2nd
Sunday after the Epiphany: Come and See
One of the things that
parents often know about their kids or write down in a baby book somewhere is what their children’s first words were? Usually
those first words are mama or dada- When I asked my wife last night what Alexis
and Caden’s first words were she replied in somewhat of a snarky voice probably
dada. Now that’s something I should
remember. The good news is that I am certain that my
wife has it written down somewhere.
Today we are treated in
John’s Gospel with Jesus first words- not
an infantile first utterance that he
cooed at Mary as she looked loving into his infant eyes-- not of mama or dada,
but the first words that gospel writer John places on his lips.
And they are actually
somewhat forgettable—What are you looking for? Jesus says. It a
question posed to two men who will become his disciples, but for right now they’re
just men who just following him maybe
the way teenage girls might follow a pop superstar to see where he’s
going.
What are you looking
for? Other interpretations translate it What are you after? Jesus says to the men.
The men ask: “Teacher, where are you staying?”
Come and see. Come and see— Jesus first words are not a
directive like in Mark- "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." His first
words here are "What are you looking for?" a soothing pastoral question followed by
a simple invitation to come and see to
come and explore more deeply who the lamb of God really is?
What are you looking
for? That is a question not only for
those two men –stumbling down the dusty road after the lamb of God? But it is a
question for us? What are we looking for from God? What propelled us to get up out of bed, climb
the stair and place our rear ends in these cold hard pews-what are we looking
for? What are we looking for in our
spiritual lives? Are we looking to connect more deeply with God
and with each other? Are we looking for healing for something that really,
really hurts? Are we looking to be forgiveness for the unpardonable?
And maybe we don’t even
know – maybe there is a restlessness in our souls? I stumbled along for a long
time not really even know what I was looking for- other than that in my
mid-twenties I had an urge- a restlessness a voice that was saying go to
church, connect with God. What are we
looking for? What are we after?
When the two guys who
are following answer that question- the best they can come up with is where are
you staying-what kind of question is that?
Where are you staying?
But Jesus engages what seems
to be a dumb question- says come and see! Jesus invites them to walk with him
to come spend some time with him- to see who he is and what he’s all about.
In 1999, Chrishelle and I landed at a church named St.
Thomas in Lancaster Pennsylvania- we had been dabbling in church life and the
Episcopal church while Chrishelle was doing graduate work- so when we moved to
Lancaster we thought we would dabble some more in the Episcopal church- so we
sought out St. Thomas. Shortly after
arriving at St. Thomas we found out that
they had a strong Alpha program- Alpha is a ten week introductory course on
Christianity- based around a retreat weekend.
Now, Whenever St. Thomas started a new Alpha
course they would invite previous participants to share about their experiences
of Alpha during church services. Well one Sunday shortly
after we arrived- a gentleman by the name of John stood up to give a short
testimony about Alpha. He introduced
himself and said something like I’m not a man of many words, so will cut straight to
the chase- and what he said next I can
remember this as clear as day he said next- I can remember him standing at the
pulpit. He said, “Alpha changed my life.”And I leaned over and
whispered in Chrishelle’s ear and said “yeah right Alpha changed his life.”
probably had slight chuckle in my. But
my curiosity was peaked- so when he
invited the congregation to come and check it out I said to Chrishelle "let’s
try it."
Well Alpha did
something- or God’s spirit sure did--that began me moving down the path I am on.
John’s invitation that day was
simply come and see. Come and try. That’s
the invitation that Christ extends- to his followers that he extends to us. Come
and See!
Come and see what I am
about Come and see if the life I offer is better than the life you can make on
your own.
Come and see if the
rest seek, if the healing you need can be found in me
Come and see that
despite all the bad that swirls around us that my kingdom is also breaking into
this world.
Come and see if I can
provide what you are looking for?
I have found again and
again that my faith has grown and my relationship with God has been
strengthened when I have accepted Christ invitation to come and see. Often though it has meant stepping my
comfort zone- doing something I wasn’t necessarily inclined to do.
Over the last fifteen
years Jesus has invited me to again and again to come and see- by going on
short term mission trips like Haiti or Mississippi or into buffalo. Jesus has
invited me to come and see how prayer or reading Holy Scripture strengthens my
life. He’s invited me to take part in
programs like Alpha or go on spiritual retreats- He’s invited me to forgive the
unforgivable and to touch the untouchables.
He’s invited me to come and try ministries that I never would imagine I could
be involved. He’s invited to let go of
selfishness to see that there might be another, better way to than my selfish-
short sighted way of doing something.
Just last Thursday- I
drove by that sign outside that right now is advertising our healing service-
and I thought I need that right not- not because I was physically ill, but
because I had something I needed God to help me deal with. Jesus was inviting me to come and see if he
could handle that thing that I was finding so stressful- and praise God he
did.
The Gospel writer tells
us that Andrew accepted Jesus invitation to come and see- and when Andrew went and
saw he found the Messiah. This so transforms that he goes and tells
his brother – come and see what I’ve
found. And they become disciples.
What we will find when
we accept Christ invitation to come and see? Will we find what we are looking
for? And maybe just maybe we might something better than we ever expected? Where is Christ
inviting you to come and see?
When that invitation comes---- I invite you to
take a deep breath- to summon up all the courage you have to say yes Jesus I
will come and see.
AMEN
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