Comments on: The Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew 11:11-12 / Luke 7:28, “John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus” http://www.laleocafe.com/wordpress/2010/05/31/the-kingdom-of-heaven-matthew-1111-12-luke-728-john-the-baptist-sends-messengers-to-jesus/ God wants humanity encountered by Him, through us. We are all a part of God's story.....let's not lose that. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:53:08 +0000 hourly 1 By: admin http://www.laleocafe.com/wordpress/2010/05/31/the-kingdom-of-heaven-matthew-1111-12-luke-728-john-the-baptist-sends-messengers-to-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-748 admin Mon, 31 May 2010 17:34:53 +0000 http://www.laleocafe.com/wordpress/?p=2317#comment-748 <strong>My Reply: </strong> . I appreciate your comments very much. Regarding John the Baptist, you say in reference to my statements above: "John did not know who Christ was or about his finishing work?". All due respect Ron, this is not what I said at all. My statement was, "I realized that while John the Baptist KNEW who Christ was, he never saw or understood Christ' FINISHED work on the cross. John would die before Jesus would die and rise again to bring about the beginning of the kingdom." (emphasis added). There is a big difference here in what you may have thought I said and what I said. . It is very true that in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 29, John the Baptist says "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!". I can clearly see what you are suggesting and in many ways it does make sense. However, in my study of the Kingdom language, first, I would note that Jesus did not say that John the Baptist would not be in the kingdom, however He pointed out that of the least in the kingdom, even they would be greater than John. I would throw in that we often want to equate "least" and "greater" with some sort of power or status. I believe that Jesus was speaking of neither (based on my careful study of the character of Jesus, which, by the way, I am not claiming to know all, I am simply speaking what I see and understand). Jesus was simply telling us that in God's COMING kingdom, all members will have a greater spiritual heritage than John because they will have seen (not literally) and known Christ and his finished work on the cross. John the Baptist did not, as he was martyred well before Jesus death and resurrection. I believe that what Jesus was saying was that while the Prophet Isaiah (Jesus was quoting Scripture from Isaiah) or John the Baptist had clear views of God, that those that have heard the teaching of the Messiah and have benefited from the hearing of His instructions and teachings, and also have benefited from looking at His example here on earth.......well, it might be said that they will have more correct apprehensions than any of the ancient prophets, or even those of John the Baptist. . I agree strongly that there is no ONE answer to what or where the kingdom of God is. You are very correct here. However, I do not believe that "References to the "Kingdom" in the Bible are contradictory". What I am seeing is that these references serve to build a big picture like pieces of a puzzle. Jesus clearly spoke in parables and often in a veiled way. I believe, so that people would think. I would also agree that many of Jesus teachings seemed paradoxical, on the surface they SEEMED contradictory, yet, I believe that they were true and upon close examination, not contradictory at all. The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 13 why he spoke in parables. This is something I will be looking closely at soon as a part of this series of post. In short, He told them that they could see clearly because these secrets had been given to them, however, those who do not believe or do not want to believe, even telling them straight or even if they see it with their eyes, they still will not believe. Additionally, many prophets and men of God longed to see the kingdom but were unable because it had not arrived in their time. There is more, but this is the jist of this teaching by Jesus. . As far as "elaborate constructs" in order to preserve my orthodox lens.....I believe that many would say that I am not orthodox at all. I do not believe I am elaborately constructing anything....I am simply researching, learning, and seeking to understand what was meant by applying historical, cultural and contextual methods. I am certainly not saying that I have all the answers, I am simply sharing what I find from my "lens". I do not adhere to any particular orthodoxy. I do start simply with the premise (based on what I have seen and understand) that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that Jesus is who He said He was. My Reply:
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I appreciate your comments very much. Regarding John the Baptist, you say in reference to my statements above: “John did not know who Christ was or about his finishing work?”. All due respect Ron, this is not what I said at all. My statement was, “I realized that while John the Baptist KNEW who Christ was, he never saw or understood Christ’ FINISHED work on the cross. John would die before Jesus would die and rise again to bring about the beginning of the kingdom.” (emphasis added). There is a big difference here in what you may have thought I said and what I said.
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It is very true that in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 29, John the Baptist says “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”. I can clearly see what you are suggesting and in many ways it does make sense. However, in my study of the Kingdom language, first, I would note that Jesus did not say that John the Baptist would not be in the kingdom, however He pointed out that of the least in the kingdom, even they would be greater than John. I would throw in that we often want to equate “least” and “greater” with some sort of power or status. I believe that Jesus was speaking of neither (based on my careful study of the character of Jesus, which, by the way, I am not claiming to know all, I am simply speaking what I see and understand). Jesus was simply telling us that in God’s COMING kingdom, all members will have a greater spiritual heritage than John because they will have seen (not literally) and known Christ and his finished work on the cross. John the Baptist did not, as he was martyred well before Jesus death and resurrection. I believe that what Jesus was saying was that while the Prophet Isaiah (Jesus was quoting Scripture from Isaiah) or John the Baptist had clear views of God, that those that have heard the teaching of the Messiah and have benefited from the hearing of His instructions and teachings, and also have benefited from looking at His example here on earth…….well, it might be said that they will have more correct apprehensions than any of the ancient prophets, or even those of John the Baptist.
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I agree strongly that there is no ONE answer to what or where the kingdom of God is. You are very correct here. However, I do not believe that “References to the “Kingdom” in the Bible are contradictory”. What I am seeing is that these references serve to build a big picture like pieces of a puzzle. Jesus clearly spoke in parables and often in a veiled way. I believe, so that people would think. I would also agree that many of Jesus teachings seemed paradoxical, on the surface they SEEMED contradictory, yet, I believe that they were true and upon close examination, not contradictory at all. The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 13 why he spoke in parables. This is something I will be looking closely at soon as a part of this series of post. In short, He told them that they could see clearly because these secrets had been given to them, however, those who do not believe or do not want to believe, even telling them straight or even if they see it with their eyes, they still will not believe. Additionally, many prophets and men of God longed to see the kingdom but were unable because it had not arrived in their time. There is more, but this is the jist of this teaching by Jesus.
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As far as “elaborate constructs” in order to preserve my orthodox lens…..I believe that many would say that I am not orthodox at all. I do not believe I am elaborately constructing anything….I am simply researching, learning, and seeking to understand what was meant by applying historical, cultural and contextual methods. I am certainly not saying that I have all the answers, I am simply sharing what I find from my “lens”. I do not adhere to any particular orthodoxy. I do start simply with the premise (based on what I have seen and understand) that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that Jesus is who He said He was.

]]> By: admin http://www.laleocafe.com/wordpress/2010/05/31/the-kingdom-of-heaven-matthew-1111-12-luke-728-john-the-baptist-sends-messengers-to-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-747 admin Mon, 31 May 2010 17:33:46 +0000 http://www.laleocafe.com/wordpress/?p=2317#comment-747 <strong>My friend from Houston (Ron) made the following comment concerning this post:</strong> "Man - I tell you Jan, you sure build some eloborate constructs in order to preserve your orthodox lens. John did not know who Christ was or about his finishing work? John 29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" There is no one answer to what or where the kingdom of God is. References to the "Kingdom" in the Bible are contradictory and quite paradoxical. The question is can you be comfortable with not "knowing" or "understanding" the paradox?" My friend from Houston (Ron) made the following comment concerning this post:
“Man – I tell you Jan, you sure build some eloborate constructs in order to preserve your orthodox lens. John did not know who Christ was or about his finishing work? John 29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

There is no one answer to what or where the kingdom of God is. References to the “Kingdom” in the Bible are contradictory and quite paradoxical. The question is can you be comfortable with not “knowing” or “understanding” the paradox?”

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