A Spiritual Re-Awakening? Day 2: Lenten Reflections through John’s Gospel

Day 2 – (March 7, 2019)

Read

John 1:19-23, 29-42
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”…

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Reflect

The words of verse 41 identify two significant themes: ‘We have found…!’ and ‘He (Andrew) brought him (Peter) to Jesus…!’ Earlier we read John the Baptist’s testimony: “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (1:34).

The implication of John the Gospel writer’s words in verses 19-23 is that the Jewish leaders expected a messianic figure at some point. Because of this they were keen to find out more about John who was preaching repentance and baptizing in the Jordan River. To their inquiry John responded with words from Isaiah 40:3, telling them that someone greater was coming. He himself was not the One. Indeed, he specifically identified Jesus as God’s Son when Jesus came and asked to be baptized (1:29-34).

It is also interesting to note how John the Baptizer knew Jesus’ true identity: it was not necessarily because he heard a supernatural voice speaking to Jesus, but rather because the Spirit of God had told him what to watch for. The presence of the dove was the sign that God’s Spirit came upon Jesus and that Jesus is the Man from heaven.

The story takes us from John’s testimony to Jesus: ‘Look at him! Follow him!’ are John’s words. Jesus now takes center stage in the Gospel narrative. Calling his first followers to join him, they in turn told others, ‘Come and see’. They had found God’s long-promised king who would pour out his Spirit, enabling God’s people to remain with God forever. The God who exists eternally outside the material world was coming in human form into our world. For his part, John the gospel writer, now invites us to ‘Come and see’ for ourselves just who Jesus is. The implication is that we in turn will want to invite others to do the same.

Prayer

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and was sent to prepare the way for your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: so grant that we may truly repent according to his teaching, and following his example may constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (1662 BCP, A Prayer for St. John the Baptist’s Day, June 24)

Daily Reading Plan

Read John 1:19-51