Wednesday 07 May 2008

Background

These verses are about John the Baptist, whose mother Elizabethwas related to Mary, the mother of Jesus. John's mission was toprepare people for the teaching that Jesus would bring (Luke 3:2-6) and hewent around telling people to turn away from wrongdoing and bebaptised.

At this point, John the Baptist has been explaining that his ownministry must become less prominent as Jesus' ministry had begun(John 3:28-30)although in reading these verses, as in much of John's Gospel, itis often hard to know whether the people John (the Gospel writer)is talking about are speaking or whether John himself isspeaking.

John then expands on why this should be. Jesus is the one who comesfrom above and is above all. Therefore, Jesus is the one who cantalk about God because he has come from God. It's like saying if wewant information about someone it is best to ask one of theirfamily. If we want to know what God is like then we need to listento Jesus.

The reason why John wanted people to listen to Jesus was becauseGod gave to Jesus "Spirit without measure". There are no halfmeasures. "Without measure" is the same as saying 'endless'. Spiritwith a capital S indicates to all that it is God's Spiritalone.

As if John had not spelled it out already, he then says that Godhas placed everything in Jesus' hands. He wants us to know that itis Jesus who has been sent directly from God.

It's as if John the Baptist is saying to the people "Have you gotthis?"

To Ponder

When you hear the words of Jesus in the Gospelsdo you 'hear' the words as God's words to you?

How are you at getting your head round God, Jesusand the Spirit being one?