John 1, 29-34
It seems that “translating” the gospel is an intrusion; especially when it dismantles the idea we had of a scene. But, today’s gospel must be deconstructed, to understand its message, because it offers us keys from about 1,900 years ago.
First of all, we must accept that the text does not describe the dialogue that took place in a meeting between John and Jesus. It is implausible. John the Baptist could not have said some phrases, a confession of faith, that the first communities were elaborating, slowly, after the resurrection of Jesus. That confession is the fruit of prayer and of a theological reflection that, at the beginning of the public life of Jesus, had not been done. The evangelist inserts into a narrative, Christological titles that he will later develop throughout the gospel.
It is also important to note that John the Baptist and Jesus were two preachers, teachers, who had many followers. When Herod ordered John to be beheaded, his disciples continued baptizing with water. Years later, when this gospel is written, it was important to clarify to Christian communities that John the Baptist was not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor a prophet, but a precursor who, with a prophetic manner, announced who Jesus was.
Why do we say that with a prophetic manner? Because he meets the necessary requirements:
· He had received a mission: “I have gone out to baptize with water, so that the one who is coming after me may be manifested to Israel.”
· He seen, he had contemplated the Spirit that rested on Jesus.
· He had heard the one who sent him: “He who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me…”
· Gave testimony: “This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” “This is the Son of God.” The testimony was intrinsically linked to his mission.
With these traits, the first communities could better understand who John the Baptist had been, and why it was worth the disciples’ abandoning him to follow Jesus. That is what they did, for example, Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Bartholomew.
John saw, heard, contemplated, and testified. It is time to reflect, personally and in community, on what we see and hear…, on what we contemplate in this tumultuous world… and ask ourselves: What testimony do we give? To whom? For what purpose? What or whom are we afraid of? How do those fears condition our testimony?
John the Baptist and Jesus gave testimony, and they paid for it with their lives. Do we attempt to give testimony from our comfort zone? Do we recognize ourselves as children of God, habitad@s por the Spirit, with a grand mission? What awakens us in today’s Gospel? What calls do we discover?
Marifé Ramos González
English version translated with AI