It’s frequent that the visions and promises of hope described in the Bible are cast out sometime in the indefinite future. In particular, these usually are intended for those currently suffering or marginalized. Most of the warnings are more immediate and are reserved largely for people of comfort and privilege.
In the James text, there is something strangely comforting in knowing that, even way back then, people were getting snappy with each other because they hated to wait. And in a time when immediacy is the currency of the culture, our snappiness tends to border on a nervous breakdown. Imagine how we would respond now to such vague, indefinite timelines!
It’s particularly notable, given all of these words of comfort and assurance, that John the Baptist—who is in prison and likely facing his death—isn’t focused at all on his own situation. Rather, his sole focus is knowing whether the things he has been talking about are coming to be for everyone else. He knows his fate will likely be execution, but like a true prophet, his heart is with his people, rough as he may be around the edges.
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