Friday after Epiphany
(I John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16)
A Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia reports that when he contracted
malaria, he was placed in a hospital room next to a young Muslim boy. The boy was intelligent enough not only to speak
English but also to ask a pointed question about the Christian belief that Jesus
is the Son of God. The boy queried the
volunteer, “How could you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?” He reasoned from the Muslim belief that God is
a pure spirit, who would not beget a son with a physical body. This kind
of objection to Jesus’ divinity is what today’s reading from the First Letter
of John attempts to refute.
The refutation presents three-fold evidence of Jesus’ divinity. First, it claims that water testifies that
Jesus is Son of God. It probably has in
mind the water of Jesus’ Baptism when the voice from heaven calling Jesus the “beloved
Son” is heard. The refutation proceeds
by naming the blood flowing from Jesus’ side on the cross as testimony of the divine
love which Jesus manifests as he dies. Finally,
the Spirit of God testifies to Jesus. The
Spirit not only enables Jesus to perform miracles but also moves Joseph of Arimathea
to provide a stately sepulcher for Jesus and Nicodemus to come with enough spices
to entomb a Pharaoh.
As we close the Christmas season, we have more reason to
accept the Incarnation. In the person of
Jesus, son of Mary impregnated by the Spirit, God has come to humans in their
same flesh. We know now whom to follow
so that our lives may be full.
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