Lay Reading
19th January 2020 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Text: John
1:29-42 – Receiving the call from Jesus
Today’s
theme that can be found in all four of our readings is the theme of being
called.
The
readings from Isaiah and from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians both begin
with words about being called, about being set apart by God.
Isaiah
says: The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he
named me.
Paul says:
called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.
This fits
right in with today’s section of John’s gospel, in which we hear his account of
what is usually called “The Call of the First Disciples.”
John the
Baptist points to Jesus and says of him, “Behold the Lamb of God.”
Two of John’s
disciples hear this and decide to check out Jesus for themselves.
They end up
abandoning John and going off with Jesus instead. It’s this call, the call of
these first two disciples, that is the one we need to pay special attention to
if we want to understand what it’s usually like to be called by God.
To follow
Jesus is a major life decision. Discipleship requires dedication, work, and
sacrifice.
For most of
us, making a major life decision is a thoughtful process. We need time to do
research, to consult experts, to ask the opinion of friends. We may read
product reviews before buying a car, or even a toaster. When facing surgery,
even minor surgery, surgeons are very careful to make sure you’re aware of any
complications – or when prescribing medication you’re advised of the many side
effects even if they are very rare. Sometimes you’re advised to get a 2nd
opinion.
So we
carefully sort out the options, search for information online or in books, and
begin to compile a list of pros and cons. What are the benefits, and what is
the cost? We have all done this at one time or another. We especially take care
when deciding a major decision - To buy a house, or take a new job, or move
across town or even overseas.
Making informed
decisions is a worthy task as it helps us avoid making mistakes, making a bad
situation worse, or facing massive consequences of a poor choice. Maybe this is
one of the reasons why Christianity appears to be in decline. Maybe people are
afraid of what the cost of discipleship might be because it’s not immediately
evident.
If we
choose to become a disciple of Jesus, then what will be expected of us?
Will we be
expected to work harder than we ever imagined, to give more than we thought
possible, and to surrender our need for control to serve God’s will.
That
uncertainty frightens people.
And what do
we get in return? If we are doing a “for and against” list – what are the
benefits of being a Christian.
On the face
of it we might appear to get nothing - at least nothing the world would
consider as a benefit. Just more work, more need requiring
us to give money, and more criticisms from our friends and family. That’s because
the gift of God’s grace is free, and offered to everyone without condition. There’s
nothing anyone can do to earn it, deserve it, or be excluded from it.
And in our
world where we want to see reward for working hard, this just does not seem
like the kind of situation to which we are rewarded physically for all the work
and sacrifices we make.
In our
world we are more familiar with -first I give this, and I then get that in
exchange. This is how it is supposed to work.
But the
gifts of God’s mercy, love, and grace are just not like that. They are ours,
freely given, without condition. So, if we choose to become disciples of Jesus,
and to give our time, talent, and treasure, what do we get for all our trouble?
Just as
Jesus said to the disciples - Come and see.
The values
that Jesus puts forth in his gospel do not really make any sense in the system
in which the world assesses worth. You really have to immerse yourself in the
mystery before you can even begin to understand.
The world
cherishes wealth. The world esteems power. The world treasures control. But the
gospel calls us to love the poor and serve the needy, without condition. And
the gospel compels us to surrender our craving for power and give up our need
for control. And what are the potential consequences of that?
Come and
see.
The Saviour
of the world, you see, is also the one that the bible reveals is a man of
sorrows, someone acquainted with grief, despised and
rejected by his fellow country people.
That really
doesn’t sound like someone destined for success or greatness, does it?
The Christian
life can be full of questions and confusion, those seeming contradictions that can
reveal a deeper spiritual reality. Paradoxes such as: gaining our life by
losing our life, enjoying true abundance by giving away our possessions, and
becoming followers of the all-powerful one who emptied himself of power.
To really
understand Jesus and the blessings he gives you, you really need to come and
see for yourself in order to understand or even begin to understand.
Without truly
understanding what is happening in worship can seem like it’s just an empty
ritual. So come and see – come and experience being served by God. Come and be
blessed by God. Without an understanding of God wanting to serve us it might
seem that being a disciple of Jesus is nothing more than endless demands from God.
Jesus invitation
to us is - Come and see. Jesus offers us a different way of life through personal
sacrifice. If we simply want to follow what the world offers then our lives can
become meaningless, focused more on the accumulation of material goods than on
sharing the love that comes from God.
So come and
see the Lamb of God, on whom the Spirit descended like a dove, the Son of God.
Come and
see Jesus who leads us along the way of salvation.
Come and
see Andrew and Simon Peter, who drop their nets and leave behind everything to
follow Jesus.
The
invitation was offered to those disciples so many years ago who did not know
Jesus at all and did not know where Jesus invitation would lead them.
And it is
offered to us again today. Come and see and be enriched in Christ in every
possible way. Come and see and learn again that God is faithful, and that you
are called into fellowship with God through God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Come and see so that you too can declare with confidence, We have found the
Messiah.
The peace
of God that surpasses our understanding keep your hearts and mind forever in
Christ Jesus. Amen.
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