Epiphany 2
JOHN 1:29-42
19 January 2020
“Come and See”
Lord Jesus,
You became obedient to death and Your name was exalted above all others. Teach
us always to do the Father’s will, so that, made holy by Your obedience and united
in Your sacrifice, we can know your great love even in times of sorrow to sing
a new song to our God now and forever.
– Collect for Psalm 40
A wise preacher once said that in John’s simple
announcement, “Behold the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world,” we have a perfect summary of the
entire Gospel. Everything else is merely
commentary.
In Jesus’ day a lamb had two important meanings for
believers. First, the lamb conveyed a sense of innocence and purity. Much like
the image of the Suffering Servant which we read about from the prophet Isaiah:
“he was oppressed and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and
like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
[Isaiah 52: 7]
Secondly the lamb was also the central symbol of God’s
deliverance of his people from their bondage in Egypt. An event commemorated by
the slaughter of a lamb for the celebration of Passover.
John takes the symbol of the lamb and relates it not
just to the Passover but also to human sinfulness. John’s Gospel makes it clear
that this Lamb of God is not exclusively for Israel but for everyone. “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the
sin of the world.”
We must remember that Christians are not born. Christians
are invited by those who are a part of the Church and, therefore, determined to
repeat the precious words of John. “Behold
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
A critical conversation grew out of an exchange
between Jesus and several individuals. Who, up until now, were disciples of
John the Baptist. John encouraged his followers to change their allegiance to
Jesus. Many of them, like Andrew, were trying to determine what that would
mean. They were wise enough to know that they would gain wisdom by
participation and observation. So they asked Jesus where he was staying. Jesus responded
by saying simply, “Come and see.”
That simple invitation. Come and see. Launched the Jesus Movement. Before long Andrew
invited his brother, Peter. And, then Peter invited countless others to come
and see the one they were quickly convinced was the Messiah, the Promised One.
Christians do not impose. Christians invite. Those
people whose lives were changed experience a transformation. Not because they
were threatened. No, they were changed by a gentle invitation: Come and see. No one told them to make a
decision for Christ. No one directed them to master any spiritual laws. There’s
no training manual or program. No one
told them to give the right answer to that anxious question … “If you were to die tonight, do you know
where you will spend eternity?” No, the people who became followers of
Jesus were those who accepted that simple invitation to come and see.
This invitation, “come
and see” continues. Welcome to our Friedheim family – the house of peace. We have a worship life that enriches and
strengthens those who come. We have a parish life that gives individuals a
sense of belonging. A feeling of participation in a community of values. This
congregation is determined to be more caring toward those in need; feeding
literally thousands through our Pack Away Hunger campaign. Touching the lives
of grieving families who have lost infant children. By simply living your life
in your given station of life – your calling your life’s work is to become the
hands and feet the fingers and toes of Jesus.[2]
Might we do more? The
possibilities are endless. Yet it all starts with a conversation, and an
invitation. Come and see Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world.
Words- 700
Passive Sentences-7%
Readability-70%
Reading Level -6.5
[1] Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts copyright © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
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