Bible Text: John 1:29-42 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes |
We have all been there. We have all been at a gathering of people, a dinner party say,
and as you are introduced to people, inevitably the question of, “and what do you do?” comes
up. For the most part this is an innocent question that is simply asking what does one do for
work but sometimes it solicits a more profound answer then what one does for employment.
There are numerous vocations in which one’s job is also entwined with their identity. I have
watched physicians, lawyers, and law enforcement all go through a similar experience to me.
Once the audience knows a doctor is in the house, she is overwhelmed with questions about a
weird rash or swelling. Once they know a lawyer is around they ask him questions about family
law even if his a corporate lawyer and when the attendees discover law enforcement is in
attendance the party stops. I can relate. But that is because what we “do” is both a part of our
person and our work. Now, depending on how long I have been talking to a person I can
usually see three phases to their facial expression when I answer the question, “and what do
you do?” First phase is slight surprise, second is feigned interest as I explain what a
Presbyterian is, and third is the realization that they may have said or used language that one
thinks is inappropriate to use around a minister. Often these three phases happen in quick
succession (really?! Hmmm. OH NO!). I try to then calm any concerns they may have by saying
something they wouldn’t expect a minister to say. But it is true that for many, what we do is part of who we are. The person and the work are tied up together.
The theme for the rest of the season of Epiphany is about the person and work of
Jesus Christ. But before we delve into Jesus’ person and work I want to point out the
significance of John the Baptist’s vocation in this passage. Although John did not know Jesus
personally, he was given a commission by God to work in a ministry that was preparatory for the appearance of Jesus. Today God calls us, as God called John the Baptist, to serve in faith and
hope. That is in part who we are as people and what we do as disciples. And if we are true to
God’s calling we too focus on the reality of God’s work in the person of Jesus.
I often wonder if there were moments when Jesus was at a social event, say a wedding
in Cana, and people asked him, “and what do you do?” and he took a deep breath and said,
“Well, I’m the Son of God” and then watched as the facial expressions of the other guests went
from surprise, to curiosity, to concern. Yet, in the Gospel of John, Jesus didn’t have to answer
that question because wherever he went people seemed to know exactly who he was and what
he did. Over the past two weeks, the Gospel readings have highlighted the “person” of Jesus by
defining Jesus through the actions of others. On Epiphany Sunday the magi identified Jesus to
be the king of the Jews and last week God declared that Jesus is the beloved Son of God.
Today, however, it is not only about the names of Jesus but what Jesus does with those names.
In this way, the Gospel of John differs from the other three Gospels. Within the stories
of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the identity of Jesus or rather the mystery of Jesus is gradually
unveiled to human beings as various people come to realize the power and authority of Jesus.
In those Gospels it is through experiencing the work of Jesus that people eventually come to
see him as the Son of God. The Gospel of John, however, takes a very different approach.
Right from John 1:1, he informs the readers of the deepest mystery of Jesus’ person- and
presents John the Baptist as knowing these mysteries. The Word, who has been with God since
the very beginning, was made flesh in Jesus of Nazareth- who is “the light” of humankind, and
the Baptizer, who is sent by God, bears witness to that light so that all may come to believe in
the light. In this past year’s advent devotionals I found a line that has touched me deeply, “God
became human to make our humanity like the humanity of God’s son. God’s Word is an open
door to the meaning of our lives. His every action is generous and self-giving.”This is who Jesus
is as the lamb of God, the Son of God, and the light to the world. This is the person of Jesus.
The Gospel text then turns abruptly to the “work” of Jesus. It is so abrupt that one might
think that these passages could be preached on two separate Sundays but it is important for us
to understand that the work of Jesus has already begun. Jesus takes away the sin of the world
and baptizes with the Holy Spirit. I was intrigued when I came across Jack Dean Kingsbury’s
commentary on this passage. Dr. Kingsbury wrote, “As the Light of the world, Jesus takes away
the sin of the world and baptizes with the Holy Spirit neither by shedding his blood (although he
does this, too!) nor by actually baptizing people but by “shining in the darkness” and
“enlightening everyone” with knowledge of God. As the Light of the world, Jesus “saves” in
John’s Gospel by revealing God to benighted human beings.” And Jesus starts with calling the
disciples. They are the first to be “enlightened” by the presence of Jesus and quickly witness
what Jesus does.
It is by what the disciples do that we are then taught what we should do. On the basis
of hearing John’s witness of who Jesus is, two of John’s disciples decide to follow Jesus. When
Jesus sees them following he asks, “what are you looking for?” which solicits a question from
them, “teacher where are you staying?” and Jesus replies, “come and see” and when they do
see where Jesus is staying the decide to stay with him. They “hang out” with Jesus which then
leads them into a deep and intimate encounter with Jesus which changes the course of their
lives forever. We are witnessing not only the story of what Jesus does, but how Jesus changes
people’s lives. Andrew brings his brother, Simon, to Jesus, Jesus renames him Cephas or Peter
and little does Peter know that he will become the rock upon whom Jesus will build his
community! Peter will become a witness and evangelist the likes of which the world has never
seen.
So what do we do with this knowledge? How does Jesus’ person and work effect our
humanity? How does the disciples’ response and relationship with Jesus affect our own
response and relationship? I think one of the biggest challenges for me when someone asks
me, “what do you do?” is that I assume that they assume I will then try to “evangelize”. It is a
term that has been abused and misunderstood for so long that it is a term we tend to avoid. I am
often ashamed of the kind of evangelism that is associated with Christianity, so ashamed by the
weaponization of prayer or the utilization of judgment that I am ashamed to say, I don’t
evangelize. Literally the term evangelist means, “to be a bearer of Good News” to be a witness
to the person and work of Jesus. And this is exactly what John the Baptist and the early
disciples do. Evangelism really means paying attention and giving voice to the light that is found
in the lamb of God, aligning our humanity with Jesus’ humanity so that we can become the
people God desires us to be by witnessing the light that shines in the darkness. That is true evangelism. That is who we are and that what we do. Amen