Word to the Wise
Friday, January 10, 2020 - Friday after Epiphany, or Jan. 11
[1 John 5:5-13 and Luke 5:12-16]This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and Blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, and the three are of one accord. [1 John]
Scripture scholars consider the Letters of John to be the work of disciples of the evangelist John or at least members of the community of faith based on traditions associated with both the apostle and the evangelist (who were not likely the same person). The important thing to remember is that these letters, like the Gospel According to John, develop themes that have their origin in the tradition of the gospel. Hence the references to "the Spirit," "the water," and "the Blood." Early Church fathers saw the incident of the soldier piercing the side of Christ [John 19:34] as a kind of birth of the Church.
Another word that is important in this tradition is "testimony." The Gospel According to John makes frequent use of this word and other legal images. Faith in Jesus is not just a matter of personal conviction but one which gives rise to testimony. The original testimony is Jesus Christ through water and Blood, which is continued by the Spirit. Eternal life begins with acceptance of this testimony. The adversarial tone of much of the Johannine tradition probably reflects the struggles of that community with the rejection they were experiencing from the synagogues.
There are times when our faith requires us to draw "a line in the sand" in the face of secular or religious beliefs that are incompatible with our faith. This is when "testimony" becomes difficult. What the Gospel According to John and the Letters of John reflect is the courage of the early witnesses and their determination to stand by the truth. Their example is much needed in our own time, as well as our own testimony to our faith. AMEN