John the Baptist as Mr. Rogers
Every year during Advent we get to hear John the Baptist say to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And, with such exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. ……. This is good news??? A few years ago, I saw a painting of John the Baptist that surprised me. Normally John the Baptist is depicted as a gaunt and grizzled barefoot guy with really bad hair pointing to Jesus who is nearby on a cross. He looks like the kind of guy who calls people a brood of vipers, which, after Repent! is his best known line. The painting I saw, though, was so very different from that. This John the Baptist is young, with a glorious cascade of curls and soft facial features. His head is cocked and he looks right at you in gentl...
