Many think John the Baptist and Jesus remained strangers until the day Jesus stood before John seeking baptism.
Is that possible, given:
John's residence in the desert would no more prevent him from traveling to Jerusalem than Christ from his Nazareth home. And, for all John's ascetic ways, Jewish males in fact had to attend three Festivals yearly. In reality, then, when Jesus walked 60 miles from Galilee to the Baptist's baptizing location, John hesitated to perform the rite for Jesus. Not only because the Nazarene's entire persona overwhelmed John, but because Jesus didn't fit John's profile of men needing repentance and baptism: spiritual vipers, mentally plastered-over traditionalists, irreverent egotists or fanatical revolutionists! John's ready obedience when Jesus said he needed baptism to "fulfill all righteousness" 3:15, contrasts with Simon Peter's stubborn outburst against Christ's effort to wash his feet in the Upper Room. "No...you shall never wash my feet" John 13:8. No reluctance in John drew a sharp rebuke from Jesus. But he issued a direct threat of exclusion to Simon. Only enforced obedience motivated Simon's usual emotional outburst. The question confronts us; why would we think Christ's threat doesn't remain intact if we refuse:
If Simon Peter had no authority to put his opinion above Christ's word, why would we think we have the right? Why would Jesus starkly threaten Simon's place in the Twelve if disobeyed, but not our place in discipleship if refusing obedience? Think about it.
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