Breaking the Word

GOSPEL READING: Jn 5:33-36

John the Baptist came to bear witness to Jesus. (Jn 1:7 – A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.) He testified to the truth and he answered the emissaries their queries about the messiah. He openly declared that he was not the messiah and there was one coming after him.

John was a great prophet and he was a shining example for the people. People were happy and rejoiced at him. John’s testimony was great for the people and many believed in him and followed him. Many were baptized by him. However John did tell the people that he was only sent to prepare the way and he was not even worthy to untie his shoes.

Jesus had greater testimony than John. This was God himself. The works that he did were, what the Father had asked him to perform. The works that he has accomplished did bear witness to Jesus. The message of the witness was that Jesus was from the Father and all what he has performed were in agreement with the Father.

திருமுழுக்கு யோவான் இயேசுவுக்கு சாட்சியம் பகரவே வந்தார் (யோவா 1.7). இந்த சாட்சியம் யேசுவைப்பற்றி மட்டும் அல்ல அது திருமுழுக்கு யோவானை (தன்னை) பற்றியதாகவும் இருக்கவும் வேண்டும். நான் மெசியா அல்ல என்றும் கூறுகிறார். அதுதான் உண்மைக்கு சாட்சியம் பகர்தலாகும்

GOSPEL READING: Lk 7:24-30

Jesus had just sent back the disciples of John and now he is answering the crowd. Here Jesus is trying to speak to the crowd about John and who he was. He asked them questions and made them reflect for themselves. One does not go to the desert looking for kings and people who were wearing the latest fashions. If so the desert is not the place for such.

Desert for the people of Israel is the place of God experience. It is the place where God made himself available to the people for forty years and every moment of their sojourn in the wilderness. Prophets were the persons who challenged the people with the knowledge of God and experience of God. So people went to the desert looking for prophets.

Since Jesus was a different sort of a messiah so also John is a different sort of a prophet. He is not just one prophet among many. John is the one who is spoken of by Malachi, the one whose task is to prepare the way for the coming Lord. Anyone who belonged to the movement of Jesus (though least he may be) yet he is greater than the greatest.

திருமுழுக்கு யோவானைப்பற்றி இயேசு மக்களிடம் பேசுகிறார். பாலைநிலம் இறைஅனுபவத்திற்கான இடம். இறைவாக்கினர்கள் பாலைநிலத்தில் வாழ்கிறார்கள் என்றால் அவர்கள் இறைஅனுபவத்தைச் சார்ந்தவர்கள். திருமுழுக்கு யோவானும் ஒரு இறைவாக்கினர்தானே!