Matt 3:1-17

Vs 11 John the Baptist: I indeed [immerse] you with water unto repentance

This is the first marking I made in the NT readings of my MDB (The MacArthur Daily Bible). What's most noteworthy to me is just this, the business of repentance is as common as the green grass. (now before you say 'How so?' let me go on...) Here's the fore-runner to the Lord, and he's out in the sticks, but people are coming to him. Why? Oh I wasn't there, so how would I know? (I wasn't there at the time, I did go to the land though) Well my point is one based on some presuppositions about religion. I'll not build the case here, but I talk about it all the time, and its worthy of discussion.

It's not all that likely the Scribes and Pharisees, and the temple Priests in the city where dealing with lots of this. Not because it wasn't their job, and not necessarily because they weren't willing to handle it. (the reality is that Jesus rebukes the Lawyers for overdoing things elsewhere.) MY POINT: the nobodies and commoners were not uncomfortable coming to John out at the river. So my APPLICATION: if you think yourself a spiritual leader, don't think you can get around the child rearing part of the work. If your not approachable in the way John was, that may be a problem, but if your not willing to give aid to any and everybody wrt (with respect to) reconciliation (there are many forms, one important form) you are the bad guy.