John 1:43-51
Come and See
Of all the ways you could spend your Sunday morning, why are you spending it this way? I am expecting an answer from each of you. In fact, we are going to try to hear as many of those answers as we can. (Let me say a word about those of you who might be watching this Sunday afternoon, Sunday evening, or perhaps a bit later in the week. You need to come up an answer too.)
What has happened in your life, or what have you heard in the past, or what internal motivations drive you to spend precious hours of your life this way? And I do want you – each of you – to arrive at an answer. After I share a few more of my thoughts, I am going to ask you to share those answers with those sitting with you; and hopefully type a few of them into the “chat” feature – which is that little box of greetings and comments you see along the side of the screen.
Today’s Gospel lesson is actually the second half of a larger section in which Jesus starts to call his disciples. The critical phrase (or least the critical phase for the purposes of this sermon) occurs in both sections. Since you are at home, you ought to have easy access to your bible. Open it to the first chapter of John.
John has none of the birth narratives. It starts with the theological treatise we call “the prologue to John’s gospel,” and then we read stories of John the Baptizer. Still in that first chapter, in the 29th verse, Jesus enters the story. He emerges in the place where John is preaching and baptizing.
If you were in worship last Sunday, you heard Mark’s version of Jesus’ baptism. You will note that in the Gospel of John there are hints, but no actual recording of Jesus ever being baptized. There is a testimony from John that he saw the Spirit descend and remain on Jesus – but no pouring of water. In my sermon last week, I asked, “Why was Jesus baptized?” The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance. What need would a sinless Jesus have of such a baptism? Perhaps the writer of John knew this would be perplexing and thus does not speak of such things.
But you were asked those questions last Sunday, and have, no doubt, by now, come to a good and lasting conclusion. So let’s move on.
It is in Jesus’ encounter with John and John’s disciples that Jesus begins to acquire a few disciples of his own. In fact, the first two follow Jesus because John shares with them his vision of who Jesus is.
Verse 36. John says “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” One of the two who heard him say this was Andrew. Andrew goes and gets his brother, Simon, whom Jesus right away renames Cephas (which is translated as Peter).
When the two potential disciples approach Jesus, Jesus asks them what they are looking for. They don’t actually respond, at least not in a style that makes sense to us. The text tell that in reply to “What are you looking for?” They reply, “Teacher, where are you staying?” Perhaps this is an idiom for what was Jesus teaching or what he believes. But their response does not ask for an explanation of his doctrine nor an indication of his authority.
“What are you looking for?” - - “Where are you staying?” then comes an even more interesting response. It is now Jesus’ turn to speak – and he tells them, “Come and see.”
That is the critical verse – critical at least for today’s sermon. “Come and see.”
That same invitation is repeated in today’s section of John 1. This time it is spoken by Philip. Things are moving fast. Jesus has left the banks of the River Jordan and is now in the region of Galilee. We probably ought to assume that Andrew and Peter are with him. The next person to whom Jesus issues an invitation is Philip, who is described as being from the same city as Andrew and Peter.
Philip seems to have rather rapidly become a follower, because he right away goes and finds Nathanael. He tells Nathanael, “We have found him about whom Moses and the law and also the prophets wrote.” (Pretty strong statement for someone whom he only just met, wouldn’t you say?) Nathanael - naturally - expresses some skepticism. Philip’s response is not a theological treatise nor some credo. It is no explanation all but. He offers a simple invitation – “Come and see.”
“Come and see.”
There must have been some magic in that invitation to “come and see.” There must have been something to look at, once Andrew followed Jesus to where he was staying, and once Nathanael returned with Philip to the place where Jesus was waiting.
Come and see. A rather simple invitation. A clear-cut expectation as to what it will take to transform the life of another. Come and see.
Would it be possible for you to issue a similar invitation? Is there something sufficiently powerful to which you could point?
I what to propose that the answer to these last questions is the same answer as the answer to my first question this morning. I also want to propose that you are sufficiently motivated and that it is possible for you to issue a similar invitation. The invitation and the motivation is the reason you stopped doing whatever else it was that you were doing and decided to join us here. At some point in your life, you were invited to “Come and see.” And whatever it was that you saw altered your life and the way you would spend your Sunday mornings.
So now is the time I want you to say out loud what all too often remains unspoken. Turn to someone near you. Or use the chat feature on your computer screen. Say out loud what it is that has motivated you to spend your day this way. What is so darn exciting a live-steamed FaceBook video that you would “come and see”?
I am going to stop talking so you can do that.
I know that a goodly number of Lutheran folks don’t like it when asked to talk to each other. I never used to like it either, till Bishop Hanson explained why he so often does it. “Too many folks in the Church are talked AT, and not enough are TALKING.” he said. The Church will continue to decline, he said, until more of us are talking – talking about the amazing, wonderful, exciting, noteworthy things that God is doing in our lives. We don’t need more folks spouting sophisticated theological treatises; we don’t need loud proclamations of credo; we need neighbors who share with neighbor what it is they find in the Church.
Jesus invites his first disciples to “Come and see.” Those first disciples invite others with the same words. What they shared was their version of what you have just shared with one another. Nothing more; but certainly nothing less.
Whenever someone does share with me why they come to the church, or why they join us for worship, it is ALWAYS an inspiring, awe producing exchange. Even the apologetic response, which usually goes something along the lines of - “I don’t know. There just seems to be something right about it.” makes me aware of the passive way in which the community welcomes us and allows us to feel at home and at ease.
Whenever someone shares with me, it is ALWAYS an inspiring, awe producing exchange. My heartbreak is that such sharing does not happen often enough. I don’t ask…. I don’t give opportunity…. The other person doesn’t want to be put on the spot….. take your pick. The result is too few invitations to simply “Come and see.”
Let’s change that. Let’s turn it around. Let’s become more confident in our reasons for being a part of the Community of Christ and above all let’s stop worrying that we need to be able to answer every question or respond to every query. All we need do is speak of that which we have seen/experienced and have confidence that it is enough.
“Come and see.” It was enough for Jesus. It brought Nathanael into the fold. Surely it is enough for those whom we encounter.
Amen.
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