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| Behold the Lamb of God, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld |
363738394041The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed*). He brought Simon* to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter*). The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’423031323334
John 1:29-42
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In our Gospel last week it seemed like John was kind of confused by Jesus showing up to be baptized with all the rest of the sinners. It seemed as though John were expecting a different kind of Messiah. But now John is very clear as to what kind of Messiah Jesus is. John has had a revelation from God.
I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
The Son of God does not come as an army general to wipe out sinners in the world. The Son of God has come as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.
What does that mean? I’m sure those who heard John wondered that as well. Andrew and another disciple decide to follow this Lamb of God. Jesus asks them what are you looking for.
What are you looking for in a Savior? The world is looking for all kinds of things in a savior. We are looking for someone to rescue us, someone to give us simple and easy answers, someone to assure us that we are on the right side. We are looking for
all kinds of things from a Savior that won’t actually save us which is why we are so tempted to chase after false saviors. What are you looking for?
What are you looking for Jesus asks his would be followers. They don’t answer the question. They don’t appear to know what they are looking for. But they are there, with Jesus. And perhaps that is really the beginning of discipleship. Not being so sure of what you are looking for. Not making up your mind before hand what you need in a savior. Not knowing what you are looking for but showing up anyway.
Instead of answering Jesus’ questions, the disciples as a question of their own, “Teacher where are you staying?” Jesus says, “Come and see” and they spend the day with him.
On the surface of it, it seems like a very mundane conversation. You know, at the end of John’s Gospel, he writes that he just didn’t have enough room to write down everything Jesus said and did and one might be tempted to wonder, well if that’s true, why is John wasting time with this meaningless turn of events, the disciples ask where Jesus is staying, he’s shows them and they stay with him.
Ah, but nothing about John is simple or mundane. There is a meaning behind everything.
Jesus, Rabbi, teacher, where are you staying? Where is Jesus? Where does Jesus abide? Where is Jesus? Where is God?
Is that not the question all of us ask? Where is when a mentally tortured man jumps out of a taxi cab at a grocery store and shoots up a crowd of innocent people?
Where is God in the streets of Haiti where people still struggle to survive a year after a devastating earthquake?
Where is God as one after another young American soldiers come home missing limbs or feeling like they are missing parts of their soul after what they have seen in combat?
Where is God in the home of a single mother who decides whether or not to buy groceries or pay for heat this month?
Where is God for the parents who see their son going through a divorce and they don’t know how to help him or take his pain away?
Where is God? The answer, as John the Baptist pointed out is that God is in Christ who is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.
And where is Christ? Christ’s answer—“Come and See.” And what the disciples see is that Jesus is staying right there among them. Why the invitation to come and see? Why not say clearly, “Well I’m right here”?
John’s Gospel is all about light and seeing. And some people see and some people don’t see. In John’s gospel the physically blind often see and it is the seeing self-righteous who are actually blind. There is seeing with your eyes which sometimes can only show us tragedy and darkness. But Jesus invites us to “come and see” with the eyes of faith and hope and trust.
It’s not obvious. Sometimes it seems like God is hiding. Or Christ is sleeping in the back of the boat like when he was with the disciples in the storm. But he was there.
Christ is here. And it’s okay if you aren’t sure what you are looking for because Christ will show you. Come and see. See with faith and hope and trust.
So some people only see tragedy. But others see Christ abiding not only in the midst of suffering and horror, but also where there were acts of courage, and love and compassion and hope that rises out of the tragedies. Where people risked their lives to save others in the shooting in Tucson. Where people leave their comfortable homes and fly to Haiti to do what they can to alleviate the suffering, where someone reaches out in gratitude to the soldier and helps them build a new life, where someone gives to food pantries and places that help with utilities and rent for people who struggle in poverty, where a friend reaches out and doesn’t judge or lecture but simply says “I’m here for you”. That is where Christ is staying. Come and see where Christ is in the midst of pain and suffering and you will see the light that shines in the darkness and you will know that the darkness cannot overcome it.
Come and see where Christ is in the world, where Christ is the Lamb of God who is even now, taking away the sin, not just of you and me, not just of the good guys, not just the church, but taking away the sin of the world.
Come and see where Christ abides. And stay with him. And you will be part of that Light that shines in the dark. And from his fullness we have received grace upon grace. Amen.
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