Thursday (The Synaxis of the Forerunner) (Acts 19:1–8)

St John bore witness to Christ Jesus that He is truly ”the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29)—the promised Deliverer, awaited by all. Those who were with him heard this and believed. From them this testimony spread to the people, and everyone began to understand that the one to whom John bore witness was no ordinary man. The Savior alluded to this when in the last days He posed a question in the Temple to the religious leaders: “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” (Mk. 11:29–30). They avoided giving an answer, because they could not fail to see that John had not come on his own authority, baptizing with water. But if they acknowledged this, they would immediately have had to accept his testimony that the Promised One stood before them, and consequently to submit to His teaching. And this they were unwilling to do—not for any well-grounded reasons, but out of pure prejudice. Yet their stubbornness in no way diminishes the force of St John’s testimony. It is just as persuasive today as it was when it first came from his lips. And we too hear John pointing us to the true Deliverer, and by this we revive our faith—a faith that has tangible proofs on its side.