January 15, 2023 — Epiphany 2A

“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! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 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.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” John 1:29-42

Abraham Lincoln was truly a “John the Baptist” figure. Why would I say that? Well, let’s see – Abe Lincoln was a relative unknown, coming out of the wilderness of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois to become President of the United States, and whose elocution truly raised him up as a political figure. John the Baptist, too, came out of the wilderness, living off locusts, dressing in camel’s hair, and was known for his fiery rhetoric. Abe Lincoln was, at times, a tortured man – it was believed that he struggled with depression most of his life, often called “melancholia” at that time – besides having to deal with the immensity of the Civil War. John the Baptist, it seems, must also have been tortured with his own “demons”, preaching and struggling with religious leaders, like Herod who eventually put him into prison and had him killed. And Abraham Lincoln and John the Baptist were both men pointing to something bigger than themselves – Lincoln to a country without slavery (a house divided against itself cannot stand…this government cannot endure…half slave and half free), and John the Baptist to the arrival of the Messiah (Look, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world).

Abe Lincoln and John the Baptist both are remembered for their words as well as their actions. Both, though driven by fears, were not afraid to say the things the world needed to hear in great times of distress. No, you and I are not Abe Lincoln, or John the Baptist, but you and I do have a voice – a voice that needs to proclaim what Jesus has done for us, even when we are afraid to speak. The word never spoken is the opportunity that never happened for one more person to hear of the love of Jesus. We may not change the world with our voice, but we may change the world-view of one person to whom we do share our voice.

Pastor Dave

January 14, 2023 – “Come and See”

“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” John 1:43-51

Upon hearing the call from Jesus, Philip runs like the wind to his friend Nathanael – who seems to have feet of clay. Now it seems to me that Philip seems compelled to tell someone about this man Jesus whom he has met, and the one he tells does not share in his enthusiasm. Philip and Nathanael were friends, so Philip should have had some idea that Nathanael might not share his enthusiasm about Jesus. Is there something about this Jesus that would compel him – would compel many of his followers to do things that might go against their nature? We see it time and time again. One by one the followers of Jesus meet him, become entranced by him, drop whatever they were doing and then run out and tell others including their family and their closest friends. It was the history of the early church – it is the reason that the church grew – and grew so quickly in the first 100 years. It was a story told and shared face to face – one on one.  How beautiful are the feet of those compelled to tell others to “come and see”.

You know, we worry so much about how to grow the church – how to get new members – how to increase our numbers. The best evangelism program that ever existed, existed at the very beginning of the church. One person, having been impacted by Jesus in such a way that it reaches deep into their heart, that it changes their life, one person turning to their neighbor, or relative, or friend, or even the lady at the grocery store who bakes their bread, and inviting them to “come and see.”

Let us pray: Dear G-d, give me the strength today to endure whatever comes my way. And no matter what this day might bring, help me to share your love in both word and deed. Amen.

Pastor Dave