Spending Time

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

SPENDING TIME

John 3:22-26

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan — the one you testified about — well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

NIV

 Here we have a lengthy discussion which we must divide up so as to deal with one portion at a time. First we should consider the argument between this matter of baptism or ceremonial washing between some of John’s disciples and certain Jews, which the original word could indicate, rather than just one Jew. They were expecting John to settle the matter, to give them the solution to their argument. But as we will see he may not have answered the way they were expecting. But for now we should be focused on the fact that first Jesus went with his disciples into the Judean countryside and spent some time with them, and baptized. We may not be privy  to what went on between Jesus and his disciples during that time he spent with them, yet the point is he wanted some quality alone time with those few men. There were many people who followed around after Jesus while he was in the city or villages, but when he set out for the countryside they followed not because they had no business out there, no reason to leave their daily life of commerce, but his disciples who not only followed him, but attended him, went with him and he spent time with them. We should learn that lesson we see here. When we follow Jesus, leaving all else behind, he spends quality time alone with us. There may be many who follow after Jesus in his public ministries, wanting to see miracles or see what they can get from being a believer, seeking out the big shows, but how many will attend to Jesus in the quite of the countryside, alone just with him? We are told here that only those few disciples. What kind of follower is each one of us? Do we just want to be around the big shows, or do we what to follow Jesus into those quite places and attend to him, having him spend some quality alone time with us? These are the moments which really count in our lives, moments alone with Jesus. Sure the big shows, the big crowds, the miracles, the healing, the excitement of it all, is exhilarating for a time, but it is when we are alone with Jesus, when he spends that time just with us, we grow, we mature, we gain wisdom and understanding, we gain strength and courage to live out our faith in ways many will never be able to do. It might cost us something, unlike those who would not leave their commerce in the city to follow him out to the countryside, but we will gain so much more because of spending time with Jesus.