Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HOP Vol XX Special Number

1968 No 2- 61 -(07769)

b) The Prophecy of John the Baptist

The New Testament repeatedly mentions that John the Baptist was considered a prophet by the people who also felt that John was more than an ordinaty prophet, but indeed one who, according to the common belief, was to appeal: at the end of the times t«i prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus himself interprets John’s mission in this sense (>2»5atthew 11:9; 17:10),

What are the main traits of John’s prophetic ministry?

He is like the Old Testament prophets in that his preaching is most timely and specific. At a certain juncture of history he announces that "now" the Kingdom of God has come near and then concentrates all his activity on this point. It is to this that he calls the attention of the people, not only by his words, but also by the manner of administering baptism - most unusual in the eyes of his contenporaries by his preaching in the desert and even by his clothing and appearance-Also the content of his preaching is of a prophetic character in tliat he calls first his own people to repentance rejecting Israel's claim on a special treatment by virtue of the Covenant relationship with God, This standpoint of his is sharply opposed to that cf the prophets of the Messianic and apocalyptic trends who ejected Israel;s triumph in the last days. According to John the Baptist, God expects, above all, of his own people and congregatian that they live according to his- will. The Covenant gives them no exemption cf this; on the contrary, the terms cf the Covenant bind them to do God’s will,

God does not depend on his congregation; God is able to raise of stones children unto Abraham (Matthew 3:9)o

Then the preaching of Jolin is a continuation of classical prophecy in that he does not speak of conversion in general terms but he makes his message most specific, addressed to the specific groups cf society, the wellto-do, the publicans, the soldiers, etc, Yet he does not slip into an unhealthy casuistry; he preaches repentance in the manner as to address himself to the innermost core of everybody’s vocation in life0

And, at last, John the Baptist is like the great prophets of the Old Testament in that he formulates the social message of the Lav: in simple hunon terms and yet with universal validity: no blackmail, no extortion and, above all, lot everybody think of those poorer than himself (Luke 3:10),

c) The Ethic of Jesus the Prophet

His contemporaries considered Jesus a prophet. He himself gave cause to this belief, by the manner of his appearance, although He considered himself to be more than the prophets (Luke 11:32), His contenporaries noticed a prophetic trait in the manner of his teaching; he did not teach