Today's Reflections  

                       

John the Baptist’s testimony to Jesus

John 1:29-34

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “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.’ I did not know Him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that He might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon Him. I did not know Him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, He is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God.”

REFLECTIONS

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD. In the Old Testament, a male, one-year-old unblemished lamb was the offering for the Passover, the great feast that celebrated Israel’s liberation from slavery in Egypt.

In the Gospel, John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (v 29). John thus proclaims Jesus as an offering to God that we may pass over from slavery of sin to life in the Spirit, receive forgiveness of sin, and be reconciled with God.

The Baptist’s conviction to share what Jesus’ life and ministry means is borne out of his closeness with Jesus. He has seen the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. His experience with Jesus has also led him to introduce Jesus to us. This should be manifest in our lives for, as John (First Reading) says, “everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him” (1 Jn 2:29).

Recall moments or situations when you became a witness to the power and compassion of Jesus in your life.