This week’s readings are all from John chapters 2-3. Click here to see a full listing of each day’s reading and the full chapters for this week. Full readings of each day’s smaller segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week.
Today's Reading
Now a dispute came about between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew concerning ceremonial washing. 26 So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you testified—see, he is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him!”
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 30 He must become more important while I become less important.”
31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
What humility from John the Baptist… He isn’t swayed by “losing” disciples to another, but he recognizes the whole picture, the whole point of the wedding. He is celebrating his friend, the bridegroom, and finds complete joy in it!
I am still trying to process the conversation here about purification, and John’s response about receiving only if it’s given from heaven… Perhaps he is alluding to the idea that the Jews were given the process/law of purification for them to understand, in part, purity/impurity — but it is not that process itself that purifies. Purification comes from heaven, from the Spirit… and thank JESUS that he, as he “utters the words of God, […] he gives the Spirit without measure.”