Scholars have argued that the beginning of the Gospel of John presents a series of testimonies to who Jesus is. Testifying, of course, requires at least two parties: the witness and an audience. You could look at the main readings this week in those terms.

Who are the witnesses? The “servant” to whom God is speaking, Paul, John the Baptist. When you ask about the audience, though, things get more interesting. On the one hand, the Israelites: the “tribes of Jacob,” the “survivors of Israel.” John says as much: “The reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” But beyond Israel as well, however: “the nations,” “the ends of the earth,” and “all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”