me a book by Unger and you failed.
Do you think you are in a position to take bread to the migrants at your door Troy?
Love and Bible in one hand(Baruchi style) gun and cyanide in the other..
Nelson Banuchi
Interesting how those who select to whom they will show charity, charge their critics, at least, by implication, with not showing charity to anyone.
Not sure that’s a good defense… but, again, having lived in NYC, doesn’t leave one an option to be selective about who they are to help since black, whites, citizens, illegal immigrants, homeowners and homeless are pretty much all rolled into one…
Nelson Banuchi
That song comes to mind… my love is better than your love…
Isara Mo
Nelson Banuchi and Troy Day.
Case closed.Argument closed.
Go and practise this FIRST then come and discuss.
//They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need//
Nelson Banuchi
Gotta go now… late night stop to the boyz room.
Nelson Banuchi
Oh, sorry to hear you’re homeless…
Nelson Banuchi
Still, can’t see how love, from a Biblical perspective, is selective based on citizenship or family ties, but, no problem here; we do what we can and let God judge our actions.
Nelson Banuchi
G’nite
Isara Mo
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
Acts 2:45 NIV//
I got my ” skewed” views on love and the Bible from this…
Nelson Banuchi
Note: “to ANYONE who has need.”
But if one argues that “anyone” is limited to their Jewish family or neighbors, I’ll concede the point if it is also conceded that limitation was due to their prejudices against Gentiles as being sinners, not citizens elect of YHWH’s kingdom.
Nelson Banuchi
Can’t believe I’m still up… anyway, just read where you said to do both with a clear conscience.
So, what are we arguing about… it seems we really agree. Do both.
Nelson Banuchi
Ok, now for real… G’nite…
Varnel Watson
and good morning to all