Jesus and John the Baptist (Chapter 3:22-36)
Posted on July 4th 2010 in St. John's Gospel
Both John the Baptist, lasted mentioned in the first Chapter, and Jesus are baptising simultaneously in different neighbourhoods. The baptism of John is situated within the world of Judaism, and the purification rites of the Jews. The historic site of his baptism site, Aenon, has been located in modern day Jordan, north of Jerusalem and Amman. John understands himself only in relation to Jesus, as the bridegroom’s friend thus taking a subordinate but related role to Jesus. The marriage imagery has a long antecedence since the Prophets described the relationship between God and His chosen people, as that between the groom and bride. Jesus is the incarnate groom, and the Church will become the new bride, with John assisting in this consummation. The history of Israel has not been rejected but brought to a provisional conclusion. The mission of the Baptist is now completed and the evangelist’s note about the arrest of John alludes to his subsequent martyrdom, though the details are not related as such in this Gospel.
The second part of John the Baptist’s speech (3:31-36) picks up the theme of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, and the necessity of being born from above with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was born from above, the Word became flesh (1:14). Jesus has come to speak on the life-giving connection between the Father and the Son. The acceptance of this word spoken by Jesus is faith, and the acceptance of the truthfulness of God, who does speak through His Son. Two examples of perfect faith have already been given in the Gospel, the Virgin Mary at Cana and John the Baptist.
The meeting with Jesus entails a decision which leads either to life or to judgement, both now and in the future. The Gospel of John emphasises a ‘realised eschatology’, in other words the in-breaking of the kingdom here on earth. If the kingdom can appear and so can it’s opposite. This is personal to whoever encounters Christ, and is not something that can be thrust on another, though of course one can share the fruits of either.