Today’s Lenten Word Meditation comes from John 3:22-36 NRSV:
22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized — 24John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.
25Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. 26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. 34He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.The word, witnesses (martureo in Greek) means to be a witness, to bear witness, testify, suffer martyrdom. John (the Dunker) and Jesus are both baptizing. John humbly gives precedent to Jesus as he declares Jesus the Messiah.
This morning I sit, hold and pray with the word, witness. What comes to mind was when I was in NYC. My friends and I were walking down a street near Time Square, and we saw a young person get stabbed in broad daylight. We couldn’t believe it happened. Everyone stopped to look, but then most of the surrounding people walked away while we rushed to help the victim and call the police. How come no one else was helping or calling the police? Police came and took our names and numbers and later the DA called. During this time of Lent, would I do the same for Jesus as he was getting beaten by the guards or would I walk away? What would I do if I saw George Floyd dying in front of me? Sigh….
Pastor Sam
