“Look, here is the Lamb of God!” John the Baptist. “….Come and see.” Jesus.
From today’s Gospel, John 1:29-42.
“Back in December 1968, the first humans saw a sight that no-one had before – it opened our eyes.” BBC’s Anna Foster on Apollo 8’s mission to the far side of the moon.
As the season of Epiphany continues, so the week of prayers for Christian Unity begins and today’s Gospel develops the series of revelations that began with the visit of the Magi as they worshipped Jesus, followed by the baptism of Jesus and his proclamation as God’s beloved Son. Before the further manifestation in John’s Gospel at Cana of Galilee, where water was turned into wine in Jesus’ first miracle, John the Baptist and Jesus have a second encounter after his baptism when John not only declares that Jesus is the one awaited but then testifies to what happened as he was baptised.
To testify is a legal term, to bear witness in a court of law and to provide proof or evidence to the truth. It’s linked with testes because, in the time of Jesus, Roman soldiers would hold each other’s testicles as proof of their manhood and as a sign of truthfulness when taking an oath of allegiance. So, as John the Baptist testifies to the truth of what he saw, it becomes a costly business for him – the next day, two of his own disciples leave him to follow Jesus when he asks them what they are looking for and then invites them to come and see for themselves. However, John’s testimony is vital as one of the two men is Andrew who then finds his brother and tells him that the Messiah has been found. He brings Simon to Jesus, who renames him, and so the news begins to spread, the truth of who Jesus really is becomes even more clearly revealed and the community of his disciples begins to grow.
“What is truth?” asked Pilate when Jesus appeared before him prior to his crucifixion. These days people sometimes speak of ‘my’ truth rather than ‘the’ truth, although the oath before testifying in a court of law is to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Truth is also often disputed, as I particularly recall from my childhood when it was suggested that some of the Apollo moon missions had been faked and that Apollo 11‘s landing on the lunar surface had never actually happened – despite transmitted footage of Neil Armstrong’s first steps from the craft and the iconic Earthrise photo taken by Bill Anders. These, and more, were claimed by some to be false but, as the mega-rocket Artemis 2 is prepared for possible launching from Cape Canaveral in February, it’s appropriate that it’s named after the Greek god of the moon and the twin sister of Apollo, the god of the sun. What the Apollo flights began, the Artemis missions will develop as so many previous generations have done in leaving the familiar to explore what lies beyond. Amongst them were the Israelites who complained as they were lead by Moses out of Egypt after crossing the Red Sea, which is actually the Reed Sea – Cape Canaveral’s name is also reminiscent of their Exodus, meaning as it does the Cape of the Bed of Reeds, from which Artemis 2 will launch.
The Israelites had a challenging journey, as may the astronauts although they have training, instruments and expertise to prepare them. John the Baptist also had many challenges to face throughout his life but moved from the hesitancy indicated in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism to his statement in today’s Gospel that, ”I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John saw for himself just as, over 50 years ago, the Apollo astronauts witnessed things never seen by humanity before – to what will those aboard Artemis testify and will their testimony be believed?
As Epiphany continues to reveal an even wider understanding of Jesus than began with his revelation to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, might it be true that it’s possible to be too narrow in our own expectations and experience of faith today? Where might we need our eyes to be opened or to see for ourselves – to what are we bearing witness? Are we grumbling about it like the Israelites, testifying to it after a time of uncertainty like John the Baptist or perhaps watching the courage and skill of all those involved in the Artemis launch? If so, perhaps we’re inching forward or following more closely in the footsteps of those gone before us more than we may realise – could those small steps culminate in a leap of faith, truth and understanding?
With my prayers; pob bendith,
Christine, Priest Guardian.