Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Martyr Tatiana of Rome and Companions
7th Vigil of Theophany: Isaiah 1:16-20 Epistle: Romans 12:6-14 Gospel: St. John 10:39-42
St. John 10:39-42, especially vs. 41: "Then many came to Him and said, 'John performed no sign,
but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.'" Earlier in Chapter ten, the Evangelist records that the
healing and teaching of the Lord Jesus sharply divided Jewish opinion concerning Him (Jn. 10:19-21). Subsequently, those
who were offended at Him more than once tried to silence Him, by stoning (Jn. 10:31) or seizing Him (Jn. 10:39). By
going down to a place on the east bank of Jordan River, away from the hustle and crowds of Jerusalem, to an area where
John the Forerunner baptized and preached earlier, the Lord was able to evade these efforts bent on His destruction. Still,
many came out to that wilderness place to be with Christ and to receive His teaching and ministry. Those who came to
Him moved not only the short geographic distance from Jerusalem to the Jordan, but traversed a greater spiritual distance,
starting from an attraction to Jesus of Nazareth and His message to believing in Him.
There is such a difference between believing that Jesus came from Nazareth, that He had interesting things to say, or that
He had a great capacity to heal the sick and deformed and actually believing in Him. Belief in Jesus connotes submission
to His purposes and way of life. When I say that I believe in Christ Jesus, my commitment can be tested or assayed by
others. Does my belief in Him alter the way I live, what I say, how I behave, where I go, what I do? If so, then it is
possible to surmise that I am a Christian. What is significant in today's Gospel is that the Evangelist reveals how people
move - not necessarily geographically - but in practice and in efforts from interest in Jesus to belief in Him as God and
King, a big jump!
First, there must be a withdrawal from the world. We are speaking here of effort and the investment of time, energy, and
self - "many came to Him" (vs. 41). Those who came certainly knew that there were those in power in their society that
wanted to silence Jesus by arrest or execution - those who were seriously opposed to Him. Thus, when anyone came out
into the Jordan wilderness and sought Him, they were making the first necessary steps toward a real belief in Him. They
were risking association with a social pariah and of suffering with Him.
One must be willing to risk exerting himself to be with Him. The obvious path to Him today is through prayer, worship,
study, meditation on Holy Scriptures - in a word, "coming to Him."
Note that the Lord went down to a place where the Forerunner had baptized earlier (vs. 40). Hence, when one comes to
Christ along the paths that lead to Him, he comes seeking to discover that for which John the Baptizer had prepared men.
Briefly we can say that it was for them to repent of their sins because the reign of the Holy God was about to appear (Mt.
3:2). So, those who seek out Christ come to perceive exactly what John saw in Him. John said, "I need to be baptized by
You not to baptize You" (Mt. 3:14). He saw in Jesus Someone far greater than himself, "whose sandal strap I am not
worthy to loose" (Jn. 1:27). Those who come to the Lord are seeking to discern for themselves what John declared about
Christ: "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and He remained upon Him....this is the Son of God" (Jn.
1:32,34) - repentance, humbling oneself before Christ, and confessing Him as King and God. Along the way, anyone who
honestly seeks Jesus Christ by such efforts will become aware of why it was that John never performed a sign, and why "all
the things that John spoke about this Man were true" (Jn. 10:41). One will suddenly believe in Jesus Christ, trust Him with
one's life and fortune, stake everything in life on Him. That is what it is to be a Christian.
I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief.
