TAKING SIDES

"Then He went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier." —John 10:40

On one side of the Jordan, the people "again reached for rocks to stone Him" (Jn 10:31). They accused Jesus of blaspheming (Jn 10:33). "They again tried to arrest Him" (Jn 10:39).

On the other side of the Jordan, "many people came to" Jesus (Jn 10:41) and "came to believe in Him" (Jn 10:42).

Because God isn't One to "take sides," why did the people reject Jesus on one side of the Jordan and accept Him on the other? The answer is: that side where people believed in Jesus was the side where John the Baptizer had been baptizing (Jn 10:40). John's baptism was a baptism of repentance (Lk 3:3). So where there was repentance, there was faith; but where there were only the great works of Jesus, there was no faith (see Jn 10:37-38, 41).

If you want to be on the right side of the Jordan, repent and confess your sins; then you will believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). "Repent and believe in the gospel" (Mk 1:15, our transl.). "I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner" (Lk 15:7). Repent or reject Jesus. Repent or crucify Jesus (Heb 6:6). Repent!

Prayer: Father, this Lent may I make one of the best Confessions of my life. May my Holy Week be truly holy.

Promise: "The Lord is with me, like a mighty Champion." —Jer 20:11

Praise: Fr. Edmund was pleasantly surprised by the long Confession lines at his new parish.