John 1:29-42
During Christmas and Epiphany, we've been reading the stories about Jesus’ birth and the Jewish prophecies that people connected with Jesus - declaring that he was the chosen one or the Messiah that they were expecting. He would be the one who confronted their difficult situation as a conquered people and set them free.
Today and next Sunday we're reading the stories about how the adult Jesus began a movement to do exactly that - address the harsh realities of life in first century Palestine and free people to live in new ways. We know (from the perspective of centuries later) that this movement wasn't what they expected. We also know that it was world-changing.
The gospels agree with slight variations that this movement began with John the Baptizer who was calling people to change and follow God in new ways. He wanted to reform the injustice of society by asking people to re-commit to their faith and make faith principles the foundation for their life choices and behaviors. Scholars believe that Jesus was first a disciple of John. He was attracted to John's call for change in society beginning with change in people's hearts. Like many movements, the disciple becomes an even greater leader. Today's scripture talks about how John saw Jesus as the one to expand his message and John's disciples became the core of Jesus' disciples.
When John's disciples are considering whether they might be better following Jesus, he asks them a key question: What are you looking for? Here were young men who had been following John, taking time away from work and family, because they wanted something different in life.
They were perhaps the young radicals of their time. Today we'd find them at protests and marches or lobbying at the legislatures. Jesus asks them, "What is it you want?"
It's true that you can't tell if you're in the right place if you don't know where you want to be? You can't change the world unless you know what kind of world you think would be better? Jesus wants people with him who have the potential for caring about the things Jesus sees as essential. He wants them to be on the same page. What he's going to do is going to be hard, and he'll need apprentices who can stick with him in the hard times. So, the question matters to Jesus - are these people who want what he wants. It's also true that it matters to the men who were coming to him. There's no sense giving your life to a work that doesn't match what matters to you. "What do I want?" is a question we all need to ask, probably over and over throughout our lives.
"What do I want?" matters when we choose a church community to be part of as well. For many of us our original communities were chosen for us by our families. or perhaps our families chose that we wouldn't be part of any church. What feels comfortable to us as adults begins with what felt good - or what felt discordant - to us as children. People seek out congregations that match where they started or avoid congregations because they were taught to distrust churches. But what we need from a church change over time.
Sometimes we need a place to belong and feel valued. Our congregation values welcome, and hopefully we live out that value as we interact with those who come through our doors. We need a place that matches our basic idea of how life ought to work. A little challenge from time to time is good for us. A complete disconnect is a sign we need to be somewhere else. We need to be seen and heard by a community. When we're ill or sad or struggling we need some support and comfort. Sometimes we need soup or a hug. When we're celebrating or rocking life we need acknowledgement. We need a place to put our energy to work. Jesus disciples stayed with him because they connected to him as a person, not just as an idea. We all need connection.
We also need meaning and people who share that same sense of meaning. Jesus and his disciples were determined to make life better for the people of their day. We are too. There are lots of ways to define "better." We're here because we have a consensus about justice and inclusion and basic needs being met (food/clothing/shelter/education/work). We don't agree about every detail, but we have a vision that matches what we see a core teachings of Jesus, and we have a commitment to working on some part of that vision. I have a friend that left a discussion group because she wanted to DO something at this moment in her life. We all have needs to learn and needs to act. At particular times in our lives the balance between those two shifts. We can pay attention to the shifts and adjust where we are and what we're about accordingly
It's interesting to me that when the disciples inquire about what Jesus is up to, he doesn't hand them a brochure or give them a mission statement. He says, "Come and see." If you want to know what I'm about, come hang out with me and see for yourself. Try it out and see if it works for you. Those of us who continue to follow Jesus today could use a little "come and see." Come and see why Jesus' words give me hope.
Come and see how Jesus' community supports me in my ups and downs.
Come and see how Jesus' inspires me to make a difference in this community.
Come and see how we work together and play together.
Come and see what this part of the Jesus movement is about.
Often, we assume that church isn't for everyone so we shouldn't bother folks with an invitation to join us. They might be offended. It might end our friendship. Inviting folks to be with us isn't about what we need them to do. (Although sometimes it's been exactly about that!) An invitation is a chance to know people better. What matters to them? What would they like to be involved in? How can we encourage them in the situations they face right now? How can we support them in what they are becoming? If we value our own connection to this community, we can be willing to share it. "Come and see" what we're up to, and if it matches what you are looking for, there's a place for you here.
Just like Jesus, we're building a movement. He's still our guide, but we're the ones doing the work right here, right now. If it matters to us, it may well matter to others. Let's invite them to come and see.