Gabriel Tells John: Jesus is the Man You Have Been Expecting

 

John the Baptist was a priest (because he was the son of Zechariah), and he had a legal right to perform the rite of Mikveh. In first century Judaism certain human discharges, animal parts and any blood were considered unclean. The purpose of immersion was, and still is, to ritually wash them away to achieve spiritual purity.

John the Baptist was at Bethany (Bayt ‘Anya) on the eastern side of the Jordan River (Bethany beyond the Jordan). It is likely the Jordan River was considered unclean for baptism because there was silt in the water. However, clean, pure water was available from springs and tributaries that ran into the Jordan. From one of these John was able to create a Mikveh basin (pond) where he could perform the ritual. For Jesus and many others it took the form of Tevilah (full body immersion).

John’s use of full immersion as a means of washing away the past and starting a new future suggests that at some point he was influenced by the Hindu ritual of full immersion. It is not necessarily a ritual of cleanliness. Instead, he apparently used it to separate a person’s past from the life they would lead in the future. Old sins are washed away and we are free to begin a new life without the burden of our past mistakes.

I choose to believe Jesus understood the significance of John’s beliefs. When Jesus crossed the plain to find John, he was ready to begin his ministry. God had given him a mission. There was no turning back. The Mikveh ritual would have a specific purpose. Full immersion baptism would confirm the truth of his dedication.

Baptism washed away Jesus the man. As he is raised up, Jesus the Son of God is revealed.

…………

27 A.D. Late July.

John was baptizing on the east bank of the Jordan River where the road from Jerusalem and Jericho crosses into the lands of Peraea. The location of the river has changed over the last 2000 years and the site is now called Bethany Beyond the Jordan. When Jesus went to see John, he had been preaching and baptizing for about a year.

John’s reputation had spread all the way to Jerusalem in the west, Philadelphia in the east, Qumran in the south, and Capernaum in the north. He often delivered an apoplectic message, challenging his congregation to consider all they had done that was sinful, and urging them to repent. Some of those who heard him speak began to wonder if he was the true Messiah. Even the priests in Jerusalem became alarmed that John might be able to overturn their authority. But to all of them, John had the same answer:

“When you come to me for repentance, I will baptize you with the waters of the Jordan.  But one who is more powerful than I is coming, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. He will separate the wheat from the chaff–and the chaff will burn in a never-ending fire.”

***

It had been a busy morning for John and he was pleased that twelve travelers had volunteered to be baptized. He was feeling compassionate. In his message he had even encouraged his listeners to be kind to tax collectors. The road was now empty and John decided to have something to eat. Resting under a tree, eating his lunch of bread and dried fruits, he noticed a man coming toward him from the direction of Jericho. As the man drew closer, John felt compelled to get up to greet the stranger. But the man motioned for him to remain under the tree and - after a brief handshake - sat down beside him.

“Do you know who I am?” the man asked.

“I believe I should know you,” John answered.

“I am Gabriel, the angel who told your parents about your conception and announced the birth of Jesus to several people.”

“My mother Elizabeth told me about your message, and your punishment of Zechariah for his lack of faith. I should know you for your deeds....  I thank you for giving my father his voice. ”

“Your father was a good man, John. He was just a little suspicious of my message. As soon as he believed, I let him speak again.”

John felt a little uncertain. “And what are you going to tell me?”

“I have good news.... God urged you to go north to find Jesus, did he not?”

“Yes. I found him in Bethsaida.”

“And you accompanied him on his travels?”

“Yes. I encouraged him to travel. As it happened, he wanted to learn how to heal. So we went to find the best training.”

“Micah and I want to thank you for your service–and so does God...” Gabriel paused to adjust his place under the tree.

“We have another task for you.”

John was not surprised. He had been thinking of Jesus and was sure his friend would soon be ready to start his own ministry as a preacher and healer in Galilee.

“How can I help?”

“Jesus has become the man you have been expecting. Jesus is the Messiah. He has made a conscious connection with God. He now calls God his father. God calls Jesus his son. God has given Jesus a mission. He is to deliver God’s message to all who will listen. Jesus is ready. He will come to you to be baptized. It will be a baptism of dedication to his ministry. ”

John was stunned. Gabriel’s words were far more important than anything he could have anticipated. All his dreams were coming to pass. All his prayers had been answered. He was overwhelmed with the realization his friend.... his friend was the man he had been expecting… his friend Jesus is the son of God!

“This is glorious. I knew my friend was an exceptional man. On our trip I believe he was able to project the power of God on several occasions.... And now I know he really is the one we have been waiting for.... And to think I was able.... I was able to help him make the transition.... I am humbled by your words.... When is he coming?”

“Late this afternoon. Complete the baptism and encourage your disciples to follow him.”

“That will not be difficult. Andrew, Simon and Philip are looking for a leader who will take them on a spiritual quest. They are here – but of course you already know that.”

“You don’t mind encouraging them to follow Jesus?”

“If Jesus is the son of God, then they must follow him!” John responded with conviction.

“Then may God bless your efforts.”

Gabriel stood up, gave John a benevolent smile, and vanished.

………..

For John, the realization his friend Jesus was the man he had been expecting must have been a thrilling moment. He knew it was the beginning of a ministry that would change the world.

Ron

Text from “Am I Your Son?”

The Birth of John the Baptist

 

John had a lusty cry. Mary was concerned. “Do you think his crying will wake up the whole neighborhood?”

“He is born to be a prophet,” Elizabeth remarked dryly. “I’m sure he will be heard.”

 

June, 6 B.C.

The aches and pains of age troubled Zechariah, making it more difficult for him to carry out his duties as a Temple Priest. He and his wife Elizabeth had longed to have children, but she was barren. Never-the-less, they continued to live in the ways of the Lord and were still hopeful they could have at least one child.

One day, while Zechariah was burning incense in the Temple, as was his duty, he was startled and frightened by the sudden appearance of an angel.

 “Be not afraid,” said the angel in a serene voice. “Your prayers have been answered. Elizabeth is with child, a boy, and the Lord asks you name him John. He will be your joy and delight. His birth is important to God. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit before the time of his birth. He will prepare the way for the Lord. He will instruct people to do what is right and bring all who seek salvation to the word of our God. You must therefore be sure he will be righteous, so that he will carry out his mission without blame.”

 “But we are so old!” exclaimed Zechariah. “How can this be?”

The angel was upset with Zechariah’s response.

“My name is Gabriel, and I was sent by the Lord to tell you the good news of your coming child!”

“But we are forty and three years old. Isn’t it too late?”

Gabriel frowned, clearly annoyed by Zechariah’s lack of faith.

“Because you do not believe me,” Gabriel retorted “I will take away your ability to speak until you regain your faith in the Lord!”

Then, with a wave of his hand, Gabriel disappeared. Zechariah soon discovered Gabriel was telling the truth. He could not speak. Try as he might, he could not utter a single word. Not even a sound. Puzzled, he finished his duties at the Temple and went home.

When Zechariah reached his house, Elizabeth threw open the door and greeted him with tears of joy.

“The angel told me the news!” she exclaimed. “I am pregnant! We are going to have a baby boy!”

…………

(In 6 B.C., children who managed to reach the age of 10 had an average life expectancy of 47.5 years. Thus people age 43 were considered “old”.)

…………

Elizabeth had become pregnant six months before Joseph and Mary were married. In December, word went out to the family she was having trouble with her health. Joachim was Zechariah’s cousin. When word of Elizabeth’s illness reached him, he pondered what could he do. After much discussion, Mary volunteered to help Elizabeth until she gave birth. Although they had been married for only two weeks, Joseph reluctantly agreed. Arrangements were made. In mid-January Mary joined a caravan to make the long trip by foot to Hebron in the hills of Judea where Elizabeth and Zechariah lived.

Elizabeth was busy with the afternoon chores when she heard a commotion in the yard. She looked out the window and saw a young woman, a very tired young woman, toiling up the grade to her house. At first, Elizabeth was puzzled. Then inspired by a sudden realization, she exclaimed “Mary!” and walked as quickly as she could on her painfully tired legs to the door.

“Mary!” she called out to the woman. Mary, exhausted by the day’s long journey through the rain, managed a halfhearted smile.

“Elizabeth, I am really glad to see you because it marks the end of my long journey from Nazareth.”

Elizabeth threw open her arms and hugged Mary.

“Welcome to my humble home. Come in, come in and wash up.”

Then a very surprised Elizabeth stumbled back against the wall.

“What’s wrong?” asked Mary, thoroughly alarmed by the older woman’s distress.

“My baby,” Elizabeth responded, patting her swollen belly, “He gave such a kick. I do believe he is glad to see you.”

Mary helped Elizabeth to a chair, made her as comfortable as she could, and took a long look at her cousin. Elizabeth was obviously struggling with her pregnancy. The strain showed on her face and her legs were crisscrossed with ugly enlarged varicose veins.

“When are you due,” Mary asked.

“In three months, maybe sooner, God willing.”

“March,” Mary said absently. “And you said your baby is a boy. How do you know?”

Elizabeth scanned the face of the young woman before her. Even with the grime and stains of her long journey, Mary’s face conveyed a sense of sweet compassion.

“Zechariah and I have been praying to God to let us have a baby for many years. Now he has blessed us with a baby boy. I know this because an angel told me what was going to happen. The angel instructed us to call him John.”

Before Mary could respond, the door opened with a bang. It was Zechariah. Mary quickly crossed the room to give him a hug. The old man was genuinely glad to see her and returned her hug with some vigor.

“How are you?” she asked. “Have you just come from the Temple?”

Zechariah could only smile. Elizabeth came to his rescue.

“Zechariah cannot speak–he is being punished by the angel Gabriel because he refused to believe I was pregnant. He will not be able to speak until he finds his faith - when John is born.”

***

February, 5 B.C.

Mary was just finishing breakfast when she suddenly jumped up from the table and ran outside. Several minutes later she returned, looking very ill.

Elizabeth watched as Mary nervously crossed the room to take her seat at the table. The young woman’s condition was obvious.

“Mary,” she said with love in her heart “Mary you are pregnant!”

Mary sat down by the table, a slight crimson color on her cheeks. Self-consciously, she looked up.

“Yes, Joseph and I will be parents, sometime in the fall.”

“Mary, you are the lucky one. Your birthing years have started while you are young. Look at me; I suffer my pregnancy because I am old.”

Mary relaxed a little and managed a faint smile. But Elizabeth was not finished.

“I had a revelation last week. Micah came to see me in a dream. He told me all about Jesus.”

Mary sat upright, suddenly frightened by the Elizabeth’s words.

“You must not tell anyone. Please do not tell anyone,” she pleaded.

“Zechariah and I will keep it our little secret. Do not worry.... But there is more.”

Mary was astonished by Elizabeth’s words.

“Your baby Jesus and my baby John will become friends,” Elizabeth said with confidence. “You are going to be the mother of the Messiah, a man who will carry God’s message to everyone who will listen. And my John....  my John will announce his coming.”

Mary relaxed into her chair, her face radiant with a happy peaceful smile. The God she loved had a plan.

Uncertain what to say next, Elizabeth studied her young companion’s serene face. Who am I, she thought, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?

Then - inspired by a sudden rush of inspiration - she spoke with conviction. “Oh Mary.... Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Your son will be the son of man and the perfection of God.”

***

Mid-March, 6 B.C.

The shriek of pain coming from the bedroom told Mary that John was coming into the world. She rushed to get hot water from the kitchen and then into the room to help with the birth. By the grace of God, it was an easy delivery. Mary cut and tied the umbilical cord, washed him, and rubbed him with oil. They wrapped the baby with soft fabrics and laid him in a cradle.

John had a lusty cry. Mary was concerned. “Do you think his crying will wake up the whole neighborhood?” she asked.

“He is born to be a prophet,” Elizabeth remarked dryly. “I’m sure he will be heard.”

By the time Zechariah returned from his Temple duties, the baby was asleep. Zechariah was surprised to find so many neighbors had dropped whatever they were doing to visit Elizabeth.

Zechariah was even more surprised by how many people came to John’s circumcision eight days later. When the circumcision was completed, his neighbors asked him what he was going to call his son. Most expected Zechariah would name his son after himself.

But instead, Elizabeth spoke up. “No! He is to be called John.”

There was a murmur in the room. It was unusual for a woman to speak up like she did. One neighbor asked Zechariah:

“And what name do you want?”

 Zechariah took a tablet and to everyone’s astonishment wrote down the name - John.  As soon as he finished showing the tablet to them, Zechariah immediately regained his ability to speak. He had done what the angel instructed him to do. A very relieved Zechariah began to chant: “Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel. He has come to set his people free....”

………………

From my novel about the life of Jesus Christ   “Am I Your Son”.

Ron

Where Is Hell ?

 

Each year there is a celebration of Halloween, mostly as an excuse to wear an uninhibited costume, party with friends, and take the kids on a Trick or Treat expedition. Contemplation of Halloween also elicits the specter of all the lore we have created over the centuries about the characteristics of Hell.

But that raises a logical question: Where is this place of unending suffering and degradation?  Human lore is filled with stories and images. But do we still believe them?

So I have a question:  Can we create our perception of Hell based on 21^st century knowledge?

...................................

The Option

We could create wonderful concepts of Heaven and lurid details about Hell based on ancient sacred teaching; and many believers have chosen to do so. But we also have the option of basing our thoughts about the afterlife on the logical interpretation of available evidence. For a 21st century Christian, a belief in the afterlife shaped by observation and analysis is not only more realistic, it provides a greater sense of spiritual confidence.

Conventional Visions of Heaven and Hell

We tend to think of Heaven as “up there” and Hell as “down there”. Just as there are several levels (or places) where one may find the experience of Heaven, there are also several levels (or places) where one may experience Hell. 

Heaven is good, desirable, joyful, pleasant, peaceful, and beautiful. In Heaven one may find love, companionship, friendship, wisdom, and truth. 

Hell is bad, repellent, depressing, repulsive, painful, and hideous. In Hell one will experience hate, hostility, animosity, ignorance, and deception. 

In Heaven there is plenty. In Hell there is hunger. In Heaven one has good health. In Hell one must deal with the experience of debilitating disease and painful injury.

Within Christian tradition, we find many references and descriptions of punishment for acts against God and man. With great conviction, we are told Hell awaits the sinner in the afterlife. As an alternative, there are promising visions of a perfect paradise for those who believe and practice the word of God. Heaven is the reward for true believers.

These ideas may have been inspired by God, but they were written by men who had only a limited knowledge of the universe. We can forgive them for being influenced by their existing frame of reference. Superstitious, biased by the mythology of oral tradition, and motivated to explain Hell and Heaven in terms that would be familiar to their peers, these men would record their vision in the language of their age.

But we have gradually acquired a better understanding of our universe. We are compelled to respect the knowledge God has given to us. With it, we can express our understanding of Hell and Heaven in 21st century terms.

Both Hell and Heaven Exist.

The philosophical reasoning of the two dimension thesis is not complicated. We live in a bipolar universe. If there is a Heaven, then there must also be a Hell. If Heaven is paradise, then Hell must be a nightmare. If Heaven is a place of tranquility, then Hell is a place of constant mayhem. When we talk about paradise, our most perfect example is called Heaven. When we talk about severe physical and emotional pain, we often reference Hell in describing our experience.

Here on earth, in this physical universe, we have the intellectual and emotional capability of producing an existence that is closer to Heaven, - or nearer to Hell. We have a choice. We have free will. It’s up to us. Jesus wanted us to use our intellectual and emotional capacity to establish a paradise (often referred to as the Kingdom of God) on earth. He taught us the word of God provides us with the necessary moral blueprint to achieve our objective.

Heaven exists within a separate dimension of time and space. Here we find God, angels, and those who have learned, adopted and practice the wisdom of the Cosmos (the wisdom of the Holy Spirit). “Heaven is good, desirable, joyful, pleasant, peaceful, and beautiful. In Heaven one may find love, companionship, friendship, wisdom, and truth. ...In Heaven there is plenty. ...In Heaven one has (the feeling of) good health.” When we speak of going to Heaven we are contemplating the transformation of our energy – our Life Force (or soul) - from one dimension to another.

We must always remember this essential point. Just as there are physical laws that govern the natural physical universe, there are spiritual laws that govern the not physical universe. In this sense, when we wander from God’s canon, we deviate from the laws of the Cosmos. The more we ignore the word of God, the greater our sin and the probability we will create the conditions of Hell. On the other hand, if we learn and follow God’s commandments, we are more likely to create the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Updating Our Views of Hell

There are three problems with traditional Hell mythology.

It’s not “down there”.
There is no Hell beneath the surface of our earth. Geologists, seismologists, volcanologists, geophysicists, and oil field workers have never found any evidence of Hell under our feet. To reach the center of the earth we must descend through 62 miles of semi rigid crust, 410 miles of plastic upper mantle, 1392 miles of semi rigid lower mantle, 1367 miles of semi liquid outer core, and 378 miles of rigid inner core. To be sure, it is very hot at the inner core – about 12,600 degrees F. But we will not find Dante’s Hell. It does not exist

Hell would be too big to hide.
In order to hold all the sinners who have been sent to Hell by all the world’s religions, Hell would be a sprawling place with several hundred miles of tunnels, planes, and caverns. It would have to be big enough to hold over a billion people. It would be impossible to conceal a place that big. But despite exploring our entire globe by satellite and boots on the ground, we have never been able to find a physical Hell on earth – at least not in this dimension.

Death Creates a New Self.
When death overtakes us, our physical form is usually buried in the ground, or burned to ash. It does not matter when, where, or how we decease. Our physical remains do not vanish into the unknown. They remain where we put them until we move them again. Assuming we choose to believe there is an afterlife, the soul (spiritual self) obviously leaves the physical self, and becomes a new form of being.

Hell Is A State of Being

But if there is no Hell in the traditional sense, then we are confronted with several questions.

•       If there is no Hell beneath the surface of the earth, then where is it?

•       Is there any place where sinners suffer great physical suffering?

•       Is there a place of punishment, reflection, and repentance?

•       Does God judge us when we die?

The short answer: we are judged, hell exists, and there is suffering. 

Repentance is possible.

Let us start with the world we know.

Hell is actually easy to find. But we must understand the events and conditions we are observing. How often have we heard the phrase: “War is Hell”?  Going through a divorce is Hell?  It’s hotter than Hell?  These phrases describe the physical and mental suffering of our experience –

and they happen right here, in our life, on this planet.

Up until the late 20th century, it was assumed that one must live by a strict moral code. The Church told us that if we failed to abide by the rules, we would go to Hell. Other religions took a similar approach to enforcement. Obey or be punished. Although the direct moral influence of the Church has declined over the years, following the rules continues to frame our human activity and thought. We cannot break the natural laws of the Cosmos without exposing ourselves to physical or emotional injury. 

Because we have free will, we have the means to create our own personal Hell. If we sink into the abyss of moral decay, if we defile our being with drugs or alcohol, if we participate in perverted lust, if we are filled with vengeful hatred, if we are deceitful, arrogant or contentious, if we debilitate ourselves with too much stress, or if we ignore the wisdom of experience: we are doomed to suffer the consequences. In so doing, we create our own self-inflicted Hell; right here on this earth; in our lifetime.

If our rejection of God continues unto our death, then our destiny is annihilation. Upon our death, we cease to exist. That is the result of our willful rejection of God’s commandments, our refusal to seek to be one with God, and our denial of God’s love.

But wait. Does that mean we are always responsible for the creation of the hell we experience?

No. Unfortunately, we may have little or no control over the experience of hell in its many forms on this earth. Terrifying storms, floods, earth quakes, and forest fires inflict the destructive power of natural events. Human history is filled with examples of the hell created by people who use their political, economic or personal power to dominate others. Disease, injury, hunger, war, hatred, and grinding poverty are a constant source of suffering. Good people suffer injury and privation, beautiful children are murdered, mental illness destroys rational thought, people die of starvation and disease, and we are plagued by the fear of losing our economic well-being. The events and conditions of Hell are imposed on us from an almost unlimited number of sources. In these however, the genesis is frequently the result of human conduct. Unlimited greed, a lust for political power, military aggression, blind ideology, willful ignorance, visceral hatred, and so on. These are the failings of the human character. The result is physical suffering and mental anguish, often for both the sinner and the innocent.

We all become victims.

Yes, Hell certainly exists. It is a state of being, located on this earth, and in this life. But ...

We Make Our Own Hell, We Humans

While visiting with the Essenes, Jesus made friends with an old priest who helped to guide his thinking. In his conversations Jesus learned why spiritual healing is just as important as physical healing. He was also grateful for the chance to openly discuss his experiences with the older man.

“I have thoughts and dreams,” Jesus told the old priest “Sometimes when I dream I have unstoppable power over all I can see. I am invincible. But there is always death and fear all around me. I am powerful but afraid.”

“We are good and evil,” said the old priest “our dreams are a reflection of the conflict within our soul between wanting to help and wanting to dominate.”

“How do I know the difference?”

“That which is good in the eyes of the Lord is always constructive, positive and compassionate. Evil is bad because it is always destructive, negative and heartless. We become confused because to be good one must sometimes also be bad. That is why you must continue to develop good judgement; always focus on the ultimate truth of what you are doing.”

“Where does evil reside?”

The old priest looked sorrowfully at Jesus... “Within our minds, we make our own hell.”

Hell is a Place on Earth

The existence of hell is summed nicely in this verse.

When it comes to descriptions of Hell,
We have been very creative.
Fire, pain, and humiliation greet the sinner.
Our literature is littered with ghosts and devils.

Hell does exist. It is here.
We make our own, we humans.
With often ugly words and thoughts,
We descend into the abyss of hostility.

Hell exists on this earth.
It is both physical and spiritual.
Where else would one find human suffering?
Where else the stress of despair?

How else can one explain random illness?
How often strikes accidental injury or death?
Why do events and persons make us victims?
Why suffer malicious wickedness or wretched despair?

We are witness to the misery of Hell on earth.
Even the just may experience the pain,
Of failure, frustration, injury, or death,
Whether their own or someone they love.
 

Yes, this is Hell. It is here.
But mostly it is our own fault.
We become sinners when we break God’s law.
We are the creators of our own personal Hell.
 

War. Torture. Violent behavior. Vile words.
The sins of arrogance, conceit, fraud,
Drugs, alcohol, and perversion lead to
Misery, death, injury, disease and famine.
 

But we can avoid the Hell of human sin.
The Holy Spirit gave us the ability to think and reason.
God the Father gave us commandments to follow.
By these we are able to create God’s Kingdom on Earth.
 

Be aware of the Holy Spirit’s counsel.
Avoid the road to Hell.
Punishment follows the sinner.
Grace comes to the faithful.

###

Theological text from "Summa 21" ... Story from "Am I Your Son" 

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