1st Wednesday of Lent (February 25). Whoever believes…, whoever disobeys

Prepare to Listen.  In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
 
Prayerfully Read John 3:31-36
31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.  The one who comes from heaven is above all.  32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.  33Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.  34He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.  35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.  36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.
 
Prayerfully Wonder
Where Jesus came from was under discussion.  The Jewish rulers knew from where he came and therefore rejected him as Messiah because they believed, “when the Messiah comes no one will know where he is from.”  However, later, they rejected him because they said, “we do not know where he comes from.”[1]  Today’s reading addresses the problem and ends with a warning to the reader.
 
Where did Jesus come from?  Unlike John who was “of the earth,” Jesus is the “one who comes from above,” and is, therefore “above all.”  In part, this is why Jesus is often difficult to understand or accept.  He’s from a realm that is unknown, a mystery to us earthlings.  All we can do is accept his testimony, however little we comprehend.  In accepting we’ll know God is true.  It reminds me of St. Anselm of Canterbury’s well-known claim, “For I do no seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand.”

The one “from above” expects belief, not understanding.  Keep believing and seeking and maybe you’ll understand one day.  But not many are willing to walk this road of uncertainty, not-knowing.   So the passage concludes with a warning--whoever believes…, whoever disobeys.  Two choices.  Believe or disobey “the Son,” that is, the one from above whom we struggle to understand.  Disobedience is arrogantly thinking we can understand.  Believing is the way of humbly admitting our not-knowing, living in faith/trust.
 
What do you think about these verses?  What surprised, frustrated, comforted, frightened you?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, I believe you are from above, from God and speak God’s Word, give God’s Spirit.  Help me keep believing despite my questions and doubts, perhaps one day I’ll get it.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Believe, despite your doubts.
[1] John 7:27 and 9:29.