January 22, 2017
Epiphany 3A

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.  Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:12-23

“Jesus called ordinary people right in the middle of their ordinary lives to do extraordinary things … and he still does. Jesus issues the same call to us — to be in genuine and real relationships with the people around us, and to be in those relationships the way Jesus was and is in relationship with his disciples and with us: bearing each other’s burdens, caring for each other and especially the vulnerable, holding onto each other through thick and thin, always with the hope and promise of God’s abundant grace. Sometimes that call — to be in Christ-shaped relationship with others — will take us far from home and sometimes it will take shape in and among the persons right around us. But it will always involves persons — not simply a mission or a ministry or a movement, but actual, flesh-and-blood persons. So maybe I should re-state with the theme I started with this way: Jesus called ordinary people right in the middle of their ordinary lives to be in relationship with the ordinary people all around them and through that did extraordinary things … and he still does.” (Pastor David Lose, President, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia)

For the Gospel writer John, the response of the first disciples who hear the proclamation of John is “they followed” – and that is the most significant point of this text – it is what mattered most. The key to this text comes in the Greek word “Akolouthein” – translated as “follow”. It can mean to physically “follow behind” someone, or it can mean to “follow as a disciple follows his/her teacher”.

Two of John’s disciples heard John say “Here is the Lamb of God” and they followed Jesus. Just like Matthew the Tax Collector, and James and John and Simon and Andrew (soon to be known as Peter) the fishermen, and then Thomas, the other Simon, Philip, Bartholomew, Thaddaeus, the other James, and finally Judas – they also heard the call of Jesus and followed. They first followed, physically responding to Jesus’ invitation — but it is more significant than that. The initial call comes from Jesus – first asking “what are you looking for?” when he sees that they are following him. Then he invites them to “Come and See”, which they do – but not before Andrew first invites his brother Simon Peter. This becomes a theme in the Gospel of John – people encounter Jesus and they invite someone to “Come and See”. Philip invites Nathaniel – The Samaritan woman at the well invites her community to “come and see this man…”. But their initial following becomes personal – they become disciples, true followers.

I don’t know about you, but the implication, it seems, is clear to me. If this Jesus, the one that is the Lamb of God, the One who is the promise of life, and light, and resurrection, and truth — if this Jesus takes away the sin of the world, what should our response be? Let me say this – our response should be “to follow” Jesus – physically, spiritually, theologically, and as disciples.

Pastor Dave