How fitting that we are moving from Isaiah, where the prophecy of the coming Messiah was recorded, to John where we see some of those predictions coming true!
I love how the Gospel (Good News) of John starts – “In the beginning…” (if you like getting a head start on future readings, you just did! Check out Genesis 1:1). I put two exclamation points in the margin of verse 3 – “through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Did you catch that? NOTHING!! All the colors of the world, ethnic groups, medical procedures, flowers, oceans, spices, technology – all has been created by Him.
And then verse 5 – the darkness has not overcome the light. What comfort, when I am going through dark times in a dark world.
(A side note- if you haven’t seen “The Scarlet and the Black,” try to watch this. It’s a powerful movie about Father Hugh O’Flaherty who refused to let darkness overcome the light during WWII.)
John then goes to introduce the main character. I’m going to shift gears, and imagine myself as a villager living during that time. Here is a letter I’m writing to my aunt:
Dear Auntie,
We miss you and can’t wait to see you again! You have missed so much since you left! We had heard of a man – John – who told everyone about the Messiah. He told everyone he wasn’t Messiah, but that we should all repent before meeting the Rabbi. John called him “the Lamb of God.” This Rabbi began attracting more attention and men were following him. Nathanael even called him Son of God.
But Auntie, wait til you hear! This man, Jesus, was at the wedding. There were so many celebrating, they ran out of wine (you know that family, they never plan!). But Jesus’ mother told Jesus there was no wine. They seemed to get into a discussion and then his mom just walked away. Jesus sighed, and the next thing you know the servants were filling jars with water. I did not think the guests could be fooled into thinking this was wine, even though the wine had been flowing freely. But the master of the banquet took one sip and was amazed!! He told the groom – you saved the best for last! Somehow it was wine! Believe me, this got everyone talking!
This was just the beginning. This Rabbi, Jesus, continued getting more attention. He acted as though, well, as though He was the authority. He went to the temple and made all the sellers leave. Naturally, merchants were angry – they were planning on making some money. But it seemed he wanted everyone to focus on the real meaning of Passover, how the Jews were rescued.
Even Nicodemus (you know, The Thinker) went to him one night, and he told the others Jesus answered questions and talked to him about God’s kingdom.
Sometimes he seems to talk in riddles, like being born again. But the more Jesus talks, and the more I listen, it seems to make sense.
Meanwhile, John is still baptizing people, telling people he himself is not the Messiah.
But this was the most exciting part. Jesus went through Samaria and was sitting at a well, and a Samaritan woman came to get water. He asked her for a drink – I’m sure she didn’t know what to do with that because, as you know, the Jews do not mingle with the Samaritans. They talked, and Jesus told her anyone who drank the water He gave would never again thirst. Then he tells her – HE is the Messiah! She accepted this because he knew things about her SHE HADN’T TOLD! She rushed back to town and told everyone to come see this man who told her everything she ever did! EVERYTHING! Because of that, many people are believing in him.
Jesus keeps on showing other miracles, healing people. One man had been unwell for thirty-eight years!! Jesus told him to get up and walk, and he did!! The leaders didn’t like it – I don’t know why, because now that he can work you can be sure taxes will be collected, and payments made to the temple! But then later, he was warned by Jesus to stop sinning or something worse could happen to him. I wonder why he said that? Who would go back sinning if you knew you had been healed? And what did Jesus mean – what could be worse? I look for that man when I am in the marketplace, and wonder what he is doing today…
Jesus has continued to share with everyone that if we believe in him, and believe in the Father, we have been granted life. He says the Father sent him. Auntie, I am not sure what all of this means, but I am watching closely. I am spending every opportunity I have to listen to him. I believe he may really be the Messiah. I hope you are able to see him and listen to him teach. I am anxious to hear your thoughts!
I feel we are about to witness big changes, that will affect many around us…
