AN

INTERVIEW WITH
JOHN THE
BAPTIST;
SOFT VERSION

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AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST; SOFT VERSION.

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ëHAPTER 1: AT THE RIVER JORDAN

JOHN -- (enters wearing fur tunic and sandals, crosses by

podium, stops, examines several faces in audience, returns to
podium) If you were expecting to have a press conference with
Jesus of Nazareth, you're too late. He's gone. Sorry. (turns)

REPORTER -- Can you tell us where Jesus went?

JOHN -- (turns) Yes. He went back to Galilee to start his

ministry. Now, if you'll excuse me... (turns)

REPORTER -- Can you tell us what that means?

JOHN -- (turns) What what means?

REPORTER -- You said that Jesus went away to start his ministry.
Can you tell us what his ministry is?

JOHN -- Yes. For the next three years, Jesus will be traveling
through out Israel, proclaiming the good news of God. (turns)

REPORTER -- May we have your name, please?

JOHN -- (turns) My name is John, son of Zechariah the priest.

REPORTER -- Aren't you the one they call John the Baptist?

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- Is it true that you baptized Jesus in the Jordan

river today?

JOHN -- Yes. That's true.

REPORTER -- Isn't that a little unusual?

JOHN -- Unusual? I've baptized hundreds of people in the Jordan

river the last few days. How is that unusual?

REPORTER -- Well, for one thing, if you're the son of a temple

priest, shouldn't you be w orking in the temple in Jerusalem
baptizing people in the bronze basin there?

JOHN -- Let me ask you a question.

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REPORTER -- YOU want to ask the members of the press a question?

JOHN -- Yes. Can you tell me why they refer to the temple in
Jerusalem as HEROD'S temple?

REPORTER -- Because the money to build it came mostly from

Herod.

JOHN -- And because it gave glory to Herod and not to God. Have
you noticed that God is not present in the temple?

REPORTER -- How would we know if God is there or not?

JOHN -- The first temple built by King Solomon had a pillar of

smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. Have you ever seen
such a thing at Herod's temple?

REPORTER -- Are you saying that God is not present in the temple
at Jerusalem?

JOHN -- That's what I'm saying. And do you know why?

REPORTER -- I thought WE were the ones who were supposed to be

asking the questions.

JOHN -- I'll tell you why. Because the Pharisees and the
Sadducees no longer put their trust in God. They put their trust
in their own good deeds. They don't think they need a savior.

REPORTER -- Is that why you referred to them as... (reads) "A

brood of vipers"?

JOHN -- That's right. And that's why I'm baptizing people in the
Jordan River.

REPORTER -- But the Jordan river is muddy and unclean.

JOHN -- Baptism is not intended to clean the body, but to

symbolize the immersion in the Holy Spirit.

REPORTER -- Are you saying that people who are immersed in the
Jordan River now will be immersed in the Holy Spirit later?

JOHN -- Yes. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself was already

immersed in the Holy Spirit.

REPORTER -- When did this happen?

JOHN -- Immediately after he came up out of the water.

REPORTER -- There were several reports from bystanders that they

heard thunder when Jesus came up out of the water. Can you
confirm that?

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JOHN -- What the people heard was the voice of God himself, just
as it was in the time of Moses. Only true believers could hear
the words of God. All the others could only hear what sounded
like thunder.

REPORTER -- Did YOU hear the words?

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- Can you tell us what God said when Jesus came up out
of the water?

JOHN -- Yes. He said, "This is my son, in whom I am well

pleased."

REPORTER -- Can you tell us why?

JOHN -- Why what?

REPORTER -- You quoted God as saying (reads) "This is my son in

whom I am well pleased".

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- But you just told us that Jesus was about to start
his ministry. If Jesus hasn't done anything yet, what is there
for God to be pleased about?

JOHN -- After creating the entire universe, Jesus decided to

give up his rights as king of the universe to take on the body
of one of his creations in order to save them from their sins. I
would say that just humbling himself is enough to be pleased
about.

REPORTER -- But if Jesus is the creator of the universe, that

makes him God.

JOHN -- That's right.

REPORTER -- But you said God spoke to Jesus from Heaven. Doesn't
that mean there's two Gods?

JOHN -- I don't know how God can do it, but it appears that one
God is actually THREE different persons.

REPORTER -- THREE persons?!

JOHN -- Don't forget, I saw the Holy Spirit descend from Heaven
at the same time I heard God's voice from heaven. That makes
THREE persons in one God at one time.

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REPORTER -- How is it possible that God can be three persons?

JOHN -- I don't know. Perhaps outside of the universe that God

created for us, outside of our limitations of time and space,
three persons can sit on one throne at one time.

REPORTER -- How can that be?

JOHN -- I don't know HOW he does it, but this is not a surprise.
In the Book of Genesis, during the creation, the Hebrew word for
God is a plural noun that is always used with a singular verb.
And this plural God said "Let US make man in OUR image." At this
point in the creation, there is no one around but God himself. I
can't see any other explanation for God referring to himself as
US unless God is more than one person. I don't know how one God
can be three persons. I'm no scholar. I'm just the voice of one
calling in the wilderness, "Make way for the coming of the
Lord." And I'm pleased to announce: The Lord is here.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have several hundred people waiting

to be baptized. (exits)

ëHAPTER 2: THE FINAL MOMENTS OF JOHN

GUARD -- (enters carrying a sword with John in tow chained hand

and foot, crosses to podium) Good Evening. The reason I called
this press conference is to announce that this man, John son of
Zechariah will be executed immediately at the command of King
Herod.

REPORTER -- Can you tell us why John is being executed?

GUARD -- Why?

REPORTER -- Yes. What are the charges against him?

GUARD -- King Herod doesn't need any charges. He is a king. He

has the power of life and death over everyone in his kingdom. He
doesn't need an excuse.

REPORTER -- What I mean is, John has been in jail for several
months. Do you have any insight as to what prompted the command
to execute him now?

GUARD -- No. I'm just following orders. If the king says "bring
me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter", I do as I'm
told.

REPORTER -- Would you mind if we ask John a few questions?

GUARD -- A man who is about to die doesn't get a press

conference!

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REPORTER -- Please. John has many disciples. They need closure.

GUARD -- Very well. But make it brief. (pushes John toward

podium)

REPORTER -- John, can you tell us what prompted this execution?

JOHN -- Actually, I first heard about the execution at the same

time you all did. This is news to me.

REPORTER -- Can you tell us why you were put in j ail in the
first place?

JOHN -- Yes. I criticized King Herod for his adultery with his
brother's wife.

REPORTER -- Have they charged you with any other offense?

JOHN -- Not to my face. But I think it's more than just a

coincidence that King Herod is having a party tonight in which
his new wife and her daughter are the guests of honor. I'm quite
sure she had something to do with this decision.

REPORTER -- You don't seem terribly upset by the news that

you're about to lose your life.

JOHN -- Oh, I have been ready to die since my cousin began his
ministry.

REPORTER -- Your cousin?

JOHN -- Jesus of Nazareth. I knew from the start that my job was
to be the fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah's prophecy. He
called me the voice of one calling in the wildern ess preparing
the way of the Lord.

REPORTER -- Isn't it true that you recently doubted that you

might not actually be the fulfillment of that prophecy?

JOHN -- Yes. I did. But I don't anymore. I'm ready to die

knowing that I prepared the way of the Lord himself.

REPORTER -- So, you are quite sure that Jesus of Nazareth is God
himself in human flesh?

JOHN -- I'm certain of it.

REPORTER -- What makes you so certain now?

JOHN -- I sent messengers to Jesus while I was here in jail.

They asked Jesus if he was the annointed one or did I announce
the wrong man.

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REPORTER -- And what was his answer?

JOHN -- Actually, in typical fashion, he didn't answer my

question at all. He merely quoted old testament scriptures.

REPORTER -- What scriptures were those?

JOHN -- Jesus quoted the scriptures that predicted that "The

blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are
cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is
preached to the poor."

REPORTER -- I'm not sure I understand the sign ificance of these

scriptures.

JOHN -- Jesus did all of these things. He healed the blind and
the lame and the leper and the deaf, and he raised the dead to
life again. And, of course, his primary mission was to preach
the good news to the poor. In other w ords, Jesus was reminding
me that he had fulfilled the predictions about our messiah in
the scriptures to the letter. How could I doubt after hearing
that?

REPORTER -- What made you doubt Jesus in the first place?

JOHN -- Well, quite frankly, I bought into the teachings of the

Jewish elites. They said that the messiah would ascend the
throne and rule over Israel. But Jesus repeatedly told his
people that "His time had not yet come". And now it's looking
very much like Jesus will be executed himself befo re he takes
the throne.

REPORTER -- But the scriptures clearly state that the messiah

will definitely take the throne. Are you saying that the
scriptures are wrong?

JOHN -- I'm saying that the Jewish elites are wrong when they
assume that the messiah wil l take the throne BEFORE he saves us
from our sins.

REPORTER -- So, what you're saying is that the messiah will save
us from our sins BEFORE he becomes king?

JOHN -- Yes.

REPORTER -- And how will he save us from our sins?

JOHN -- He will die for our sins. That's why he came to earth as
a man.

REPORTER -- Wait a minute. If Jesus dies for our sins he can't

possibly take the throne!

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JOHN -- Not this time.

REPORTER -- This time? Are you saying God is coming to earth

again?

JOHN -- That's what I'm saying and that's what the Jewish elites
missed. They assumed that the messiah would somehow do both in
one visit.

REPORTER -- But how can Jesus ascend to the throne if he's dead?

JOHN -- If Jesus is God in human flesh as I have said

repeatedly, he will rise f rom the grave.

REPORTER -- But that's impossible.

JOHN -- Exactly. No one but God could do such a miraculous thing,

someone who has already shown us that he has the power to raise
people from the dead.

REPORTER -- Let's assume for a second that Jesus ac tually raises

from the dead. Will he immediately ascend to the throne of
Israel and rule Israel as king?

JOHN -- He could. But he won't.

REPORTER -- Why not?

JOHN -- God wants everybody all over the world to have a chance
to hear about the resurrection and submit to his will. When
Jesus comes again in the future, people will have the
opportunity to hear about his death and resurrection and see it
as proof that he is God in human flesh. They will have no
excuse. If they fail to submit to the authority of Jesus, they
will have to pay for their own sins.

REPORTER -- I assume that the reason you're so calm about your

impending execution is because you have already submitted to the
authority of Jesus.

JOHN -- Absolutely.

GUARD -- (grabs John's arm) Speaking of impending execution,

it's time. (exits with John)

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BARISAN PELAKON:
› S
2 A A A ›
3 A A A 2
4 A A A 3
5 PE GA AL ›
6 PE GA AL 2
7 PELAK AMBA A ›
8 PELAK AMBA A 2
9 PELAK AMBA A 3
›
PELAK AMBA A 4
›› PELAK SIMPA A ›
›2 PELAK SIMPA A 2

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