This time next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Nelson Mandela. Born in an obscure Xhosa village he became the first black president of a democratic South Africa. Truth is stranger than fiction – who would have believed that a former terrorist jailed for life, would be released after 27 years to become a statesman recognised worldwide. Ten years after his death there is much hagiography on the life of Nelson Mandela, meaning that the stories surrounding his life paint him as a saint. Yet Desmond Tutu remembers an angry Mandela and has commented that his 27 years of imprisonment were a dark night, a crucible of transformation so that the Mandela who emerged was gracious, forgiving of his captives and able to lead a more united country. 

Imagine Nelson Mandela sitting in prison during the last of those 27 years. Some news, but not much, drips into the Robin Island prison. Would he be wondering what was going on in South Africa? Would he wonder how South Africa was changing? Would he be reflecting on his life, wondering if it was all worth it? Would he be considering the sacrifices he had made and wondering if these sacrifices had made any difference at all?  

Mandela was a giant of the 20th century; so much so that in 2009 the United Nations declared 18 July Mandela day. At the time of his death much of Mandela’s vision was realised, even though there is still much work to do.

I suggest that there are parallels between Nelson Mandela contemplating his life, fate and future in prison and John the Baptist, a revolutionary prophet imprisoned by the last king of the Jews, Herod.

John the Baptist

As you know, John, much like Nelson Mandela, challenged the oppression in political and religious leadership. Scholarship today confirms that John the Baptist was a member of the Essene community. The Essenes, who lived near Qumran around the Dead Sea, had an ascetic approach to life and repudiated the decadence of the world they saw around them. Much of this Essene lifestyle is reflected in John the Baptist, who, like prophets Elijah and Elisha before him, lived in the desert wearing camel skin and eating locusts and honey when he could find them.

Enormously admired in his day, John gave voice to the people’s anger at the elites who profited from religious and political hierarchies.  

More than anything, John wanted God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. The dreams described in Isaiah’s poetry inspired John, a land of safety with enough for all, a land where people’s full flourishing was nurtured and where there were no blockages to people’s needs being satisfied. John’s dreams and vision for a kingdom where the hungry are fed and the those in debtors’ prison are freed threaten the status quo, especially if the status quo relies on many being poor so that few can be rich. Life seldom goes smoothly for activist and constantly speaking out against Herod landed John in prison.

Imagine John sitting in prison during the last of his years. Some news, but not much, drips into John’s prison. Would he be wondering what was going on? Would he wonder how society was changing? John heard news of Jesus, his cousin and former student and disciple, doing God’s work, articulating God’s kindness and love in care for the most vulnerable. Would John be reflecting on his life, wondering if it was all worth it? Would he be considering the sacrifices he had made and wondering if these sacrifices had made any difference at all?  Was there any hope for a new world, for God’s kingdom to come on earth?

Jesus gracious words to John comfort him with hope: new life the dead receive, the lame leap for joy, the mournful broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe, the blind see. In other words, John’s dreams of a new world order are coming true.

Us

Like Mandela and John we too may contemplate our lives from inside our prisons. Our prison bars are apathy, doubt, a lack of enthusiasm and commitment for God’s kingdom, a lack of faith in our faith, discouragement, and the endless busyness of our lives. We desperately yearn for God’s kingdom of peace, hope, justice, kindness, and gentleness. We take communion trusting in a universe where all have enough bread, and all have wine to celebrate. We pray. We worship. Our hearts long for all children to experience safety, love, and hope. Yet the world around us belies our deepest confidences. The political systems of injustice and racism effect the most vulnerable. Aboriginal people still have no voice, no justice, no acknowledgement of the history of pain embedded in their DNA. The war in Ukraine rages against our dreams of peace. We feel frustration like John and Mandela did, Jesus’ revolution of love does not seem to be happened. What can break us free from our prisons of doubt, discouragement, and apathy? Two things:

Focus on the positive

1. Jesus says that God’s kingdom is on the way and is unfolding in our midst. It is true that we live inside the tension of the yet and the not yet. There is a tug of war with God’s kingdom and Isaiah’s dream on the one hand and the reality of war, violence, and injustice on the other hand. Jesus asks that we notice and bless the moments where the kingdom of God blossoms. This is why Jesus messaged John with the Good News of the blind seeing, the lame walking and the imprisoned free. Jesus was drawing attention to the positive kingdom moments while John was focused on negative despair. It is human nature to give more credit to the negative and downplay the positive. Neuroscientists teach us that our brains are hotwired to remember the negative more than the positive. While one negative experience trains the brain, it requires five positive experiences to create a learning moment. Negative memories stick like Velcro and positive memories stick like Teflon. Jesus helps us by reminding us to look at the positive moments. We are invited to look at the seeds of the kingdom of God growing, and not focus on the dark, dank soil, compost and manure surrounding the growing seed.

Live the future now

2. “Strengthen the weak hands,” says the Prophet “And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear!’” The prophet Isaiah who inspired John the Baptist and Jesus paints a vivid picture of God’s new world order. The vision of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven is to inspire people to live God’s promised future as if it is a reality now. Thus in God’s promised future, there is no loneliness thus we celebrate belonging and community now. In God’s promised future there is no hunger and poverty thus in the present we share our excess so that all have enough. In God’s promised future people have access to education and all that might nourish their full potential thus in the present we support policies that remove blockages to people’s agency and empowerment. To describe how blockages to human growth is removed Isaiah uses the image of a highway, a straight road where mountains are made low, and valleys are lifted up. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”