January 14
JOHN 3
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
– John 3:22-30
JOHN 3 RECEIVING IS A GIFT FROM GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
God gives gifts generously to all without biases
He is unconditional when he shows his love to us
If he chooses you and decides what to gift you with
He also gives you the ability to receive such gifts
Do not ever think that you own everything you have
Every good and perfect gift comes from up above.
In the following verses, the disciples of John the Baptist were reporting to him that Jesus and his disciples were also baptizing. Because there were more crowd coming to them, the disciples of John were a bit insecure that they were baptizing less people. We don’t know why they were experiencing a form of envy or what the dispute is about, so they went and told their master about it.
John showed no concerns about it because he knew that Jesus was the Messiah and reminded them that every gift that is received is also coming from the Lord up above. It is not only the gift but the act of receiving it that the Lord gives anyone he choses.
REFLECTION
• Why do you think some people have trouble receiving gifts?
