Sermon - Epiphany 2 - Year A

John 1:29-41                                                                                      

We have found the Messiah

   I spent a considerable amount of my teenage years working on construction sites.  Mother had a cousin who owned a commercial painting business and I began working with him when I was thirteen.  You meet an interesting group of people working construction, especially if your contacts are with those on the lower end of the pecking order.  I wasn't up in the offices overseeing what needed to be done, I was down in the trenches, scrapping cement off the door frames and sanding the shelves for supply closets.

Conversation, that activity engaged in to pass the endless hours of monotonous work, usually moved to the lowest possible level.  You can figure out what I mean.  One day, Bubba surprised us all, by announcing that he didn't want to hear any of that kind of talk anymore.  He announced, "I went to the tent meeting last weekend and I was saved."  There was a moment of intense silence, and then Audie looked at him with a questioning stare and asked, "Saved from what?"  Things only got more confusing as we looked back to Bubba and realized he had no response.  He had been "saved", but he wasn't real sure what that meant.

In our gospel lesson for this morning, Andrew comes to his brother with his own announcement.  “We have found the Messiah," he tells Simon.  It would have been interesting to see how he would have responded, had Simon asked him "Messiah of what?"  But we don't expect the disciples to be unclear.  It is assumed that they understood and knew what all these phrases and titles meant, right?  When Andrew comes to his brother announcing that the Christ has been found, of course Simon knew what he was talking about.  Didn't he?

John's gospel is written in two languages.  By that I mean that throughout the text we have the Hebrew word followed by its Greek equivalent.  In the last verse of this morning's reading we see this.  The text reads: “Messiah” and then in parenthesis we have the explanation “(which means Christ)”. Messiah is the title Andrew, a Jew, would have used.  But John's readers, many of whom were Gentiles, would have been more familiar with the Greek word "Christ".

At issue is whether Andrew and Simon (who later is renamed Cephas (in Hebrew), or Rock (in English)), at issue is whether or not they understood.  What was it they thought this Jesus could do for them?  When they called him Messiah, what did that mean?

There are two clues:  1)  What does the title Messiah mean; and 2)  What has already been said about this promised one?

The word, "Messiah", means anointed or anointed one.  It is a reference to the expected liberator of the Hebrew people.  From about the time of Israel's collapse in 587 B.C., there emerged a prophetic voice within Israel.  A promise was made to them that God would again establish them as a beacon to the world, a light to the nations.  It was the Messiah, the anointed one, who would lead Israel into this new era.  Is this what Andrew thought he had found in Jesus?  Was he expecting Jesus to be the one that would begin the chain of events destined to culminate in the reestablishment of a powerful Israel?  The tradition of Israel's prophets would have instructed him that this is what Messiah represented.

That's what we learn from the title.  But what of that which had already been spoken regarding Messiah?  We know that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist.  He was with John as the people of Jerusalem began to make their way to the wilderness to hear him.  John's message has been straightforward; he has acknowledged that he is not Messiah.  But, he insists that he is preparing the way for Messiah.  John, however, doesn't say what this Messiah will be like.  All he says is that he is unworthy even to untie the shoes of the one who is to follow.

So what did Andrew mean, as he went and told his brother, “We have found the Messiah”.  Did he think Jesus was going to become a great warrior, leading the Jewish people into victorious battle?  Did he think Jesus was some spiritual manifestation of God, too holy to even approach?  Did he think of Jesus as the one who would call Israel back to repentance and make them a light to all the nations?

We don't know.  All we know is that Andrew attributes this title to him.   And in so doing, he turns over to this Jesus complete control of his life.  Somehow, what he saw in Jesus was enough to convince him that everything he could ever want or desire was going to be realized in this man.  Somehow, he saw through everything else and realized nothing more was needful.

I venture to say that Andrew did not fully understand.  For in John's gospel as elsewhere, all the disciples, even Andrew, abandon Jesus when he begins to make his way to the cross.  They could not see how this would be the appropriate completion to the mission they had set out to accomplish.  Andrew did not fully understand what was going to happen to Jesus and what it would mean.  But that does not negate the confidence which came in his first confession.

“We have found the Messiah" he tells his brother.  And from that day forth he gives his life over to this Jesus.  Even, when the directions taken by Jesus run contrary to those Andrew might have expected.  Jesus was his Savior, even when Jesus saves him from things which he didn't expect to be saved from.

My construction coworker, Bubba, came back to work with a fire in his heart.  It is really too bad, that as he began to share the light of that fire, another should douse him with water.  Maybe it is the assurance of Salvation which matters and not an ability to list out the things we are saved from.

I know that salvation is real, constant, unchanging.  But if I had to come with a listing of what salvation means for me it would be far from unchanging.  I used to worry primarily about death.  I was afraid of being buried and not being about to communicate with those I loved.  A few years ago my big fear is that I would be found out and that others would realize I had neither the intellect nor the spiritual presence to be a pastor.  Now I worry that my children have not experienced the blessing which would allow them to live confident lives.

My list has changed over the years, but the one who fulfills my expectations has not.  Christ makes it possible for me to accept the grave.  Christ allows me to see that it is not my own capabilities which matters.  It is the power of Christ's love which assures me that my children will be cared for by the same community which has given me the assurances I need.

What do you mean, when you say "Jesus is Lord"?  What have you found, when you acknowledge that Christ has given you a valuable gift?  What does the "Beautiful Saviour" save you from?

We can't accept another's responses.  Each of us has to acknowledge what it is about our lives that needs redeeming and then we must come to understand how it is that Christ effects this salvation.

We have found the Messiah, and it is the assurance of salvation which matters the most.  But if we are to give God thanks for that which God has given us, we should stop and consider what it is that God has really saved us from.

Amen.

Sermon - Second Sunday of Christmas - Year a

John 1:10-18

“He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.”

Peter Gomes begins his book encouraging folks to read their bibles with an experience many of us have had.  We find ourselves at a social gathering, and we meet someone for the first time.  Names are quickly exchanged.  It is possible that we may not have heard clearly, but don’t really worry about that too much – it is a first meeting at a gathering not likely to be repeated.  But then, we find ourselves moving deeper into conversation.  Something seems so inviting or comforting that we begin to open up and move beyond casual comments and into deeper emotions.  We share intimate details and allow ourselves to be vulnerable.  Enliven as we may be by the conversation, there comes the time for it to end.  Perhaps there is a promise to keep these matters in one’s thoughts or prayers.  It is at about that time when we realize the one piece of sharing which was not recorded in our memory – the other person’s name. 

How do you back up, now, and admit, “I don’t know your name?”

In his ministry as Chaplain at Harvard, Pastor Gomes observed this experience in those who were part of his flock.  He heard from those who had had the experience and were now unsure how to return to those critical first steps.  The members of his congregation began to admit to him that they had a lot of exposure to Jesus, but were limited in their knowledge of Jesus.  Through worship and prayers and time spent with other Christians they had formed opinions and deepened emotions.  But much like the experience of one attending a social gathering, they weren’t sure they knew that which should have been learned at the very beginning.

This is what John is writing about when he begins his Gospel - “(The Word) was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.”

We live in a very “Christianized” part of the world.  How often do we make references to being in the “Bible Belt”?  I have heard it go even further by saying we are merely part of the bible belt; we are bucket on that belt.  At one point it was further claimed we were the gleam on the buckle of that belt.

Is this true?  Is it very far from the truth?  And yet, in far too many instances we like those gathered for worship at Harvard Chapel.  We can share many things which we have heard about Jesus, but what is it that we know?

All around us there is talk of Jesus and references to The Good Book.  Are we prepared to point out what is actually in the Bible?  Can we debunk half-truths and misinformation about the teachings of Jesus?

I do not mean to accuse anyone of not knowing.   But I will suggest that much of what we know we didn’t learn from the original sources.  Most of us, likely all of us, began to be taught what Jesus said long before we ever started reading for ourselves.  Most of us, likely all of us, have other sources of information regarding what the Bible says.

I do not mean to accuse anyone, but I would like to ask everyone to open themselves up to learning what it is that you don’t know, and in particular to hearing what it is that you don’t know that you don’t know.  There is a whole lot in that latter category.

We live in a world where folks with vastly differing approaches all claim that God is “on their side.”  Christians are being told by their pastors and Bishops how they are to integrate the events of the day and the matters of civic importance.  As I stand among you this morning and speak of what it means to be “Saved,” there is another within less than a mile putting forth a contrasting notion of who is the elect and who are the damned.

The Word IS in the world.  So are the words of some who would like to prefer to take that Word hostage and use it for their own ends.  These verses from John 1 are a challenge to make sure we know the Word; and know it well enough recognize it and not be deceived when the Word of God is taken captive.

“(The Word) was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.”

I am very serious about this – it is an extremely serious matter.  What I am hoping to do is prod or provoke each to commit to a plan to fill the gaps and overcome your shortcomings.  Back up, in your conversations with Jesus, and make sure you remember the basics.

How well do you know your bible?  I don’t mean to shame you, but it might be a bit of fun to shake our false confidence.  Let’s start with something simple.  Which of the four gospels have stories about the birth of Jesus?  (Look for answers.) 

Here is another:  Which letters of Paul make mention of Jesus’ birth?  (Look for answers.) 

Here is something I discussed with Heddie West, she told me to talk more about it at her funeral.  According to the book of Revelation, what is end toward which all followers of God strive?  (Look for answers.) 

One more - On what day is Jesus arrested?  (Hints:  The First Day of Passover ((Synoptics)), or the Day of preparation for Passover ((John))).

I really don’t want to shame or embarrass anyone.  This sermon is attempting to build upon John’s acknowledgement that while Messiah is the source of all things, the things which come into being through him do know always recognize that from which we came.  In too many instances, we are ill prepared to recognize and call out where the Word of God is being hijacked by the words of a crafty orator. 

It is a new year.  We have started a new cycle of readings.  While there are always some readings from the Gospel of John, during the next eleven months we will primarily be reading from Matthew.  Read Matthew several times in the next couple of weeks.  Make a few notes and share what surprised you or what you realized you didn’t already know. 

Those of us who have been in the Church for decades may find it difficult to admit we weren’t paying attention at the beginning.  But we will only learn the name of Jesus by admitting we weren’t aware at the outset how significant he would become.  We began to experience Jesus, moving more deeply into a relationship with him.  Something seemed so inviting and comforting that we begin to open up and move beyond casual comments and into deeper emotions.  We share intimate details and allow ourselves to be vulnerable.  We have a meaningful relationship; we just need to get a few more of the specifics under our belt.  Under our Bible Belt.

Amen.