Emphasis Preaching Journal
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Commentary
One homiletical key for using either the Old Testament or gospel lesson for this Sunday is to keep in mind the tension between the unexpected messiah and the One who comes out of Nazareth. Zephaniah anticipates a manifestation of God as Divine Warrior. John's reference to one more powerful than himself suggests that John's expectation is in the tradition of Zephaniah, a slam-bang intervention of God with some human military assistance. When John saw Jesus in action he had doubts. "Are you he that should come or do we look for another?" (Luke 7:19).
