John the writer sprinkles several little episodes of John the Baptist through the first half of the book. John the Baptist’s confidence seems to inform the doubts raised in the second half of the story In today’s scenes we get two conversations about the nature of truth, John the Baptist gets questioned. Jesus gets questioned. People in power have a knack for raising questions as a means of protecting themselves. Yet, John the writer’s use of chiasm allows John the Baptist to offer a very clear answer to Pilate’s question. I like to imagine that as Christ stood alone during his trials he was able to draw some comfort from the Baptist’s early statements. In the any case, the writer draws some interesting contrasts between morning courage and evening cowardice as he builds his story..
God is True
John 3:23-36 | Water Wing 6
What do I rule?
What can I hold?
All things
given to the Giver.
Joy’s empire unmasked.
Life springs unbound
when clutching only truth.
What is True?
John 18:19-16
Where have they all gone?
Who remains true?
Aligned to the sword,
Warmed by fearful fire,
holy sacrificed for safety.
Joy must decrease
as empire’s questions increase.