Other than being generally associated with living in the West, I don't have a lot of cowboy credibility, but still I went to the boot barn with my wife the other day and she was

trying on some cowgirl jeans, most of which I thought were pretty cool looking, and so she

tried on four or five, and for of them. I was like yeah thumbs up that's great I like those any of those would be fine there was one she tried on no I just didn't like the cut

She still looked good, but yeah, it just wasn't my favorite and I kind of did like the thumbs down and sort of the, yeah, I don't know face.

And she knew what that meant and she ended up getting some genes and I really like them.

And in the same way that both of us knew exactly what the thumbs down

gesture meant in that context, so everyone knew what the very same gesture the

thumbs down meant in the context of the Roman gladiatorial arena in classical Rome.

It didn't mean I don't like your pants. It meant

run that guy through with the sword and make him dead in front of all of us.

Whereas when I used it in a more recent setting, I didn't want to run anyone or anything through with the sword not the pants not any people not the lady that's trying to sell it to us

Just no killing whatsoever same exact gesture

very different connotations.

Likewise, when we get to Matthew chapter 3,

there's always a likewise, isn't there?

But this is a good one.

Because look, when we get to Matthew chapter 3 in verse 11,

we're seeing that John is conceiving of two very different

gestures that look the same on the outside but to do something and mean something

and are motivated by something very different.

Once again, he says,

I baptize you with water for repentance,

...