January 15, 2023 St. Andrew Church Rev. Anne McAnelly
First Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Second Lesson: John 1:29-42
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.” 35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi”, “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah”. 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas”.
We have all heard the saying you never get a second chance to make a first impression. How you start off a conversation or an encounter with a new acquaintance often sets the tone for the how the relationship unfolds. Body language, eye contact, even the tone of the voice all go into how we perceive a new person. So I was struck reading John’s gospel with Jesus’ first words to his two new disciples are, “What are you looking for? These are also the first words Jesus speaks in John’s gospel. This question might be better translated as, “What are you seeking?” One commentator writes, “Jesus’ ministry begins not with a mighty command to silence a demon, as in Mark; nor with a sermon to the crowds who have gathered on a mountain, as in Matthew; and not with a quotation from Isaiah to proclaim his anointing for the year of God’s favor, as in Luke, but it begins with a question: “What are you seeking?” What are you looking for? What do you need? It is a question worth wrestling with — as individuals, as congregations, as communities — since our answers will have a great deal to do with what we find as well as with the journey we take to get there. What are you seeking? What motivates you? What is it that you really need, not just on the surface, but deep down into the core of your being? What are you looking for?” (Working Preacher, Audrey West).
This got me thinking of times we are asked that question today. What are you looking for in a primary relationship. I know there is a temptation to look for specific qualities in a person or some might even have a list of what they are looking for in a romantic partner. At different times my list has changed. I recall heading to seminary with three things on my list. I was looking for: A Christian, with family values who was taller than me. That gave God lots of room to find the right person. I met my husband in Greek class and he certainly exceeded all that I was looking for. Or when we buy a car, we are asked what are you looking for? So many factors to consider, reliability rating, gas, electric or hybrid, performance, brand loyalty and just what feels right when you get behind the wheel. We are asked, “What are you looking for?” all the time. Another way of saying that is what do you want? What do you need? I would suggest we have a hard time stating that. Asking for what we want and need, because we are taught not to be demanding or assuming.
Yet here, these new disciples are seeking Jesus because John, whom they had been following told them Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God. The very fact that they want to follow him tells us that they were looking for spiritual connection, they were seeking the Messiah. Andrew telling his brother Peter also affirms this.
I am reading Freeing Jesus, by Diana Butler Bass which we will be reading during Lent. In this book she explores six ways we think about and experience Jesus. Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way and Presence. She shares personal stories about how her faith has grown and changed over the years with a depth of clarity in her observations and writing. If you would like to join us in the book study, we will be starting February 27. I mention this first to encourage you to get the book and join in the study. But secondly because John offers four names for Jesus in this passage. Four ways for thinking about Jesus: Lamb of God, Son of God, Rabbi and Messiah. John the Baptist sees Jesus as the Lamb of God because he saw the Spirit descend and remain on Jesus. Lamb of God harkens back to Passover and God saving the Hebrew people, with the introduction of the Spirit or presence of God resting on Jesus during baptism. So when the Spirit remains, dwells on Jesus, John knows him to be the Son of God. The Greek word, “meno” used for remain, dwell, abide, offers a sense of permanence or stability. John uses abide and dwell quite a bit. But it is during the exchange with the new disciples, asked what they are seeking that we get the power of this moment. Did you notice they answered Jesus’ question with another question, “Where are you staying?” That seems strange at first. But they want to know where they can abide with Jesus. Where they can learn from Jesus. One commentator writes, When the disciples respond to Jesus’ query with their own question, they are not asking Jesus for the location of his tent, or the address of the guest house; they want to know about the enduring, permanent, eternal, undying dwelling place of this Lamb of God. Where are you staying? Where can we find you? Where shall we go to be with you, to receive what you have to offer? Where can we be in the very presence of God?” (Working Preacher, Audrey West)
Because isn’t that what we are all really looking for? Isn’t that what we all go through life seeking? The very presence of God and finding a way to be in God’s presence, to be connected to Jesus and the love God has to offer us.
Butler Bass writes, “Was that how Jesus’ first followers experienced Jesus? That he somehow was the dwelling place of God…bearing the mystery of the sacred and being fully human? And if that is who he was, is that who he still is? The presence, the wisdom, the divine dwelling with us, the feminine spirit, here and now?” (Freeing Jesus, p. 224). To fully be in the presence both the Spirit and Jesus abide. Butler Bass writes, “When Jesus is understood in relationship with Spirit as presence, wisdom and power, we can experience Jesus as a dynamic figure, one related to God’s mysterious activity and one who dwells with us, always present” (Freeing Jesus, p. 223).
Where are you staying is a way of seeking the presence of Jesus in its fullness and mystery. Once they had been in Jesus’ presence they knew and proclaimed him as the Messiah. Andrew, after being in the presence of Jesus, runs to tell his brother. Jesus calls Peter to be a disciple in their very first meeting. Back to good first impressions.
Jesus first words are “What are you looking for?” but his answer to their question is, “Come and See!” Encountering Jesus is not about theology, or right beliefs, it is about being the presence of the living God, the Son of God, the Messiah. It is allowing the Spirit of God to fill your senses and abide with you. It invites you to Come and See what the holy presence of Jesus means in your life. Jesus invites them to come and see and then they invite others to do the same. First Peter, then in the passage right after ours, Philip becomes a follower and immediately testifies to Nathaniel, “Come and See” (1:46). Later the Samaritan woman does the same thing. She abides and engages Jesus deeply, his identity is revealed to her, she is flooded by Eternal Life and she goes out to testify and to tell her fellow Samaritans to “Come and See.” When they do, when they abide with Jesus, they discover for themselves Jesus is the Savior of the world (Jn 4:40) (Working Preacher, Jamie Clark-Soles).
We might call Jesus Savior, Teacher or friend, but when we abide with Jesus, rest in his presence, then we want to tell people to Come and See. Come and see our beloved Lord. Come and be in the presence of the living God.
Hear these words from Audrey West, “If you want to know the word made flesh, come and see Jesus. If you want to know what love is like, come and see Jesus. If you want to experience God’s glory, to be filled with bread that never perishes, to quench your thirst with living water, to be born again, to abide in love, to behold the light of the world, to experience the way, the truth, and the life, to enter into life everlasting, . . . if you want to know God, come and see Jesus” (Working Preacher). Amen.
