No Question About It

     Please read John 1:29-42.  We need a spark and then a flame to fan a fire.  Like a wildfire, good news spreads quickly.  We post it, text it, and put signs on our front lawns.  When good news is in our hearts, we are eager to share it.  Right? 

     John announces, “Look, here’s the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world!”  There’s a confidence in his voice as he takes the stage to offer his testimony.  In one sentence, John summarizes the gospel story.  He is giving the evidence needed to propel his community.  

     Many were expecting a king, a mighty conqueror, a royal leader equipped to restore, but Jesus did not fit that mold.  They were introduced to a baby, who grew up locally, was raised in a modest family and became an itinerant preacher. The people were not open to God’s plan and John redirected them.   

     Did you notice that the word sin is singular?  John is highlighting that as a people we were alienated from God because of sin and in Christ, all transgressions have been removed.   God, in his infinite love for us, mended the breach recovering our relationship with Him. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are reconciled, forgiven, and granted eternal life.

     In an effort to prove the truth, John did what we all do – he detailed what he saw. Confidently, he testified that the Holy Spirit came down and remained on Jesus, proving beyond a shadow of the doubt that Jesus was the Messiah.  With conviction John, respected in the community, described God’s work. His word had weight.  Is that something we have?  Conviction and enthusiasm when talking about Jesus?  If not, let’s consider how we can.  Some immediate suggestions are: becoming more familiar with Scripture, speaking aloud about our beliefs, and living in a way which emulates Christ.

     John exuberantly introduced, Jesus, the Messiah, the One they were waiting…the Savior who was sent by the Father as the living sacrifice for our sake.  And now, about 2000 years later some are still trying to save themselves with gimmicks and hacks, when the solution is not saving ourselves but instead receiving Jesus’ invitation. 

     Jesus’ first words to the two were, “What do you want?”  He is serious and needed to gauge their commitment.  Let that be our question…What do we want?  What do you really want from Jesus?  Without a pause, the two asked for the details about his stay.  They were intrigued, they wanted to know more, they wanted to be with him, learn from him…they chose to follow him.

     They were invited to come and see.  Jesus invited the two disciples to come and without hesitation, they went.  He invites us, too.  Come is a sentence and command.  In Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  But do we come?  Do we give Jesus our struggles and depend on His strength?  And in John we hear Jesus saying, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.'"  Do we come?  Are we leaping into the arms of our Savior like a child rescued from lost and found or halfheartedly meeting Him?

     Something to consider is that the first one who responded to the call was not the loudest, nor the most popular for the rest of the journey, nor in Jesus’ inner circle…it was Andrew.  It was Andrew, an ember, the one who brought his brother Peter to Christ.  It was Andrew who trusted in Jesus’ provision finding the boy with five loaves and two small fish and introducing 5000+ to Jesus.  Andrew, the quiet one, was the impetus – beginning the Good News delivery that has now been received by more than 2.6 billion worldwide. This news started with an enthusiastic spark, a faithful follower.

     Whether The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., Pope John Paul, The Reverend Billy Graham, Nelson Mandela or Deitrich Bonhoeffer each alone is but an ember, like Andrew, like us, but with God all things are possible.  We need to be the spark--creating a chain reaction, igniting energy.  Let’s share true enthusiasm for Jesus.  Let us live out our call, abiding in and resting in our good, good God.  And all God’s people say, amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Kerry   

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