Today’s scripture: John 3:31-36 (NRSV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Julie Benson):
Verse 32 in today’s scripture really stands out to me. John the Baptist proclaims, “He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.” He is prophesying about a pattern that is found over and over during Jesus’ ministry.
Recall Martha, who hears directly from Jesus that her brother, Lazarus, will rise again, but does not fully grasp what Jesus is saying. And the Pharisees, who constantly test Jesus in his interpretations as it pertained to written law. And it is Jesus, himself, who declares, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”
We have the full story in front of us today — from prophecy to fulfillment. But must we see the evidence to believe? I pause and wonder what I, personally, would have thought in that time and place upon hearing John the Baptist’s words. Would I be skeptical? Would I have been convinced?
The people were anxiously waiting for a Messiah to come and had preconceived ideas about how this Messiah would appear. We have been promised that our Messiah will again return, and with our attempt to interpret scripture we have developed a picture of what that second coming may look like. Are we setting ourselves up again like they did in Bible times?
I am not advocating that we should give up our hope and vision of what’s to come or even that we buy into today’s never-ending “prophesies” about the end times. I do, though, want to at least prayerfully consider what I hear all around me, and weigh it with the biblical knowledge and experience and the leading of the Spirit I do have — even the things that seem off the wall. After all, John the Baptist was a pretty weird guy with some crazy sounding prophecies in his day!
“He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.” Believing in Christ means I embrace the mystery and wonder of this world and beyond. And so I enter into the reality of today and think: What if scripture or a preacher or a teacher imparts a new spiritual “truth” I have never heard? What if someone has been sent to witness as Jesus to me? What if I am being called to serve in some capacity that is foreign to me? What if there is a radical idea I need to see or hear? Have I accepted this testimony?
Thought for the day: What have you received testimony about that you refuse to believe? For a change of pace, lay your skepticism aside and offer that testimony the benefit of further thought and consideration.
Today, let’s join together in prayer for: Our Associate Pastor, Rev. Tammy Mills.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.