Part Two: Stories of the Jesus Creed
Chap. 7: John the Baptist: The Story of New Beginnings
Sometimes it is important to begin again. How does one do that?
A PROPHET AT THE JORDAN. John the Baptist baptizes people on the far side of the Jordan, thereby reenacting the new beginning of Israel as they crossed the Jordan into the promised land.
LIFE BEGINS ALL OVER AGAIN WITH TRUTHTELLING. For love to work, it requires telling the truth. The truth makes us free.
TRUTHTELLING AWAKENS FORGIVENESS. "Henri Nouwen once confessed the following about truth-telling: I am beginning now to see how radically the character of my spiritual journey will change when I no longer think of God as hiding out and making it difficult as possible for me to find him, but, instead, as the one who is looking for me while I am doing the hiding."
TRUTHTELLING GETS REAL. Jesus calls us to tell the truth about:
- Our spirituality (Luke 3:7-9).
- Our possessions (Luke 3:10-11). "If we love God and love others, we will find the truth about how close our hearts are to our possessions."
- Our power. (Luke 3:12-14). John tells the tax collectors and the soldiers to not abuse their power.
A TRUTHTELLER. The example of William Booth and the release he felt when he told the truth.
Quotes from Mcknight, Scot (2009-10-01). Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (p. 70). Paraclete Press. Kindle Edition.