John 1:29-42.                      Look to and follow Jesus???                                        15/1/17

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Here in Epiphany we are encouraged to think about how we see Jesus, and our reaction to him when we see him as he would have us. Here again it ties in with the message of last week, where we all too often want to look at Jesus in terms of how we want to see him; rather than as he has revealed himself to us.

When we do this we are committing a grievous sin and are placing our salvation in serious jeopardy. Today we have many so called ‘christians’ who merely look to Jesus as one who has great teaching for us to follow; or is a great example as to how we are to live our lives; or he is a loving god who simply accepts us all as we are, so that we can live as we would like; or he is a distant God to whom I need to please if I am to be acceptable; Or yes, he died for our sins, but we have to do our bit too; and more.

In all of this we are determining who this Jesus is and what we would like of him. As I said last week this is a sin against the First Commandment. It is making ourselves the decider of what we believe and follow. We are making idols of ourselves and of God himself, also. For we are not looking to him, who is God Almighty himself, as that which is all important. And we are not heeding him and what he says, as of first importance.

In this reading, right at the beginning of Jesus ministry we have John telling us who this Jesus really is and why he is so important. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Here is the heart of who this Jesus is, and why so many want to change who this Jesus is for themselves.

This Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the one who was to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. This is the one whom God had promised that he would send to do that which was necessary for humanity to be restored back into God’s presence. The very reason why this terrible situation is there for us, is that right from the Fall in the Garden of Eden, humanity has refused to listen to and heed God and what he has said to us.

The results of this Fall is that we have not only brought death on ourselves, but all manner of troubles, hardships and disasters. They are our doing! We all too often want to blame God for all that is wrong. But we had perfection and the very best of everything placed before us to enjoy. Nothing bad or evil was there. But we chose and choose to want to be like God and have control over our lives. Our selfish pride does not want to be subject to God and his Word. And we have reaped the sad rewards.

However, God in his love for us sets about rectifying the situation. In Old Testament times he told the people that when they sinned they were to sacrifice a lamb so that that God could forgive them. The power for that sacrifice was the one whom God would send as the true Lamb of God who would be the real sacrifice for the sin of humanity: once for all. Their sacrifices were to help them to look to, trust and receive their true saviour.  

Later the promise also was associated with the promised Messiah, whom God would send to save and rule over his people. Here again was clear direction that God was going to come to take care of humanities sin. Here John the Baptist points to Jesus and says: ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

So here in Jesus we have this one who is absolutely critical to the salvation of us all. He alone is the one who enables forgiveness of sins, life and salvation to be ours. He has done everything necessary for us to again be able to live in God’s presence. All as a free gift extended to all who are prepared to believe it and live in light of it. Without what he did for us on the cross we would be destined to an eternity in hell. So surely we will hold him up as being all important in our lives.

Yet what do we find? Our sinful human pride does not want to acknowledge that our sin is so bad. We are basically good people who just do a few bad things. If we ignore and change God’s laws and commands, then we will not be accountable. Anyway God is a loving God so I can get on with living my life as I please and he will still let me into heaven in the end. Yes, we still want control over our own lives and be able to do what we think is right and good.

However, the Bible, which is God’s revealed Word to us tell us quite clearly that these are not acceptable responses. At the very heart of this thinking it is still me, myself and I, seeking to have control over our own lives. Yet God tells us quite clearly that it is through Jesus Christ alone that we are saved. He still calls of us to acknowledge that he truly is Lord of all.

Here remember also that John tells us that this Jesus is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. In our baptism God has connected us to himself and to all that Jesus has done for us through his death and resurrection. As well we are told here that there he gives us his Holy Spirit, to help us to see, know, believe and follow this one who is all important; Jesus Christ.

On our own we are incapable of doing all of this because of our sinful nature. So he gives us his Spirit to enable us to do all that we need in order to look, believe and follow our Lord. So even there we are promised all the help necessary. He has and wants to do everything for us so that it all can be ours. Unfortunately, many are too stubborn and arrogant to allow themselves to believe.

Here though we need to remember that the Holy Spirit is here with us to point us to Jesus and what he has done for us through his death and resurrection. Everything he informs us of is in accord with what we have in the Bible. With him there is nothing more or extra, as many today are saying. That is not the work of the Holy Spirit, but the devil, the world and our sinful selves. No The Holy Spirit seeks to help us to know and believe what God has given to us in his Word; the Bible.

Here also remember that he is here to help us to believe that God is all important in our lives. His whole aim is to help us have him first in our lives: to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, with all of soul, with all of our mind, and with all of our strength. Not just a little bit. Not just now and again when it suits us; and the like.

He is also with us to enable us to follow him. Again this surely has the idea that this Jesus is that important that we will want to be with him and do what he wants us to do. Rather than we doing what we want and Jesus is just there to fill the gaps. That means that we will want to be with him week after week in his house so that he can strengthen and encourage us for our daily walk with him. We will want to hear what he has to say to us, so that he can guide us in all that we do.

We will regularly come to him and confess our sins and receive his absolution. We will take him at his word and come to his Altar Rail and receive his Body and Blood so that we can be further reassured of the forgiveness, life and salvation that he has for us. It also means that we are reassured that he is with us as we go about our daily lives. So we will then be seeking to live, act and speak, knowing that he is with us always. What he sees as important so will we. What he is doing so also will we want do the same.

From this reading we can readily see that those who were following him were keen to tell others who the Jesus really is and why he is important. They also had the aim of bringing these other people into Jesus presence. For without Jesus they are doomed to hell. So this was vital for them and their love for family, friends and others.

So we a reminded that this Jesus has been revealed to us as that which is all important. He is not someone who is to be treated lightly. And he is not just one way among many others that we can find salvation and life. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! He is God’s promised Messiah who has come as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

So may he now be all important in all that we think, say and do. May his Holy Spirit help us look to, believe, follow and point others to him, for he alone is our true hope and salvation. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish