Conversation
Today we are going to look at the important words that lawyers use…to convince a jury about guilt or innocence.
What are words that lawyers use?
Testimony Witness Eye witness Reveal the Truth Signs Believe Examine Proof Evidence
I want to do a little study on John’s gospel. John is a dramatic writer…and his stories about Jesus have much more detail than in the other gospels. He is somewhat like a lawyer in how he approaches his writing.
Nouns: Signs, Testimony, Truth, Light,
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[2 John 1:6-9
What does John want to prove?
17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made God known. John 1:17-18 (NRSV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 (NRSV)
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NRSV)
What are words that lawyers/detectives use to prove something?
Verbs: Looking for, See, Reveal, Come, Said, Declared, Found, Watched, Testify,
Listen to the gospel for words that are heard in court.
John 1:29-42
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”i
35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointedj). 42 He brought Simonk to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peterl).
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” John 1:38 (NRSV)
What are we looking for? Like lawyer of the court we are looking for answers… Like the disciples…Andrew and Peter…we are looking… Like the writer John we are looking for the truth about Jesus… we are looking for enlightenment and the truth about God… This has been the pursuit of people forever. We have always wanted to know about God. We wish to know whether God is like us or whether God is very different… We want to know ordinary things like: Who is God and where does God live? Does God live in a special place separate from us? What does God do? How does God decide and what decisions does God make?
Today the gospel writer begins proving what he knows to be the truth about God and Jesus God’s Son. John the Baptist becomes the first witness…and he is not a silent witness…like the ones who see a robbery or abuse of spouses or children and walk by without comment… Rather he becomes an active witness who begins testifying and answering our questions. In his testimony he points to Jesus telling us to have a good look. The Baptist tells how God has spoken to him directly… telling him to look for special signs… which will reveal the appearance of the anointed Son of God. His eyes are open and he witnesses the Spirit descending like a dove and remaining on Jesus. He points Jesus out and declares that he is the Son of God…and he also declares Jesus’ purpose…to take away the sin of the world.
In case his testimony has been missed it the first time… John repeats it again the next day. This time, the eyes two of his own disciples are opened. They too become active witnesses wanting to learn more about Jesus. After seeing and spending time with Jesus…one of them begins to also testify. He finds his brother and tells him; “We have found the Messiah.”
Today we are challenged Jesus to come and see. We are challenge to look as John the Baptist and as Andrew and Peter looked. We are challenged to see the truth of God’s steadfast love for us…and what God desires for us and for the world. We are challenged to see God’s love active among us. During this Christmas season… our family has seen evidence of God’s love…present in two new little grand babies. We have seen evidence of God’s love in how people have responded in the midst of tragedy… Without regard for her own life… a woman wrestled the gun away from a killer before he could reload. We see God’s compassionate love in the expressions of grief and condolences for the nine year old girl killed in the cross-fire…and in the thankfulness her parent express for having her in their lives. We see God’s unselfish love in the fire fighter or the rescuer who enters dangerous buildings to save lives of people trapped there. We see it when people help other stranded by the devastating floods in Australia or Brazil. We see God’s love when people respond generously to catastrophes…with their physical presence or their financial assistance.
These are the signs which we have been looking for…and which we have seen … They tell us a great deal about our God… Our God lives among us…during the happy times of new birth… and is even more present during times of tragedy. Our God is present with us… when we are good and holy…and also when we are no so good and even sinful… Our God is not afraid of living in the muck… After all Jesus comes for salvation and to take away our sins.
In addition looking for signs about our God…and seeing them…we are also encouraged to be active witnesses…like John the Baptist. We are also challenged to follow Jesus… like Andrew and Peter follow him… We are challenged to believe as they believe… all the things we have learned about our God…
Finally…knowing what we do…we are challenged to testify about what we have seen and believe. Like Andrew and John the Baptist we are encouraged to testify about what we have seen, and what we believe about our God.
Let us be always ready to see…to believe…to testify. Let it be so. Amen
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