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Passionate About Jesus
Epiphany II
January 16, 2011
John 1:29-42
I served a congregation in a rural community for a number of years and I was quite taken by the passion that farmers exhibited for the color of their machinery.
- Some could only see green
- They had green combines and tractors
- They wore green jackets and hats
- We suspected they wore green underwear
- Some could only see red
- Same passion for red that others had for green
And there were endless conversations at the countryside cafe about the attributes of green tractors and red tractors.
- It approached an evangelistic zeal - looking for conversions. I mean real passionate loyalty
- It did help that the green dealer was a member of my congregation and the red guy was a Catholic
Some people have the same passion for politics.
- Some people can only see red and they have elephants on their shelves
- They hark back to Eisenhower and Reagan
- They are absolutely sure that a government run by blue people will be the downfall of the country
- Some people like blue and they recall Truman and Kennedy - the good old days
- Red people are held in suspicion - and once again our very soul is at stake
And it seems to be a part of our nature that we place loyalties on our choices.
- Sometimes these are passionate loyalties
Following Jesus is a choice.
- One choice among many. We don't have a color for Jesus
- You don't have to be a follower of Jesus. Many people are not
Frankly, I can't imagine life without Jesus.
- In fact - I am passionate about Jesus
- To the point that when I hear people argue with passion about their green or red tractor, their red or blue political party, their school, their football team, I hope that they'll feel this way about Jesus. I want people to be taken up in spirit and have a passionate loyalty to live with Jesus at the center. I am even jealous for this to be the case.
In the Gospel today John the Baptist makes this claim: Jesus is the Lamb of God.
- In Jesus something extraordinary is happening and it deserves our attention
- It deserves our Loyalty
Two of John's disciples take his words to heart and they begin to make a switch in who they are going to follow.
- Jesus invites them to move more deeply into faith.
- In the midst of all the choices you make about the important things in this life, Jesus invites a passionate loyalty on your part to move more deeply into faith.
I love the very last verses of the gospel. Andrew found his brother, Simon, and he brought him to Jesus. He said to his brother...Come and See.
And Simon's life was forever changed...really changed
Following Jesus...for him it became a matter of life and death
What would it take for you to be like Andrew and to bring a brother or sister to Jesus?
What would it take - when you are having a cup of coffee at the Stonehouse on a Saturday morning and you see a friend or neighbor who you happen to know doesn't attend a church. What would it take as you visited for you to say...by the way, why don't you join us tomorrow when we go to worship? I would like to show you something...come and see. What would it take to tell a good friend about your walk with Jesus and what it means to you?
What would it take to say Come and See!
I know that for me to invite you to come and see. I must have confidence in this Jesus.
- I must believe that the same thing that happened to Simon, to Paul and to the early followers of Christ on Easter Sunday, the same thing will happen and has happened to me and to you.
- I need confidence that in a world that seems to be a prodigal world that has forgotten its way, that this Lord has what it takes to center us again.
- I need confidence that the scripture I read is a helpful, guiding, Word for all of life - most important when I leave this sanctuary to move into the homes, relationships and work places of the week ahead.
- I need confidence that the prayers we offer up open our very persons to a life giving God.
We have found the messiah, Andrew told his brother. I have confidence in this Lord of life. Come and See.
Second, this Jesus is going to grow us. Life in Christ doesn't stop with the invitation to come and see.
John the Baptist makes an interesting observation...I didn't know him at first until I saw the Dove descending. Now I know him.
Andrew called him Rabbi and then later...the messiah.
Jesus is going to grow us into this faith.
- That's why we come here week after week to worship-to pray - to hear this word.
- That's why we read scripture and live with others in this faith community. It's why we really do need small groups and bible studies.
- That's why we have holy friends, people who can pray with and for and talk about how this faith life and every day life are integrated into a whole.
By the way, parents and grand parents, we also grow our children and invite them to come and see.
- the passion we have for sports, fishing, hunting, skiing...the skills we want our sons and daughters to have...how about the same burning desire to teach them to pray and life with Jesus at the center of their lives.
Jesus is going to grow us and, in our growing, it's worth it to come and see.
Four years ago, the Centered-Life group at Luther Seminary asked me to make a contact with Sherron Watkins when I was in Houston on Seminary business.
Sherron is known as the Enron whistle blower - not quite accurate.
We had heard that her actions came from a deep faith conviction. That Christian vocation had to do with work place, church, community and family.
- We spent 2.5 hours together talking about the role that faith played in her final days at Enron.
- She was the Vice Pres. for development and she was concerned about her company, to the point that it was keeping her awake.
- She went to her Pastor with her concerns.
- She had a difficult time coming home to her husband and 2 year old.
- She knew that life would be changed because of her concerns.
But, she has this confidence in Jesus...who has grown her and fills life with hope.
I found her to be a woman who was living in a faith where Christ is at the center and it has given her peace. Certainly Jesus was light in a time when there was a deep, disturbing darkness.
Come and see...Jesus first invites us......
- to live in this faith confidence
- to grow us
- and to be a sign of hope for this world - to be light.
And then he sends us out to invite others...to come and see.
We have found the Christ.....and all of life is now changed.
Amen
Rev. Glenn Taibl, Interim
Senior Pastor
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, Minnesota
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