Bright Monday; Holy Great Martyr George
CHRIST IS RISEN !
May, 2, 2005
1ST Hour, Great Friday: Zechariah 11:10-13 Apostle: Acts 1:12-17, 21-28 Gospel: St. John 1:18-28
St. John 1:18-28, especially vs. 26: "John answered them, saying, 'I baptize with water, but there
stands One among you Whom you do not know.'" On a moonless night in the dark of open country, should someone strike
a match, the brief flare of light catches the eye and discloses that there "stands one among you." Had the person striking
the match been close by he would have been unknown, because of the darkness. His presence would have remained hidden
except for the flare of match-light. During the days when the Forerunner John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, and
the Lord Jesus emerged from the quiet of Nazareth into public life, the single, most unique flash of God's uncreated Light
blazed across the landscape of human history. The Light shone "in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (Jn
1:5).
Later, in the years immediately after the Lord Jesus' Ascension into Heaven (following Acts 1:9), the Apostles, who knew
the Lord intimately, longed for all men everywhere to "receive Him" and become "children of God" (Jn.1:12). Guided by
the Holy Spirit, they lovingly passed on to faithful men (2 Tim. 2:2) all the essential details of what they saw and learned
during the three years the Light blazed up among them. Their message began from a well-known Biblical truth: "No one
has seen God at any time" (Jn. 1:18). However, they modified this general truth with a rich, new array of gleanings from
their experience with the Light, and so they added: "The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has
declared Him" (Jn. 1:18).
The host of details recorded in the Gospels is best understood from the perspective of experience. God the Son, living as a
man, redefined the meaning and value of every person and action. John, a fisherman, became the Apostle, Evangelist, and
Theologian John. The Jewish Passover Seder, celebrating liberation from Egypt, became the Holy Mystery of the Body and
Blood of Christ (Jn 6:51-58). John the Baptizer became St. John the Forerunner.
John the Forerunner knew that he was "sent from God....to bear witness of the Light" (Jn. 1:6,7). His preaching and
manner of living caught the attention of the religious authorities. They sent priests and Levites to ask, "Who are you?"
(Jn.1:19). John's answer set the record straight in two ways. First, in terms of what was not, he made three negative
statements: No, I am not the Messiah, the Christ. No, I am not Elijah the Prophet come back to prepare for the Messiah's
arrival. No, I am not the Prophet that Moses had predicted, who would foretell the Messiah's arrival. John drew definite
boundaries around himself: "I am not He."
Second, John affirmed the arrival of a great, "true Light" (Jn. 1:9). Who? John said: "It makes no difference how one
labels the One Who is coming. His arrival brings a demand from the Lord God Himself. All men had best cleanse
whatever in their lives might be standing between them and God their Creator." For his part, John added, "I am just the
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare!" (vs. 23). Brethren, note carefully: John knew by the Holy Spirit what we
know from the record of the Apostles: that He Who came is greater than all the prophets. And we know why. Christ is the
Life-Giver, the Light of the World, God in the flesh.
It is instructive that the "investigation team" from the authorities was not satisfied with John's answer. "What is your
Baptism all about?" they asked. St. John took the opportunity to underline his message: "there stands One among you
Whom you do not know" (vs. 26). He continued: "make the path in your heart ready now" (vs. 23). "You think I am a holy
man? Hear me: the One to Whom you will give account for your life stands among you." Beloved, the situation between
God and mankind has not changed. We, too, shall one day give an account.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we pray Thee!