This week’s readings are all from John chapter 1. 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
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 So they asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, 27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” 28 These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.
29 On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”
I would love to know how John (the Baptist) felt upon realizing his cousin was the Messiah.
How this meeting of Jesus with John (the Baptist) would change the world. Yes, I would also love to know what John (the Baptist ) thought after he realized he was related to the Messiah.
@shelley-johnson I imagine we get a taste of it with things like the sunrise each morning… Like you knew it was coming and can expect what it’ll probably look like but actually seeing it catches your breath and brings a deep sigh that feels so whole… Like you kind of understand how it works and know it’s just ordinary air and ordinary clouds but suddenly you can’t help but stop and just revel in it… Like it’s quite literally in beautiful slow motion as it shifts each second and minute in its beauty…
I think it’s like that but… multiplied just a few times. 😉
It’s a little confusing in v31 & 33 he says he didn’t know him — Like John didn’t quite yet understand who his cousin Jesus was? But he also among these verses says exactly who Jesus is:
“Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Either way, this first chapter of John is so beautifully written… The dramatic beginning of creating connected so beautifully to Jesus… to these moments with John the Baptist and Jesus interacting in the real world with the Real Holy Spirit! Such a cool progression!