Jesus does not threaten, coerce, intimidate, or plead his case – instead he invites – come and see. A fair warning however – there is a problem when we accept this invitation – spending time with Jesus – learning about his priorities – wrestling with his interpretations of scripture – it all has the power to change and transform us – has the power to call us and propel us forward into new places and new ways of being.
The peaceful transfer of power. That is one of the hallmarks of our American democracy. We hear that this peaceful transfer is what sets us apart as a country from so many other parts of the world, today and throughout history. In the year 2017, however, the word peaceful cannot be mistaken for the word tranquil.
We have watched this week, contentious confirmation hearings and news conferences. Votes that call into question the future of healthcare in our country. People on all sides stirred up – peaceful perhaps, but certainly not tranquil.
As I began to study this week’s gospel passage in John – it occurred to me that in it we are witnessing another, albeit very different, transfer of power – a transfer of power from John the Baptizer, to his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth.
John, the prophet and teacher had been traveling the countryside, delivering good news, inviting people to repent and to renew their commitment to God. His ministry, his words and his presence were powerful. But we know, as John knew, that he was not the One. He was the preparer – the trailblazer for Jesus.
Some have described John as the last great Old Testament prophet – even though, of course, he is nowhere recorded in the Old Testament. Nevertheless, John serves as that kind of link between the Old and New – that bridge from what was, to all that is to come in Jesus.
So, in this passage, we are witness to this transfer of power from John to Jesus. John, testifying in this story about all that had happened at Jesus’ baptism – with the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. John, pointing at Jesus and declaring his identity as the Lamb of God – the one who takes away the sin of the world.
Just a quick aside into this image of Jesus as the Lamb of God. We inherently know why John describes Jesus this way – sacrificing a lamb was a vivid part of the story of Passover, and it certainly would become a prominent part of the imagery of Holy Week and Easter – we get it.
I ran across a story about how this metaphor became all too real. A tourist was visiting a church in Germany and was surprised to see, up high, the carved figure of a lamb near the top of the church’s tower. As often happens, especially with church architecture, there was a story behind this odd location for the lamb.
He was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold. His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was alive and only slightly injured.
How did he survive? A flock of sheep was passing beneath the tower at the time, and he landed on top of a lamb. The lamb broke his fall and was unfortunately crushed to death, but the man was saved. To commemorate that miraculous escape, someone carved a lamb on the tower at the exact height from which the workman fell…bringing to life idea of the sacrificial lamb…
At any rate, with John’s declaration, his role quickly diminishes in the story – all eyes are now on Jesus. And what does Jesus do with this power? He begins to build relationships with those around him – today, beginning with two of John’s disciples – saying to them: “Come and see” (John 1:39).
“Come and see” becomes an invitation repeated many times throughout John’s gospel. Jesus does not threaten, coerce, intimidate, or plead his case – instead he invites – come and see. Spend time with Jesus – learn, listen – see what the teacher talks and cares about – come and see.
A fair warning however – there is a problem when we accept this invitation – spending time with Jesus – learning about his priorities – wrestling with his interpretations of scripture – it all has the power to change and transform us – has the power to call us and propel us forward into new places and new ways of being.
Tomorrow we remember and honor as a country, the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A heroic figure to many. A man who found strength, courage and conviction in the words of Jesus – a man who responded, in his own right, to the invitation to come and see and then extended that invitation to millions of others.
To honor Dr. King, tomorrow we join with others in our community and around the country in a day of service, not just as good citizens by the way, but as followers of Jesus.
In a similar way, as followers of Jesus, as those who are living into God’s call on our lives, we welcome the families of Family Promise to Gloria Dei again this week. Offering the basics of life – shelter, a meal, a smile and a warm welcome.
Today, we also open a conversation about creating a more explicitly, inclusive statement of welcome for Gloria Dei – one that would intentionally welcome those who identify as LGBTQ.
Open inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the life of a congregation can be very difficult for some to be sure. And yet for others the response is often “I thought we were already there”. And therein lies the challenge. As followers of Jesus, how do we listen to one another as we discern together God’s call on our lives and on our congregation.
Here is the bottom line for me today. I am thankful to God for this congregation – I am thankful for you. For a place that will go out into the community and join with people of other faiths or no faith to serve our neighbors, to work for peace and justice – to simply share some joy and comfort.
I am thankful today for a congregation that regularly opens its doors to the world – and particularly this week to those who are homeless – to be a place of rest and an oasis – truly a gift with immeasurable impact.
I am thankful today for a congregation that is willing to tackle challenging conversations – that is open to discernment and thinking about the intersection between faith and life.
For some, these things collectively may seem like little things – or just things that we do – and there may be some truth to that. But then I think about the difference between peaceful and tranquil. Jesus taught peace in his ministry, but was anything but tranquil – Jesus stirred the pot – Jesus literally turned things upside down – Jesus spoke truth to the powers of the day.
In all of this, Jesus created space for us to do the same – to respond to God’s call on our lives – to stir the pot – to speak truth to power – to be concerned about justice and peace – to trust and hope and seek joy in the world.
And we can do all of this because of this Lamb of God – the one who takes away the sin of the world – the one who gave his life for us. Jesus who promises a new and abundant life, not in some far off dimension – but today – right now…
Come and see…
Amen.
Rev. John Berg
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Northbrook, IL
Sources consulted:
Brett Blair, “Landed on Top of a Lamb”, Original Source Unknown.