In John’s Gospel Jesus performed healings or miracles which the Evangelist called signs or good works. Today’s Gospel reading concludes with the people recalling the testimony of John the Baptist: “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” This recalls the prologue of the Gospel where the Evangelist announces:
“A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:6-9)
John the Baptist declares that he is not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet. His mission is rather to “make straight the way of the Lord.” (John 1:23). He points out Jesus to his followers with these words:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” (John 1:29-30, 36).
These followers of John become in turn disciples or followers of Jesus.
In today’s Gospel as we are coming to the end of Jesus’ public ministry there is both a positive and negative reaction to Jesus. Some Jews, while they recognize that Jesus has performed signs or good works, want to stone him for blasphemy:
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Other Jews recognize not only the signs and good works that Jesus has performed but also are convinced by the testimony of John the Baptist. They are moved like so many others in the Gospel such as the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, and Martha and Mary to continue their faith journey.
You and I are invited to continue our faith and baptismal journey. We are filled with wonder as we see Jesus’ signs and his good works. We are invited to see the new an exciting way that God is breaking into our world and into our lives. There are many sings of God love and mercy, the most important sign is the one we make as we begin our prayers, the Sign of the Cross.
Image: “IMG_4003B X Flandre ou France. vers 1560 Saint Jean Baptiste désignant le Messie. Saint John the Baptist designating the Messiah. Avignon. Musée Calvet.Ecole maniériste,” by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.