Epiphany 2B - Come and See

Instead of telling you “the rest of the story,” I’m going to go back and tell you the first of the story. We’ve come in on day two of the calling of disciples in John’s gospel. It reads a little different from the synoptic gospels where we hear about Peter and Andrew and James and John fishing on their boats. In this gospel, two of John’s disciples hear him call Jesus “the Lamb of God.” And they leave John to go follow Jesus. Those disciples are Andrew and the unnamed disciple. In John’s gospel, the unnamed disciple usually represents John himself.

Jesus turns around and sees them following and he asks them a question – he says, “What do you want?” I think this is probably a question that he asks each of us anytime we walk into a church or a religious gathering of any kind. Jesus asks, “What is it that you came here seeking?” Are you seeking comfort? Do you want answers? It is healing you desire? Are you looking for a better life? A way to heal the brokenness in your life? In your marriage? In your children? Are you looking for someone who will simply be with you during the hard times of life? Areyou looking for a relationship that can begin to answer all these questions and even more?

When the disciples answer, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” it is more than just the first thing they could think of to say. It meant that they were seeking something more than just a passing acquaintance. They wanted to spend time with him and get to know him better, to learn the things he could teach them. And Jesus answered their question with, “Come and see.” In other words, he allowed them to come with him and to stay with him. Andrew, during this time was so excited, that he ran to get his brother, telling him, “We have found the Messiah.” So nowJesus already has three disciples – Andrew, Simon Peter, and John.

Our story takes up the next day. The setting is Galilee and Jesus finds Philip and tells him, “Follow me.” This is the same message that Jesus still issues to us today, “follow me.” He doesn’t say, “if you are good enough,” or “if you are holy enough,” or “if you are without sin.” He simply offers all people the same invitation, “Follow me.”

One doctrine of Christian theology says that we pursue God because, and only because God first put the urge in us that calls us to follow him. It is Jesus calling us to follow him. Oh, we don’t necessarily hear a voice like Samuel did, or like Philip did, but we are made in the image of God. And that part made in his image, that spirit, always calls us back to the God whose image it is. “Follow me.”

Philip is already friends with Peter and Andrew, and so he runs and gets Nathanael. He tells him that he has found the Messiah, who is Jesus of Nazareth. Now remember that Nazareth is a little back water town several miles from the Sea of Galilee. It might be like saying, “We’ve found the Messiah. He’s from Seabrook.” And Nathanael is skeptical – “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip doesn’t give him any long speeches or try to persuade him. He simply says, “Come and see.” The same words Jesus had said to Andrew and John the day before. This is the theme throughout this gospel – come and see. Come and see what Jesus is like. Come and see what God can do for you. Come and see for yourself. And so Nathanael comes, with his doubts, with his questions, he comes to see.

Jesus invites each of us to come and see. Bring your questions – bring your doubts. He can answer all your questions and lay all your doubts to rest. When Jesus sees Nathanael, he makes a statement, “Here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” And Nathanael’s response was, “How do you know me?” When we meet someone new and they say something like, “Oh, I’ve heard about you…” You always wonder, ”What did you hear? Was it good? Was it bad?”

And Jesus tells him, “I saw you under the fig before Philip called you…” The answer lies in our Psalm 139 today, “Lord, you have searched me out and known me. . . you discern my thoughts from afar. . . There is not a word on my lips, but you know it altogether. . . “ And we might ask as Nathanael, how do you know. . . verses 12 and 13 of our psalm tell us, “For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I will thank you because I am marvelously made. . . “

Jesus sees each of us before we come to him. He knows the shape we are in. He knows what is troubling us. He knows the things we’ve done and said. And still he invites us in. “Come and see.”

Jesus: the imprint of God's very being.

From today's reading: Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being. Hebrews 1:1-2

I can remember a time when I used to say, "God is God. What more is there to say?" What I came to understand is that what we believe about God will permeate both our view of the world and our relationships with the people around us. If we believe that God is a vengeful, judgmental god, then that going to affect how we see the world and how we treat others. If we see God as a creator/clockmaker, then we will believe that he has less interaction with us. If we see God as someone apart who demands strict obedience and constant worship, then that again affects us in a different way.

Today's passage acknowledges that God has spoken in various ways through the years, and those have been interpreted by the people who heard him speak. But in these last days He has sent a Son - Jesus - who is a reflection of God's glory. Jesus is the exact imprint of God's very being.

Jesus Christ came so that we might have a more clear understanding of God and his love and purpose for us. Jesus is passionate about God's love for the whole world; for us individually as well as the human race, because we are made in God's image. If we want to know what God is like, look at Jesus - the compassion he has for all people. He only judged those who set themselves up as judge: he never demanded obedience or worship of himself: he involved himself in the lives of others with compassion. He is the imprint of God's very being.

Epiphany

From today's reading: The wise men set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Matthew 2:9-10

Today is the Epiphany. Yesterday was the last day of Christmas and in some cultures, today is the day when gifts are given to remember the wise men who brought gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. This marks the first sign or manifestation of Jesus as Son of God to the Gentiles. The word epiphany means a sudden intuitive perception or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something. Today's epiphany is the realization that Jesus is destined to be the "King of the Jews." As we progress through the season of Epiphany, there will be many more revelations of who Jesus is and what he is destined to become.

If we look at epiphany is a divine manifestation, what are the epiphanies that have occurred in your life? How has God made himself known to you? What other revelations has God given to you? We have a God who has dared to become one of us and who delights to interact with us. Where are those times that God has interacted with you? These are the times some of us call our "Moment closest to Christ," - those moments when we know that God is active in our life.

The Holy Name of Jesus

From today's reading: Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:19-21

Today is the day that we celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus. Below are the words to the song written by Edith McNeill.

Chorus 1

Bless the holy name of Jesus, Jesus,

Praise His glorious name.

Lord of life and our Redeemer,

Savior, glory to His name.

Verse 1

Jesus our Shepherd

Our light and salvation,

Ev'ry day the same.

Bless the holy name of Jesus,

Jesus, glory to His name

Verse 2

Jesus, we worship You,

We praise and adore You,

We exalt Your name.

Bless the holy name of Jesus,

Jesus, glory to His name.

Thomas a Becket

From today's reading: And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it. 2 John 1:6

I have talked about the commandments on any number of occasions. Some people like to harp on particular commandments, but I prefer to understand them as a whole before looking at the individual commandments. Looked at as a whole, they are the sum of everything that we need in order to live a life in harmony with God, with nature and with our fellow man; in other words what we need to live a life of love. The first four teach us what we need to live in relation to God; and the last six teach us what we need to live in relation to each other. They are about treating each other with respect and when we respect other people, regardless of who they are, then we are indeed showing them the love of God.

The following is the beginning of an interesting article concerning today's saint by James Kiefer; "On December 29, we remember Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, slain in his own cathedral in 1170, for his defiance of King Henry II. The death of Thomas reminds us that a Christian, even when safe from pagans, can be in danger from his fellow-Christians. It also reminds us that one can be martyred in a cause where the merits of the particular issue at hand are not obvious to all men of good will."

To read the whole article please go to: http://www.missionstclare.com/english/December/morning/29m.html

Holy Innocents

From today's reading: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' 2He called a child, whom he put among them, 3and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Today is the day we remember the "holy innocents." In the gospel of Matthew we hear the story about Herod, who was fearful of losing his power to an infant king. He sent soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all male children under the age of 2 years old. On this occasion we remember all chilldren who died in their infancy, or who were stillborn or who never reached birth.

Lord, we know you receive into your heavenly presence all those who have died before their time. Please comfort their parents who sorrow at their loss and especially those who never had the opportunity hold their baby. Amen.

Stephen, the first Martyr

From today's reading: Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. . . The authorities set up false witnesses against Stephen. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Acts 6:8, 7:59

Stephen was one of the first seven ordained as deacons to help continue the work of the new church. He was called to assist the apostles in ministering to the poor and the hungry. He showed the kind of pure love that Jesus himself had for all people, and he died for that unswerving devotion to Jesus. If we could only have a part of the devotion of Stephen, imagine what we could do for the Lord and for the world.