Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday - 11th April 2024

​One the most interesting and enigmatic figures of the New Testament is, without doubt, John the Baptist. He’s also one of the most attractive, if eccentric. After the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, that we have been reading this week, John moves on to recount a conversation between John the Baptist and his disciples. You will remember that he had denied that he was the Messiah, when leading priests and Levites went out from Jerusalem to question him. He told them that he was, “a voice crying in the wilderness,’ Prepare a way for the Lord.’” Now in conversation with his own disciples, he says the same thing, but also compares himself with the bridegroom’s friend, Jesus, the Messiah, being the bridegroom and his bride, the Church. In verses 28 to 30 of chapter 3 he says to his disciples, “I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

 

Today we read what follows of that conversation in John, (Jn 3: 31-36).

“John the Baptist said to his disciples:

‘He who comes from above is above all others;

he who is born of the earth is earthly himself

and speaks in an earthly way.

He who comes from heaven

bears witness to the things he has seen and heard,

even if his testimony is not accepted;

though all who do accept his testimony

are attesting the truthfulness of God,

since he whom God has sent

speaks God’s own words:

God gives him the Spirit without reserve.

The Father loves the Son

and has entrusted everything to him.

Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,

but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life:

the anger of God stays on him.’”

What I find fascinating is that these could be the words of Jesus himself speaking to his own disciples. However, they form part of the Baptist’s testimony of Jesus, that he has come down from heaven and bears witness to what he has seen and heard from his heavenly Father, the truthfulness of God. That he possesses the fulness of the Holy Spirit and speaks God’s own word to his people, a word that brings salvation and eternal life. He repeats what Jesus said to Nicodemus, that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. These are powerful words of John the Baptist.

 

​However, the question that confronts us today is whether we accept the testimony of John the Baptist or, indeed, of Jesus himself. Can we step out in faith as did the first disciples? And what would we be prepared to do for that faith, bearing in mind that those first disciples, starting with John the Baptist all died a martyr’s death? Lord, show me what is lacking in my faith and grant me the grace to do something about it. Amen.