John 1:19-34

This is proving to be difficult to keep up with.
I am planning on a chapter every other day and that should get me through John in time for Easter.

This morning we went to St. Patrick's in Grand Haven, gotta love Fr. Bill.

The message was all about sin, and how to turn away from it. He said that we should treat the temptation of sin like a rattlesnake. Turn and run as fast as you can. I really never thought of it that way before...... but makes complete sense. Jesus never sinned. He was human in form just like us, and he was able to always deny the temptation put before him. My job is to try and do the same. When I fault, I pick up and start trying again, never give up trying.

So it seems John was causing some questions and had some people asking, who he was, and if he was the "Messiah". I love how he answers the people, he said I am,

"a voice in the desert, crying out:
Make straight the way of the Lord!"

It really amazes me the way you can take a book written nearly two thousand years ago and how it can be, still, so relevant. Isn't this what we should all be doing as well, Make straight the way of the Lord. We should be making path from the Lord to our hearts straight as an arrow. There is no room for losing sight of Him. We need to always keep him and what he did for us in the forefront of our minds. Some people really struggle even with believing in the Lord. Thankfully for me I have never had that problem. My faith in the Lord is there now, but always has been there. I never questioned the fact that Jesus died for me and to "take away" my sins. Sometimes I wonder if the problem some people have with it is that they just don't feel worthy of such a gift. We are ALL worthy of this gift, we are all God's children. I try to remember that in all walks of my life. It actually helps my self-esteem and puts me in my place at times too. It is not only the people that do go to church on Sundays or just the ones that live "good" lives.......... no, we ALL were given this gift from God. Isn't it our job to make sure everyone we encounter knows it? I am not so sure how to go about this one........... from experience I would say gently, starting slow and if I want people to listen to me, I had better be living a life that is reflective of my love for God above.

Alright so I have gone off on a tangent again!

John 1:24-28
So they question John further asking him why is he baptizing people if he is Not the Messiah? John responds, that there is one among You whom you do not recognize and that he is not worthy to unfasten his sandal.

John is clearly distinguishing the difference of importance between himself and Jesus........... and the sandal thing............ later when Jesus washes the feet of the 12 disciples, sorry it kind of gives me the chills.

Where John says he is only baptizing with water........ brings me back to the sacrament of baptism. John could only do it with water, just an outward sign of something that is happening inside. Now why do Catholics do infant baptism as opposed to adult baptism. I am not certain, but I guess as parent I am happy to have them baptized as babies........ an outward sign of the gift Jesus gave to each of his children. I say take advantage of this gift as soon as possible. But I understand that there are other beliefs of this as well. I think baby and adult baptisms are beautiful.

John 1:29-34
John 1:29
Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Well I really like the translations that read "Behold!" instead of "Look"., but that is what my G-ma's Bible says.

John says he didn't recognize him, but that,
"I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from the sky, and it came to rest on him."

"When you see the Spirit descend and rest on someone, it is he who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit". Now I have seen for myself and have testified , "
This is God's chosen One."

Baptism: Water the outward sign and The Holy Spirit pouring into us, the inner happening.
Baby or Adult.......... to me they are ALL God's children.

This week I will challenge myself to turn from sin as fast as I would turn and run from a snake. Also to remember that all people are God's children and should be treated as such.

God Bless You all this week!!!!!!!