Year A 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

John 1:29-42 - Preparing for Jesus

At this time of year we seem to hear the same complaints about supermarkets selling hot cross buns and Easter Eggs when many of us have just put away the Christmas Tree and decorations.

What’s your thoughts on it?

Sometimes I think supermarkets have a better understanding than we do about the relationship between Easter and Christmas – although I don’t think their reason is theological.

Christmas and Easter belong side by side.

John, the gospel writer sees that too.

Even though there have been many years that have passed since Jesus birth, in the very first chapter of John he already points out the close connection between Christmas and Easter.

Jesus birth and death.

Already in Chapter One soon after describing the Word becoming flesh, John is pointing to Jesus’ death:

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

As lovely and as sentimental as Christmas is, Jesus was called to a mission that would require his death to take away the sin of the world.

John the Baptist also sees that.

As popular as John the Baptist was with the people, he redirects their focus onto Jesus.

John’s work is done.

John was called to make straight the path for Jesus.

John tells the people that this is the one they should now be following – not me.

“After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me”.

And so we too must constantly refocus our attention onto Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

That is our calling too, like John’s.

To make straight paths for Jesus.

To focus people onto Jesus and his death for their sins.

Now that’s not always a pleasant message to deliver.

I’m not a bad person – why does Jesus need to die for MY sins?

Sure I’m not perfect, but who is?

I’ve seen a few letters in the newspaper encouraging people to stop buying hot cross buns and Easter Eggs because then the supermarkets will stop selling them so early.

My advice – buy them.

Let’s get Jesus and Easter into people’s focus as early as we can – and as long as we can – because Jesus came to take away the sin of the world and we need that now.

In recent times the church has not been so good at focusing the public onto Jesus.

The church has become distracted on other things.

The focus has been on sexual abuse in the church – arguments over same sex marriage – debates about the ordination of women – creation versus evolution – traditional versus Pentecostalism – I’m sure you can think of others.

While these are important issues for many, they can take away the focus from Jesus, the Lamb of God.

We need to make sure that our central calling is to focus people onto Jesus.

John’s focus on Jesus became infectious.

When he cried out – Look, here is the Lamb of God it immediately drew the attention of 2 disciples who began following him.

One of the disciples, Andrew, then went and found his brother Simon and excitedly told him – we have found the Messiah.

When did you last get excited about Jesus that you just had to tell someone about him?

Sometimes our faith can feel a little stale, but it doesn’t need to.

Our faith can be infectious also, but not when our focus is distracted away from Jesus and onto other things.

John tells the story of Mary and Martha with Martha distracted, rushing around everywhere trying to entertain the guests who had come to listen to Jesus.

She became flustered because her sister Mary wasn’t helping.

Mary had decided to focus on Jesus but Martha tried to take her away.

When Martha complained to Jesus he replies by saying:

One thing is needful: and Mary has chosen the better part (Luke 10:42).

One thing was needful but Martha had become distracted by the many tasks she was doing.

The Jews had also become distracted as they waited for the Messiah and as a result missed him when Jesus came.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:11)

They had become focused on the Law and devised 613 laws by which to focus the people’s attention on.

They became so distracted that they had to ask Jesus – which is the greatest commandment – they wanted to be refocused.

Jesus says – love the Lord your God and love your neighbour as yourself.

Love was where the focus needed to be placed.

When Jesus was about to die he reminded his disciples of their calling as his disciples;

Love one another as I have loved you – which is refocusing on the greatest commandment – love God and love your neighbour.

This is the calling of the church.

Is there something that has focused your faith away from what Jesus says is our calling of love?

Sometimes it’s hard to be enthusiastic about our faith.

Sometimes it’s hard to see what is so special about being a Christian.

St Paul today reminds the Church in Corinth just how much they had to be thankful for.

They too had lost direction and focus.

They began to argue about who had the greater baptism – some were baptised by Peter, some by Apollos.

Like the church today, arguments took them away from their focus on love.

Paul brings them back with a word of grace:

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind. (1 Cor 1:4)

This was a congregation that had quarrels and incest and drunkenness just to name a few.

And yet Paul saw God’s grace in them.

What do you see when you look at your life.

Are you able to look past the difficulties you face?

Are you able to look past the negative things in your life and give thanks to God because YOU too have been enriched by Christ in every kind of way.

Maybe you don’t feel enriched at times;

Maybe you fail to see any purpose in life.

Maybe you don’t feel very called by God to do anything.

But listen again to Isaiah:

The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me.

The Lord knew you too before you were born.

The Lord named you in your mother’s womb.

He has called you to be Holy.

A holiness that comes to us not by what WE do but by what God has done for us in our Baptism, by giving us Jesus Body and Blood in Holy Communion, by speaking to us in his Word in the Holy Bible.

And when we go through those dark times, we remember the words of our Psalm today:

I waited patiently upon the LORD; he stooped to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the desolate pit and set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.

Christmas is over;

The celebrations, the gifts, the families, the joyous occasion has ended.

It’s back to work – back to school – back to reality.

And soon we will walk the Lenten journey.

The dark and solemn walk to the cross with Jesus which seems to more resemble most of our lives.

We will enter the darkest period – the death of Good Friday.

But out of the dark there is the light of Easter Sunday.

And from there we will celebrate like we have never celebrated before.

And it won’t end.

Jesus will rise to eternal life and invite you to join him in his glory.

We will experience like Peter, James and John, the transfiguration where the glory of Christ will shine to give us hope.

But like Peter, James and John, until that day fully arrives we are sent back down the mountain to wait patiently for our time to enter the eternal glory.

Until that day we are called to share God’s love and grace with others that others may see that light and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Like Andrew, let us find our brothers and sisters and share the excitement – “We have found the Lord”.

Let our excitement and our faith be contagious so others may catch the excitement we have about being in a relationship with Jesus who has assured us of our eternal home in heaven by dying for OUR sins.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The peace of God that surpasses our understanding, keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus. Amen.