Breaking the Word

5^th week in Lent, Tuesday – 8^th April 2025 – Numbers 21,4-9; Jn 8,21-30

Salvation and Glorification

Jesus’ destiny as the Son of Man is to be “lifted up.” This phrase comes up three times in the Gospel of John (Jn 3,14; 8,28; 12,32-34). The phrase means two kinds of being “lifted up” – lifted up on the cross and lifted up in resurrection. John loves this phrase because for him the death and resurrection of Jesus go together. For him, the cross is Jesus’ moment of glory, the triumphant climax of his mission, but also includes Jesus’ glorification, his lifting up to sit at the Father’s right hand. The first statement, to Nicodemus, reveals the mystery of the cross as salvation. In reference to Num 21,4-9, lifting up refers to God’s instruction to Moses to save Israel, who were attacked by poisonous snakes and now recalls how salvation would be brought to mankind through Christ. The second statement focuses on the cross as the culmination of Jesus’ revelation. Seen with the eyes of faith, the cross will reveal Jesus’ divine identity. Jesus’ suffering and glorification is a sign of the Father’s love expressed in the self-sacrifice of Jesus. The third “lifted up” comes in Jesus’ speech in Jn 12,32-24, which asserts Jesus’ drawing everyone to himself through death. Here drawing everyone to himself also implies the effect of Jesus’ risen life. Thus John, with Old Testament associations, helps to understand Jesus’ suffering and glorification with both the human and divine dimension in mind.

4^th week in Lent, Thursday – 3^rd April 2025 – Exodus 32,7-14; John 5,31-47

Baptist’s Testimony

In today’s gospel, Jesus invokes five witnesses to support his equality with God the Father: John the Baptist (5,33), his miracles (5,36), God the Father (5,37), the Scriptures (5,39), and Moses (5,46). The first chapters of the Gospel of John, present the fivefold testimony of John the Baptist. First, John bears witness to Jesus as his messenger and prepares the way for Jesus as voice in the desert (1,15).  Second, John points out Jesus and calls him the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (1,29). Third, John testifies that the Spirit descends upon Jesus and remains with him (1,33). Fourth, John bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God (1,34). Fifth, John identifies Jesus as the bridegroom (3,27-30). John becomes the “best witness” by leading the people through baptism and preparing them for the coming of the divine Messiah. In identifying Jesus as the Messiah, he humbled himself as his forerunner and messenger.