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Text: John 1:29-42
Theme: “Something Compelling about Jesus”
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Jim Gronbeck
Epiphany 2A
January 15, 2017
Like many of you, I have lived through the decade of the 1960’s. This
began as one of our nation’s more prosperous and settled times, but ended
up being one of the more turbulent times in our nation’s history. With the
war in Vietnam and the civil rights movement taking center stage in the
latter half of the decade, our nation was thrust into a time of bitter upheaval.
Because of the turmoil, I believe the 1960’s produced some of the
last century’s most charismatic leaders. One of them was Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. A charismatic leader is defined as someone who possesses the
“rare quality or power demonstrated in exceptional leadership ability and for
securing the devotion of large numbers of people.” Charisma is a Greek
word meaning favor or divine gift.
Dr. King had demonstrated his leadership ability and charisma as a
young pastor in Alabama and Georgia. He used those gifts to bring light to
the injustice and inequality of the racist behaviors and beliefs of his time.
Dr. King called us to not follow blindly the traditions of the past, but
examine them in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He challenged us to
love and care for each other as Christ loves and cares for us. His message
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was compelling because it forced us to look at the ways society was
treating people unjustly.
Dr. King’s message is compelling for our nation in this day and age
as well because those racial tensions have again broiled to the surface the
past few years. All people need to hear again his challenge to love one
another and care for each other as our sisters and brothers in Christ. We
all need to heed Dr. King’s call for non-violence and Christian love between
all races of people. This reminds me of the motto of the Good Samaritan
Society: “In Christ’s love, everyone is someone.” If we could keep this
motto in mind as we deal with others, life would be a lot better for everyone.
Today as we are presented with the story of the call of two of Jesus’
disciples, we hear the first words spoken by Jesus in the Gospel of John.
When two of John the Baptist’s followers, or disciples, had been taught by
John who the Messiah was, they began to follow Jesus around. John had
told them that this person was the “Lamb of God,” the one chosen by God
to remove the sins of the world. Then, when Jesus noticed them following
Him, He turned and asked them, “What are you looking for?” This was
probably a normal question to ask people who were following you around!
The two men then asked Jesus a seemingly odd question: “Where
are you staying?” Doesn’t that sound a bit snoopy? Why do they need to
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know that? Dr. Raymond Brown writes that there was a deeper theological
meaning behind that question. Brown states that it is the desire of humans
to stay or dwell with God. Humans are constantly trying to escape
temporality, change, and death to find something that is everlasting. We
are looking for more in life, and so the question is asked of Jesus “Where
are you staying?” to find out if this One who is God incarnate will allow
humans to dwell with Him.
Jesus replies simply, “Come and see.” Jesus invites the two men,
Andrew and Simon Peter, to come and dwell with Him and discover the
meaning and purpose that has brought the Lamb of God to live among us.
There was just something compelling about Jesus. There was
something that basically captivated Andrew with the strong desire to follow
Jesus. Then Andrew left to find his brother, Simon Peter, to share the
news with him. John the Baptist first found Jesus compelling and shared
the knowledge of Jesus with his followers. Andrew, Simon Peter, and the
other disciples found Jesus similarly compelling. And in the 2,000 years
since, countless people have found in Jesus something charismatic and
compelling.
Jesus speaks to us through this lesson asking us, “What are you
looking for?” Jesus wants to know what WE are searching for; what OUR
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needs are; what type of a Savior do WE envision? What is there about
Jesus that we, here in this place and time, find compelling? Why are YOU
here today? Are you searching for something that’s been missing in your
life? Are you experiencing an emptiness that you’re trying to fill? Are you
looking for God, trying to find some answers to the violence and hatred in
our world?
Or are you here out of some kind of fear—fear of the unknown, or
fear of the future? Do the events of the world the past few years have you
searching for peace and reconciliation in your life and for others?
Or, have you simply come to worship the One that’s given you His
very life?
Jesus answers these questions and invites all who will listen, to
“Come and See.” Come and see just who it is that we call Messiah. Come
and discover the life-giving love of God that has brought salvation to our
world. Come and see this One who can bring meaning and purpose to
lives that are empty and devoid of meaning.
Those who truly come to Jesus, who come to worship Him, will
always be challenged to see with new eyes what it means to follow the
“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
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Today we receive new members into the fellowship of Jesus Christ.
How can we receive these new members and make them feel welcome,
cared-for, and a part of the mission of Zion Lutheran Church of Amor?
How can we work together to minister to the world around us and share the
love of Christ with others?
There is something compelling about this One called Jesus—this
Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world. He calls us
as He called His first disciples, to “Come and see” for yourselves in new
and exciting ways what it means to follow Him.
AMEN
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