sabians (part two)

Another more common theory on the Sabians identifies them with a group known as the Mandaeans.  They were largely concentrated in Iraq and Iran, but since the Iraq War of 2003 induced many of them to be displaced elsewhere. They claim to be followers of John the Baptist / Yahya (as) who weren't absorbed into Christianity. They are also the only living Gnostic tradition which has survived from ancient times.

When I first heard about this group, my mind was blown away at the thought there would be any significant difference of opinion between the followers of John the Baptist (as) and the followers of Christ (as). But eventually one can point to moments in the Biblical narrative which point to tensions which most Christians tend to gloss over.

The usual Christian interpretation emphasizes the moment of Jesus' baptism

[11] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

[12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

[13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

[14] John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

[15] But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented.

[16] And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;

[17] and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3)

Note that John here seems absolutely conscious of Jesus' status and he is depicted as an eyewitness to a powerful divine miracle supporting the role of Jesus.

But if we fast-forward to Matthew 9 we read:

[14] Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

[15] And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

So note that John has his own disciples even after Jesus ministry has started. This seems odd when we contrast with the earlier passage. If John is not worthy to carry Jesus' sandals, why would have have his own disciples following a different teaching from Christ?

A second discrepancy which seems inconsistent with the common image of John's baptism is later on in Matthew 11:

[1] And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

[2] Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

[3] and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

So in contrast to John's earlier recognition of Christ and his witnessing of a voice from heaven, at this point John doesn't seem certain about Jesus' status.

In any case, I wonder if the Mandaens will provide a useful alternative perspective on the roles of Jesus (as) and John the Baptist (as) which will help Muslims get a deeper insight into events during the early history of Christianity.

The Gnostic Society Library: Mandaean Scriptures and Fragments