Did John repudiate the “lie” of a carnalized Jesus?
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:50 am
According to Vinzent and Stuart, in Mcn, John the Baptist represents the prophet of the Christ of the Creator and accordingly, he could only repudiate the Christ of the Good God.
But what if the contrary happened? What if John was introduced as who repudiated a Jesus apparently kata sarka?
Afterall, what would make John an enemy of the marcionite Jesus is the fact that he was expecting the Jewish messiah.
But if we remove the incipit from Luke (about the baptism by John), what prevents from the other reading?
In particular, note what precisely scandalized John the Baptist:
(Mcn's reconstruction derived from here)
If John adored the Good God, then he was scandalized by the works of Jesus resembling too much nearly the works of the Jewish Messiah. So he is repudiating Jesus because of the his APPARENT resemblance with the Christ of the Creator, and not for the his being a different and alien Christ (from the Jewish Messiah).
John was basically victim of the false popular 'report' about Jesus, that was making him the Jewish Messiah contra factum.
Read in this perspective, then the following words seem not really marcionite, since the Jesus who is talking is degrading (a marcionite!) John as one who is scandalized by the demiurgical nature of Jesus.
John is made a figure like Elijah by mouth of Jesus himself, but this Jesus seems too much a judaizing Jesus, a Jesus who is judaizing John under the same eyes of the reader!
John was really expecting 'another', but this 'another' was the Messiah of the Good God!
But what if the contrary happened? What if John was introduced as who repudiated a Jesus apparently kata sarka?
Afterall, what would make John an enemy of the marcionite Jesus is the fact that he was expecting the Jewish messiah.
But if we remove the incipit from Luke (about the baptism by John), what prevents from the other reading?
In particular, note what precisely scandalized John the Baptist:
Fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has come forth among us!” and “God has come to help his people!” 7:17 This report about Jesus circulated throughout Judea and to John the Baptist who, having heard his works was scandalized.
7:18 And he called two of his disciples
7:19 and sent them to him to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 7:20 When the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
7:22 And he answered them, “Go tell John what your ees have seen and your ears heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them.
7:18 And he called two of his disciples
7:19 and sent them to him to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 7:20 When the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
7:22 And he answered them, “Go tell John what your ees have seen and your ears heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them.
(Mcn's reconstruction derived from here)
If John adored the Good God, then he was scandalized by the works of Jesus resembling too much nearly the works of the Jewish Messiah. So he is repudiating Jesus because of the his APPARENT resemblance with the Christ of the Creator, and not for the his being a different and alien Christ (from the Jewish Messiah).
John was basically victim of the false popular 'report' about Jesus, that was making him the Jewish Messiah contra factum.
Read in this perspective, then the following words seem not really marcionite, since the Jesus who is talking is degrading (a marcionite!) John as one who is scandalized by the demiurgical nature of Jesus.
7:23 Blessed is anyone who is not scandalized by me.”
7:24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
7:25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury walk in kings’ courts!
7:26 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet, that among those born of women no one is greater than John, the
Baptist. 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
7:28 Amen I tell you, however, the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.”
7:24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
7:25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury walk in kings’ courts!
7:26 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet, that among those born of women no one is greater than John, the
Baptist. 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
7:28 Amen I tell you, however, the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.”
John is made a figure like Elijah by mouth of Jesus himself, but this Jesus seems too much a judaizing Jesus, a Jesus who is judaizing John under the same eyes of the reader!
John was really expecting 'another', but this 'another' was the Messiah of the Good God!