Friday, December 5, 2008

Year B Advent 3 - The Baptist Part 2

John 1:6-8, 19-28
7 occurences in 3 yrs
  • Years A, B, and C, Christmas Evening (if applicable)
  • Years A, B, and C, Christmas 2, John 1:(1-9) 10-18
Note: Last week was the beginning of Mark. This is the beginning of John. Next week is the beginning of Luke.

In all three years, Advent 2 and 3 both focus on John the Baptist. Year A tells the whole story of the Baptist in Matt 3, and then goes to the interpretation of him in Matt 11. Year C divides up the introduction of the Baptist from the preaching of the Baptist. Year B goes first for Mark's terse account of John, and then goes over to the Gospel of John on the Baptist.

So, it would be fully appropriate to focus on John's distinctive vision of John - it is a very unique vision and deserves to be explored. However, unfortunately Mark's terse dealing with this sounds like John. If last week there was so much focus on the Baptist as to render further exposition irrelevant, the Isaiah text could be used as the primary jumping off point, and then the John text could be used to refer back to last week, but with a renewed focus on testifying about Christ and upon our anointing in our baptism to testify concerning the good news of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
  • 1 occurrence in 3 yrs
Psalm 126
  • 3 occurrences in 3 yrs
  • Year C, Lent 5
  • Year B, Proper 25
Isaiah 61:1-4
  • 1 occurrence in 3 yrs
  • 7 weeks of concentration in Isaiah or prophetic texts

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