John 3: 18 – 21 Jesus teaches Nicodemus

John 3: 18 – 21

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3: 18)

St John sets this statement in a scene in which Jesus is responding to doubts expressed by Nicodemus. He knows who Nicodemus is, and he knows that the group to which he belongs is hostile. This is a serious warning to Nicodemus. Jesus is saying to him:

  • I am the Son of Man, that is, God’s one and only Son;
  • I am not here to condemn you;
  • If you believe in me, you are not condemned;
  • If you don’t believe in me, you are already condemned.

Remember, Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, in the darkness.

This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear their deeds will be disclosed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3: 19 – 21)

Remember, too, what Nicodemus said at the start of his meeting with Jesus.

‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ (John 3: 2)

It seems to me that Jesus is saying, ‘Look at yourself, Nicodemus. Why have you come to me secretly, in the dark, rather than coming to hear my public teaching? What are you hiding? If you believe that God is with me – then come into the light and show your belief publicly.’

And Nicodemus says nothing in reply.

There is a great deal of theology in these verses, but I don’t want to try and unpack it here. I want to look solely at the narrative and see what it tells me about Jesus. So let me sum up this story, and also look ahead at the other references to Nicodemus in St John’s gospel.

The theme of the story is set out in John 2: 22 – 25. Jesus performs signs in Jerusalem and many people believe as a result. But Jesus wouldn’t trust himself to any of them. He knew what was in each person.

John then tells us the story of Nicodemus as an example of how Jesus knew what was in people. Nicodemus is shown that he has no idea of what Jesus is doing, or of his significance. Jesus states that he is the only Son of God; he challenges Nicodemus with it, because to an orthodox Jew such a claim was blasphemy.

Jesus does not condemn Nicodemus – he has not come to condemn, but to save. And sharp though the challenge is to Nicodemus, it is an invitation to respond.

Although that is where this part of Nicodemus’ story stops, it is continued later in the gospel. The temple guards have been sent to arrest Jesus, but have returned empty-handed.

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why didn’t you bring him in?’

‘No-one ever spoke the way this man does,’ the guards replied.

‘You mean he has deceived you also?’ the Pharisees retorted. ‘Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law – there is a curse on them.’

Nicodemus who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?’

They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee. (John 7: 46 – 52)

It would seem that Jesus’ words to Nicodemus are starting to bear fruit. He speaks out, to remind his fellow Pharisees that Jesus deserves a fair trial.

Then, after Jesus has died, Nicodemus makes another appearance.

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about thirty-five kilograms. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. (John 19: 38 – 40)

Nicodemus plays a major part in Jesus’ burial; he shows his belief publicly. The words spoken to him by Jesus bear fruit!

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to save the world. Thank you that he speaks to us and encourages us to follow him. Please help me to hear what he says to me and to obey it.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

John 3: 16 – 17 For God so loved the world…

John 3: 16 – 17 For God so loved the world

We saw yesterday how Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Jesus probed Nicodemus’ understanding of what he was preaching and found that he knew little of it. Indeed, Nicodemus struggled to believe what Jesus was saying. Importantly, though, he didn’t dismiss Jesus out of hand. He stayed to listen and heard a vital message of salvation.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

When we read these words, we need to remember the context. St John is punctilious in his story-telling. This passage doesn’t tell us anything about how Jesus will save the world, because at this point in the narrative both crucifixion and resurrection are in the future. However, St John knows what comes later, and the theology he presents here agrees with it.

We can read the words as part of the Passion narrative, with St John’s understanding of the cross and the empty tomb, or we can read them as a part of the story of Nicodemus where the future is still mysterious. Today, I’m going to read them as part of the story of Nicodemus, because his ignorance and scepticism have much to teach me about my own shortcomings.

Imagine hearing these words for the first time. The person speaking them is a controversial rabbi. He’s disrupted temple business, he’s baptising people and gathering disciples, and he’s working miracles. And now he’s talking in riddles.

God so loved the world. No problem. Genesis tells us that God created the world and that he saw that it was good. I believe that God created the world – not quite as Genesis describes, but through a set of physical laws including evolution. As a scientist, I’d be hard pressed to deny the evidence of evolution. But – oops – Nicodemus argued against being born again as being contrary to all the evidence. I must keep an open mind. Even better, I must remember to trust in Jesus.

He gave his one and only Son. Who is this one and only Son? I believe Jesus is God’s one and only Son. But part of this study and reading is to understand more profoundly what that means.

That whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Eternal life? Pharisees like Nicodemus didn’t believe in a resurrection. Do I? I’ve had a good life, almost my three score and ten years. Coronavirus may extinguish me in the coming months, but I could hardly complain. I’m grateful for my life and for my experience of human love, and for my experience of God’s love. But what about all those people who have been less fortunate? A just God must surely redress the balance somehow? A loving God surely yearns that all his children should be fulfilled? This requires a life beyond this one, so yes, I think I believe in eternal life, and I long to know Jesus’ love more fully.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, Condemn the world? What about the promise to Noah? Is the world that bad?

but to save the world through him. Well, there’s plenty wrong with the world from which we need saving. Nicodemus would probably have thought of the Romans, an occupying power in the Holy Land. I think of wars in which my country has played a wicked and murderous role. It would be good to be saved from these things. But I don’t think that’s what Jesus is talking about…

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your love. Thank you for Jesus. Please help me to trust him and follow him, and grow closer to him every day.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

John 3: 1 – 15 Jesus teaches Nicodemus

John 3: 1 – 15 Jesus teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’

Nicodemus was an important, influential man. As a member of the Jewish ruling council he would have helped guide and shape the way the Jews lived, especially what they believed and how they practised their faith. He was a teacher of Israel.

He came to Jesus by night and started the conversation by acknowledging that Jesus is a teacher who has come from God. A good start – perhaps.

He came by night. Why?

Did he hope to benefit from Jesus’ ministry, perhaps stealing a march on his colleagues? Was he sincere, but fearful of what his colleagues would say? Had the council sent him to find out more about this troublemaking rabbi, Jesus?

Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’

Let’s just pause and think about this. How would I feel if Jesus had confronted me with a reply like that? Startled? Baffled? How would I have responded? Keep thinking about this as we read on.

‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’

It’s not a thoughtful reply, is it? There’s little humility in it. Nicodemus expresses doubt about what Jesus has just told him. He’s almost scornful.

Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’

Jesus amplifies what he had said; he drops a large hint. When he says ‘born of water’, he is referring to baptism. He’s probing Nicodemus; how much does he know of Jesus’ ministry? Has he witnessed any of the preaching and teaching? It’s decision time for Nicodemus. Will he humbly ask Jesus to explain? Or will he reject the teaching?

‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked.

Teaching rejected. Game over. Except that with Jesus the game is never over. Jesus gives Nicodemus some final teaching about his ministry.

‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’

The teaching continues, but I will leave that for tomorrow.

In the meantime, you might read John 7: 50 in which Nicodemus speaks up for Jesus among the Pharisees; and John 19: 38 – 42 where Nicodemus carries a great weight of precious spices to the tomb, to anoint Jesus’ body after his crucifixion. That meeting with Jesus seems to have changed something in Nicodemus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

I’m sorry that I am slow to understand your word, and even slower to obey it. Please forgive me for that, and help me to do better. Please help me not to be fearful, but to trust in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen

John 2: 18 – 25 A prophecy of the resurrection

John 2: 18 – 25 A prophecy of the resurrection.

In my previous post, Jesus had just driven the traders out of the temple courts. He’d done it violently, upsetting the tables of the money changers and driving out the animals with a whip. Not surprisingly, there were repercussions.

The Jews then responded to him, ‘What sign can you give us to prove your authority to do all this?’

Jesus was interfering with their livelihood. What right did he have to do this? Did he represent the temple authorities? Or the Romans? Or was he a prophet? What was his authority?

Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’

The temple in Jerusalem was the focal point of the Jewish religion. Although the site on which the building stood had been sacred for at least 1000 years, the structure referred to by St John was relatively recent. It had been commissioned by King Herod and had stood for well under 100 years at the time the events described by St John took place. It is perfectly possible that people present in the temple courts that day would remember its construction. It had taken years to build – possibly not the forty-six years stated in the gospel, but certainly a decade. It was an imposing edifice.

They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’

The destruction of the temple would have been nightmarish to the hearers. It would have meant the loss of nationhood in a final subjugation to Rome. The statement by Jesus played on that fear, in a way that made his statement of rebuilding it in three days seem completely ludicrous. There’s no mention of laughter in the gospel, but I imagine that people would have laughed out loud with incredulity – and apprehension.

But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Here, St John uses a flash forward. He jumps ahead of the story he is telling to make a point. ‘…his disciples recalled what he had said.’

He is telling us that the principal witnesses to Jesus, his disciples, heard and remembered that during this incident he prophesied his resurrection. Would they have remembered such an oblique prophesy if the resurrection had not taken place?

I shall be looking especially for evidence of the resurrection. It is absolutely central to my faith. It demonstrates that God brings redemption and victory out of the very worst situations.

But there is a long way to go to the resurrection and we are still in Jerusalem for the Passover

Now while he was in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Who were these people to whom Jesus would not entrust himself? We’re not told, but imagination may fill in some of the gaps.

Jesus was becoming well known; people saw him performing signs. All sorts of rumours would have been spreading. There were different political groups in Jerusalem; some of them may have sought Jesus’ endorsement. There were the Zealots; I daresay they would have been delighted to have Jesus’ support, possibly even as a figurehead for the movement. We know, because St Luke tells us in his gospel (Luke 23: 8), that Herod, installed by the Romans as the puppet ruler of Galilee, had long wanted to see Jesus.

All of these seemingly offer the potential for power and influence, but Jesus didn’t commit himself to any of them. It would have been at best a distraction, and at worst, a trap.

‘He knew what was in each person.’

Prayer

Dear Father

Please purify my heart that I may respond to your love by obediently following Jesus, in whose name I pray.

Amen

John 2: 13 – 17 Jesus clears the temple courts

John 2: 13 – 17 Jesus clears the temple courts

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle: he scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’ His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ (John 2: 13 – 17)

The Jewish religion was based around the Law, which specified the things you were not allowed to do. Pretty much every infringement of the Law required the sinner to make a sacrifice of an unblemished animal or a bird. (You’ll find much of it specified in Deuteronomy)

St John tells us that it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, which was a celebration of the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. Devout Jews would come to Jerusalem from just about everywhere in the world. The city would have been packed with pilgrims, and almost all of them would have wanted to offer a sacrifice. It would have been difficult for those with a long journey to bring a live animal for sacrifice, and a market had grown up to satisfy the need for suitable animals. Travellers would also have needed local currency to pay temple taxes, and, naturally enough, there were money-changers to service that need.

By the time of Jesus, the animal sellers and money-changers were established inside the outer courts of the temple. It would have been noisy, smelly, crowded and not at all conducive to worship.

I still find myself startled by the violence of Jesus’ response. He literally used a whip to drive out the traders from the temple. Now, I’ve heard it suggested that the market grossly overcharged the pilgrims – and maybe it did – but is that the reason for Jesus’ anger? I don’t think so. St John reports that Jesus said to those selling doves ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’

‘Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’

That was the reason for Jesus’ anger. Despite the good reasons for the market, it was a secular intrusion into the sacred. The traders were focussed on making money, not on serving God.

St John makes two more important points. The first is in verse 16, where Jesus says ‘Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’ Jesus claims that God is his father; he is the son of God.

The second is in verse 17 ‘His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’

Jesus’ disciples were present. They witnessed the dramatic event and reflected on it. They heard Jesus claim that God was his father, and they saw him drive out the market from the temple courts.

Are there lessons for me in the present day?

I guess the obvious one is that worship and prayer must be done with a pure heart or they’re worse than useless. They must arise from our desire to seek God. That’s not to say we need to be perfect, or even ‘good’. All we need is the willingness to place our trust in Jesus. God can, and will, work with even a tiny bit of faith, nurturing it and helping it to grow.

The other lesson with which I personally have to wrestle is that Jesus was not always gentle. I believe absolutely in the primacy of love, and I find it difficult to come to terms with religious violence. And yet St John says that Jesus did this, and his actions were witnessed by his disciples.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the truths you reveal through the bible. Please help me to understand and accept what you are teaching me in this passage. In Jesus name, Amen.

John 2: 1 – 12

John 2: 1 – 12  Changing water into wine

This is a very well-known story. I wonder if I’ll find something new to say about it?

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. (John 2: 1 -2)

St John sets the scene. Time has passed. Jesus has his own disciples now.

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’

‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’

His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ (John 2: 3 – 5)

My bible (the NIV) tells me in a footnote that the Greek used when Jesus addresses his mother as ‘Woman’ does not denote any disrespect. I’m rather glad of that! I note, though, that St John doesn’t refer to Jesus’ mother as Mary. What significance that has – if any – I don’t know.

There is no wine left for the wedding banquet. The lack will spoil the celebration and shame the host. Jesus’ mother suggests to Jesus that he should help. At first he demurs but his mother tells the servants to ‘do whatever he tells you’, and Jesus changes his mind.

What absolute trust Jesus’ mother shows! She is completely confident that he can deal with the problem. She gives us a great example of faith.

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from eighty to a hundred and twenty litres.

Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realise where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.’ (John 2: 6 – 10)

Look at the amount of water turned into wine. Six hundred litres! That’s 158 US gallons, or 132 UK gallons, or 800 standard bottles of wine. It is an abundance of wine. Furthermore, it was top quality, better than anything that had previously been served at the wedding feast.

St John has written this story as though it’s true, but it’s also a parable. The water was in jars for ceremonial washing. This represents the old covenant of the Law. The wine represents the new covenant, where the Holy Spirit will dwell in all those who follow Jesus. The new wine is better than the old, and given in abundance.

And maybe a parable is all it is, but I personally don’t think so because St John takes care to tell us who witnessed the miracle. Jesus’ mother asked him to act, and would have known what happened. The servants who had filled the jars with water and seen it turned into wine were witnesses. Jesus’ disciples were present. Many people saw the miracle and could bear witness to it, says St John.

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. (John 1: 11 – 12)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the new wine of your Holy Spirit. Fill us with that wine so that we may rejoice in your love and pass it on to all those with whom we meet. Amen.

John 1: 35 – 51

John 1: 35 – 51

Having told us about John the Baptist’s witness to Jesus, St John now introduces some of those who are to be Jesus’ disciples. These are people who will be with him while he teaches and heals, and who will be the witnesses of his life, death and resurrection. In St John’s account, the first two to be introduced to Jesus as the Messiah are two of John the Baptist’s disciples.

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. John 1: 35 – 37)

In this short passage, John the Baptist once again affirms very clearly that Jesus is the Lamb of God, and he does so to his disciples. St John implies, perhaps, that other people heard John the Baptist’s testimony, and can back up what he is telling us.

One thing that I find very interesting is that Jesus doesn’t summon or appoint the two disciples – they follow him on the basis of John the Baptist’s testimony.

One of these first two disciples was Andrew. He spent a day with Jesus, (verses 38 – 39) and then this happened:

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. (John 1: 40 – 42)

In other words, Andrew’s immediate response to what he had experienced of Jesus was to tell someone else, and bring them to Jesus. This was not an isolated event, because St John now tells us:

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip. (John 1: 44 – 46)

Philip, just like Andrew, responded to Jesus by telling someone else. That’s probably an important lesson for me.

Part of the reason I started this blog was to spend more time with Jesus, through prayer, reading the bible, and thinking about what I have read. Like Andrew and Philip, my experience of Jesus is leading me to share it with others.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’

‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.’

Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’

Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig-tree. You will see greater things than that.’ He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see “heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on” the Son of Man.’ (John 1: 47 – 51)

I find this an enigmatic passage. Jesus tells Nathanael that he is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit, and that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him, whereupon Nathanael proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah. It doesn’t seem much to base your faith on, does it? But Jesus says that he will see more impressive miracles, including “heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on” the Son of Man.’  

And perhaps it’s an encouraging word to us. We don’t need dramatic revelations; faith can be built from small bricks when Jesus is doing the building!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love for each one of us. Please help us to trust in you, and build up our faith in your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen

St John 1: 29 – 34

St John 1: 29 – 34

Once again, Saint John teaches us by means of a story.

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.’ (John 1: 29 – 31)

John the Baptist has been preaching that one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit is coming. He’s been calling people to repentance and baptising them (Luke chapter 3 tells us this). He’s done this purely in faith, because he hasn’t known the identity of the one who is to come. Suddenly, he realizes that Jesus is the person whose way he has been preparing.

Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’ (John 1: 32 – 34)

This is, if you like, John the Baptist’s witness statement. It recounts what he heard and saw for himself. It is evidence.

When we consider this evidence, what might we say about it?

  • It’s not contemporaneous – the gospel was written many years after the event, so St John could have misremembered.
  • John the Baptist may have imagined the whole thing.
  • It could be true and correctly recorded by St John.

Still, we don’t need to make up our minds immediately. St John has many more witnesses to present, and there are other lessons we can take from this passage.

Firstly, John the Baptist went out into the wilderness purely by faith. He didn’t know to whom he was witnessing until it was revealed to him. That is certainly a lesson for me; indeed, this blog is my equivalent. I have no idea who God wants to read it – if anybody – but I feel I have been called to do it.

Have you ever stepped out in faith, not knowing exactly what will happen?

Secondly, look at the way John the Baptist describes Jesus:

  • He is the Lamb of God.
  • He takes away the sin of the world.
  • He will baptise with the Holy Spirit.

As a writer, I would describe what St John is doing here as ‘foreshadowing’, which is to say he’s preparing the reader for what comes later. The Lamb of God is a sacrificial lamb; the sacrifice is to take away the sin of the world; and as a consequence, those who follow Jesus will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

I confess that I struggle with the doctrine of the atonement. The idea that a loving God requires the death of an innocent victim to put things right seems inexplicable, barbaric even. I have to treat it as a mystery. If anyone is reading this, please pray for me that God will tell me what I need to understand about the sacrifice made by Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. I trust your love, I trust your mercy and I trust Jesus. Please help me to accept whatever I need to understand to do your will.

In Jesus name,

Amen

John 1: 19 – 28

John 1: 19 – 28

St John wants to establish the credentials of John the Baptist as a witness, and to do this, he tells us a story. He writes that while John the Baptist was baptising people at Bethany, the religious leaders sent messengers to him. They wanted to know by what authority he was baptising.

Well, you can see their point of view. They were the religious authorities. What was this upstart doing, muscling in on their patch, baptising people? Who had given him permission?

They start by asking John the Baptist who he is.

“I am not the Messiah,” he says.

“So.” They prompt him. “Elijah. Are you Elijah?”

“I am not Elijah,” he replies.

“The Prophet, then. Are you the Prophet?”

“No, I am not the Prophet.”

You can imagine the questioners becoming heated. “Who are you then?” they demand.

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord”’ (John 1: 23)

And this is the reason for this part of the story. It is to place John the Baptist in the context of Jewish history and their prophetic tradition. These are his credentials as a reliable witness.

The messengers then come to the point that really interests them.

“Why then do you baptise if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (John 1:25)

Notice that John the Baptist sidesteps the question.

‘I baptise with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ (John 1: 26 – 27)

“The straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie,” is a very strong statement. Sandals were untied by slaves, so John the Baptist is saying, “I am not worthy to even be this man’s slave.”

In the context of the story, this answer serves to confuse the questioners. I daresay they were wondering who could be standing among them whose authority they hadn’t recognised.

However, in the context of the story St John is telling, John the Baptist’s answer has a deeper function. It is to prepare for his witness to Jesus.

I shall write about that tomorrow.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the witness of John the Baptist; for the recording of that witness by St John; and for the bible which records the testimony to Jesus. Amen

John 1:6 – 18

John the Baptist, a witness to Jesus

John 1:6 – 18 John the Baptist, a witness to Jesus

In John 1: 1-5, St John tells us about the Word, identifying it as the active principle of creation and the life and light of humanity. But what – or who – is the Word?

In verses 6 – 18, St John reveals more details.

First, he introduces someone he describes as a witness; John the Baptist, the man sent from God to testify to the light.

“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to that light. (verses 6 – 8).

St John seems to find it important that John the Baptist was sent as a witness. As a writer myself, I am always thinking of the structure of what I read. In St John’s gospel, the early mention of a witness makes me wonder “Is this gospel going to be built like a legal case, with St John presenting a succession of witnesses?” Over the coming weeks, we shall see!

St John then tells us some more about the light.

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (verses 9 – 11)

Surely this is a remarkable statement? He is saying that the Word – the active force responsible for creation – came into the world that he had made, and was neither recognised nor received.

That brings me up short. If the Word was neither recognised nor received, why do we believe the story is true? It’s a big claim St John is making. He’s going to need to build some pretty impressive evidence.

But it’s an attractive claim, because St John says

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (verses 12 -13).

I don’t know about you, but to be a child of God sounds good to me.

St John now makes his statement explicit.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (verse 14)

That’s big. God, the creator of a universe which is vaster than we can possibly imagine, came to live on earth, as a man. I don’t think I really have any idea of the magnitude of that claim. It’s huge.

St John proceeds to be more specific.

“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (verse 17)

The Word who descended and became man has a name; Jesus Christ. To hammer home the reality of this, so that there is no ambiguity at all, St John adds this.

“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (verse 18)

So St John has started to provide evidence in the form of reliable witnesses that Jesus Christ, a historical figure, was the Son of God.

Wow!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, creator and sustainer of the universe, I struggle to imagine even the minutest fraction of your creation. How much less can I imagine you, yourself. And yet you have said that you love me. You have let me experience that love, and it is wonderful. Thank you, Father, for giving me life, and for letting me approach you through Jesus.

Amen