New Awareness

“After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.” -John 3:22

John wastes no words on this prelude to world-changing, life-giving ministry. Jesus spent some time with his followers and then “it” happened. The good news flowed forth drawing people to baptism, to the embrace of a love that does not demand perfection or derive from privilege, to forgiveness that affords the grace to change, toward freedom from resentment, and a gift of new life.

I see a promise in this solitary verse in John’s gospel. Time together with Jesus enables new awareness and renewed purpose. By simply spending time together and listening, the promise is that life changes for me; the promise is to change me for life. 

-Lynn Dodd 

Let us pray…

Gracious God, I thank you for this moment. Help me to love, to claim and extend forgiveness, and to take steps toward actions of mercy and justice, just as you did. Amen.

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669. Detail from Jesus among his Students. 1634 Teylers Museum, Haarlem