Following Jesus, MLK Weekend, Jan. 15, 2017

Jesus turns and asks, "What are you looking for?" That's not a bad question for us. What are we looking for? We gather here for many reasons. We are here to worship. Perhaps some of us are here to find comfort or support. Maybe we are looking for an insight to help us live better, or some words of wisdom to help us cope with the crazy world in which we live. The disciples were following the instructions of John and they were following the one to whom he pointed.

John has an odd message. He tells a story about how he would know the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He tells about seeing the Spirit descend upon Jesus like a dove. He calls him the Lamb of God. Behind all of these odd and cryptic words is a sorting out of place and power. John is powerful and his message is compelling. He is only preparing us for another. I think sometimes we have forgotten to move on. We accept that we must be forgiven and cleansed from sin. Are we ready for the next step?

Two of John's disciples follow this Lamb of God (whatever that means.) Jesus turns and asks them what they are looking for. They ask, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Some scholars believe that this is a polite way of inquiring if Jesus is taking on any students. His response, "Come and see," is a welcome to learn from him. It may not seem like a change has happened, except that these disciples have taken on a new teacher. This is also a different kind of commitment.

The work of teacher, or master and disciple is to learn how to live. The disciple doesn't simply learn truths. The disciple desires to become like the master. These disciples are following Jesus. This is what we need to reclaim. We are not coming before Jesus to simply learn more facts. We are here to become like Jesus. Certainly, we believe that Jesus is our messiah, and that we are somehow saved through his life and work. We also believe that we participate in this work of salvation - far more than accepting the truth of it.

As I have been observing, the prophecy we hear from Isaiah points to a future messiah. We cannot help but see how this promise is fulfilled in Jesus. If we pay attention to the work that is described, we see how it can also refer to the people who are saved. The people who are saved become the ones who participate in saving the whole world. "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

This is an enormous challenge. We worry about it in our time. We worry about sharing the good news and about bringing people to God. It seems beyond our ability. How do we talk about Jesus? Will people take us seriously? Will they be offended? Who are we to be so presumptuous? On the other hand, we assume that folks in mega churches have it all figured out, because they are all growing by leaps and bounds and have people packing in on Sunday. I'm not sure either narrative is completely true. The problem for us is that we assume that God's work must follow the way that we are used to working. We collect our assets and use our gifts and talents in the best possible way, hoping that we can convince other people of the truth we know.

We have to unlearn our way of doing things. Jesus doesn't want us to work harder or be smarter. Jesus wants us to follow him. We worry about many things. We want to collect enough money and people to do all the work. Jesus wants us to become like him. We can't imagine how this will help. We are anxious about all our losses. We see ourselves losing ground. Jesus only cares about how we are being changed.

Paul writes the beginning of his letter to the church in Corinth using the format of his day. In naming his audience, he already begins to suggest that the church is bigger than they know. They are very proud of who they are. They are proud of their many spiritual gifts. Those who have many charismatic gifts are especially proud. In his prayer of thanks, Paul acknowledges their many gifts, and also suggests the true purpose. God is making them ready for fellowship with God (and isn't it nice how blessed they are in the present.) Later, Paul will chide them how they use their gifts to divide instead of unite. He will remind them that love is better than prophecy or tongues. We secretly desire great charismatic gifts (of some sort) so that we might draw people by attraction. This is not what we are about.

All we have is Jesus. Interesting programs of beautiful music or the latest technology might make us feel attractive, but it is not the gospel - it is not the good news. The hopeful truth is that God chooses to save us and love us no matter what. God's love does not depend on our attractiveness. It does not depend upon our cleverness. It does not depend upon our wealth or our talents or our building or our heritage. God chooses to love us. Jesus invites us into a way of life so that we might begin to be transformed by the truth of it.

The disciples follow Jesus. That is the work of the disciple - to follow and to become like the master. The disciples (and John) immediately begin to invite others along with them. John gives up his work to share his disciples with Jesus. Andrew finds his brother to come along with them. No one waited until they understood everything or until they had reached some form of mastery. The good news of God's love is not a concept to be unraveled. The good news is too good to keep to ourselves. We are meant to share it as we know it, in all our confusion and imperfection.

It is not that we are so much better than anyone else, or that we know something that others don't. We have been given life and peace. The truth of it is best seen in the living of it. We declare it by loving our neighbor. We proclaim it by setting aside common knowledge and treating the stranger as a sister or a brother. We show the truth and power of God by following Jesus, and ignoring all the other markers of success and fame that we are tempted to follow.

Tomorrow, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day. We remember his powerful words and actions. We know we cannot speak or inspire like he did. For him, change was not about being articulate or powerful. He urged people to become like Christ. It is the transformation of people to be like Jesus that gives them the power to change the world.

We may think we are powerless and that our words and actions will not amount to anything. In a sense that is correct - but we are not acting alone. It is God who has saved us and given us a way of life. God's words and God’s will acting through us will always make a difference. We only need the courage to follow and trust God for the result.