Come and See John 1

Come and See

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

17 Jan 2021

Sermon based upon John 1:35-51, Psalm 139 and 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Friends, Neighbors, Beloved,

This week in Epiphany picks up right after the baptism where the Spirit descending upon Jesus in full splendor. We talked a bit last week about how baptism gives us birth into the new life with Christ. Let our hearts be guided by the Spirit. 

When I was young, our family didn’t have a lot of money. If I wanted something, I had to earn it, or had to find ways to make a few bucks (mowing lawns, shoveling snow, walking beans, bailing hay). Yet, there is always this temptation to ask for more than what we could afford. 

People like to look around - compare ourselves to each other. We like shiny things, and that can get us into trouble. Why do we do this and who are we trying to impress? What do we trade for all of those shiny things, and are these shiny things really all that exciting? When we let this attitude guide us, we let society define our wealth, our worth, and what is good without recognizing the honest and good person inside. What does that say about us?

Yes we want to improve ourselves, but we also need to recognize the true beauty in uniqueness. There is real value and worth in that.

Starting in John 1: 35 where John tells his son Andrew about Jesus. Andrew then asks Jesus “where are you going?” which Jesus replies, “Come and See.” Jesus didn’t ask for credit application, creeds, or political leanings; Jesus takes Andrew “as-is.”  Andrew gets this encounter with Jesus. After this, Andrew wants to introduce Jesus to Simon Peter.  Then, Jesus continues and finds Philip “as-is.” Philip in turn tells Nathanael, “Come and See.”  Just like that, Jesus has followers.  

What just happened here?  In this season of Epiphany, it is about the revelation and manifestation of Christ and the Spirit working. Thus, Jesus finds Andrew and Andrew calls upon Simon (whose name changes to Peter). Jesus finds Philip to “follow me” who in turn calls upon Nathanael. 

Nathanael even questions the possibility that anything coming out of Nazareth being good. We have heard people say that before all around us. Yet, Nathanael takes the call from Philip to “come and see.” They decided to come and see. Why did Andrew and Philip do this?  

Jesus sees people “as-is” – beautiful and broken. Again, Jesus didn’t stop these at the door and ask for creeds, qualifications or skills. Jesus said “come and see.”  That is an invitation, but it is a multi-way invitation. When we invite Jesus in turn, we get that welcoming encounter.

In the Season of Epiphany, we are invited into the presence of the One and invited to share that presence with the wider community. We are reminded of our own encounter with Jesus through our baptismal call. Through that baptism, we are tasked to call upon others to “Come and see” – to have their own encounter.

I doubt many people would honestly drop everything when a random person comes up to us and says “follow me,” but there is something unique and captivating about Jesus. We know people like this that do not judge us but invite us “as-is.” We want others to meet them. That is true value.

We know well that following Jesus is not simple because this tasks us to be honest about our expectations. When we do, we let Jesus encounter us and work us.

Again… Following Jesus is not just a simple one way transaction. It is more than just saying “Here I am” as Samuel said. Samuel embraced, and let the Spirit become him. Though our baptism, we are called to be fishers of people, and like Andrew and Philip, we are to invite others into the encounter so that they might experience that presence too. 

Thing is that when you let that encounter happen, you don’t have to put up your guard or force Jesus into some expectation because as we said last week, the Truth is the Truth, and Truth will set you free. Part of the revelation is that Jesus does not always fit into our expectations but rather gives us so much more than we can imagine. 

That Spirit helps us to seek beyond divides and into the hearts of our neighbors. There is no hiding or mischief here.  There is no deception but there is that invitation – not just for you and me but for us to share.  

Just think of those times when you prayed and when you felt the hope, you felt your heart being tickled by the Spirit.  Those times when you look at the world and realize just how beautiful our world is whether glistening snow, calm flowing creek, colorful flowers, happy puppy, or embracing love of family and friends. 

Not having a lot of money was difficult, but we learned to appreciate the truly valuable – like family, Church and humility. I believe that Jesus was there for us.

With the new year, you might be thinking about resolutions (or what’s left of them), but it is never too late to start again – to renew. You can look in the mirror, say “here I am” and know that you are wonderfully made – as-is!

When that happens, when you really want it, when you let the Spirit happen to you, you cannot help it - then you want to share that feeling - that joy.  You get excited about what happened to you and how Jesus makes you feel. That is why Andrew finds Peter and Philip tells Nathanael “come and see.” Because they experienced the full presence and they want to share that great feeling.

There is no trickery and no peer pressure, just the pure grace that invited you into the Church, the community with the Spirit among and within each of us. Take that cue from Jesus!

So leave your worry, your struggle, your expectations, let us experience the possibility, the grace. Remember that you may feel broken at times and yes there are many shiny things around us to distract us, but you are “wonderfully made,” the Lord knows you and the Lord is there for you!

So together, let us come and see. 

Thanks Be to God