Okay, so last week, we talked about
the baptism of Jesus through Matthew’s Gospel. Today much of what I said about
John being number 2 is right here in John’s Gospel. The quick review is John
witnessing the fact that Jesus, the one who will take away the sin of the world
is now at the river to be baptized. Apparently, this is so important in our
lives that we need to hear this two weeks in a row. I agree that it is
important to hear twice because it drives the point home as to who Jesus is and
what Jesus will do in this world; both with us and for us.
There is something added in this
Gospel reading this morning. It is a gift, two gifts actually, that many of us
might not see as gifts. Wouldn’t it be fun to spend the entire service looking
for this gift? No need to worry, I won’t put us all through that. This gift
comes after John has witnessed to us, the readers, exactly what he saw and
testified to. Two disciples begin to follow Jesus. They have no names at this
point but they begin to follow. Jesus turns and asks them “what are you looking
for?” I know it may sound a little ridiculous but think about that question,
what are you looking for?
You might be asking me or saying to
yourself “how is that a gift?” Think about it for a moment. Here is this guy
that John calls “the lamb of God” and God’s Holy Spirit has just descended on
him like a dove, the day before. You have heard all this spoken…you might have
even heard the words “this is my Son with whom I am well pleased.” So you see
this guy the next day and HE asks you “what are you looking for?” This is your
big chance. This is your chance to ask the questions about God and this new
“rock star” that is in town. What are you going to say.
It might be like this one time when
I was two feet away from this icon of a Nascar driver. His name was Sterling
Marlin and I was two feet away from him. He and everyone at the racing shop
stopped waited for me to ask for his autograph walked out the door and all the
employees were laughing because rather than ask the question I always wanted to
ask a driver, I walked away terrified. I even said to my brother “That was
stupid and they are gonna laugh at this one.” I was still in the room and said
it loud enough for all to hear.
Believe it or not this question is
important. It is important because the Son of God wants to know what they are
looking for. Jesus is calling them to think about what it is that they are
looking for. Although it does not say this in our scripture, the question is
extremely general. It is almost a setup question like: What are you looking
for…the bathroom, a good hotel, peace and tranquility, someone to take away
your sins, someone to tell you that you are loved. This question is very vague.
This is why the question of what are
you looking for is a part of who we are as Christians. Jesus’ questions calls
us to search our hearts because at any given moment this question could have a
very different answer. At one time, it could be that we are looking for a God
who will forgive our sins. It could be that we are looking for a God to take
away pain in our lives or in the lives of friends. It could be that we are
looking for a job, the strength to make it through tough times; that we are
looking for a sign from God that we are loved or making a difference in the
world.
This question of what are you
looking for is a gift from Jesus, the Son of God. It is a gift because God
understands through Jesus Christ that this is a tough world. It is not easy
living in a world where situations are changing constantly. Society wants you
to do one thing to be part of the crowd or rebel against something; wants you
influence your decisions and get you to be on one side or the other; purchase
this or that so that your life can be complete. Jesus is giving us the gift,
through this question of really searching our hearts for the subject of this
question. He is calling us to be intentional about what we think about so that
we can block out the society and culture issues to reveal what is in our
hearts.
The second gift of this passage is
the disciple’s response and Jesus’ response. It is kind of funny, when you
think about it, that they respond with “Rabbi, where are you staying?” That is
an odd answer to a question. But listen to Jesus’ response. He does not
indicate where he is staying. He does not say that he is staying at the local
Howard Johnsons, Holiday Inn, or give them an address. Jesus response to them
is “Come and See.” He is offering an invitation. Notice he does not put any
requirements on them like “stay behind me because I am the star” or walk two
feet to the left and behind. He invites them to come along. Walk with me and
you will see.
That too is a gift. They can’t
answer the first question and when they answer with a question, no one laughs
or thinks these two disciples are awkward; they are invited to go along by the
one who takes away the sin of the world. That is pretty powerful because here
is this all important person who is going to do these things to help the world
out inviting them to go along. I cannot even begin to imagine how they felt at
the moment. I would think they would be stunned! Don’t you?!
Friends in Christ, maybe we don’t
feel so stunned. Maybe we think “oh that’s nice” but it is not enough to be
stunned, shocked or surprised, or even excited. Maybe it is because we have
become so de-sensitized to everything that goes on in the world that we don’t
even think about these questions in our scripture; our hearts can become dark
and clouded because of the world. BUT WE SHOULD be shocked, surprised and
excited because these questions are asked of us every week. It is important to
hear Jesus words of “what are you looking for” every day.
Jesus
asks that of us in this scripture. What are you looking for? Jesus thinks
enough of you and me to ask us, what are you looking for? Jesus wants to know
what we are all looking for. Think deep down in our hearts about that question
every day and search for what we feel is most important in our lives; so we are
taking the time to give back to God what truly lies within our hearts. That we
do not let the things that can darken our hearts remain but that we can open our
hears so that, the light of Christ will always be in our hearts and at the
center of our hearts.
There
is another reason to be excited, shocked, and surprised at these gifts. Just as
Jesus said to the disciples “come and see” we, too, are invited to come and
see. We are invited to begin the journey with Christ. We are invited to see the
“lamb of God” in action; taking away the sin of the world. We are invited to
share the love that God has for us in the relationship that Jesus shares with
us all. We are invited to see the healing, the struggles and the love poured
out for us and with us. We are invited to “come and see” the love of God and
the forgiveness for us in the bread and wine that is Jesus body and blood; at
this, the Lord’s Table.
Today
we celebrate a man who heard the call of “what are you looking for.” He was
looking for the right to be treated like any other person; with respect and
dignity. He was looking for the world to treat him and his brothers and sisters
with the same dignity as any other man or woman. He searched deep within his
heart looking for God’s guidance. He answered Jesus’ invitation to come and see
and held the light of God’s love within his heart. He wrote these words that are now etched in
stone at his memorial; “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do
that. Hate cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.” When we hear Jesus,
the son of God ask “what are you looking for” will we look to the light of
Christ within our hearts and what will be our response? When we receive the
invitation to “come and see” will we also invite others to come and see: AMEN
No comments:
Post a Comment