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The 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany (A) Text: John 1:29-42 January 16, 2005
In the Name of him who is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today I would like to talk about Andrew, the disciple who is mentioned in today’s gospel passage. Andrew has never been portrayed as being one of the “major” disciples. He was not a charismatic leader, in the way that his brother Simon Peter certainly was. He was not part of Jesus’ “Inner Circle” in the way that Peter, James, and John were. Andrew did not care about his status. But to me, Andrew has a very special place in my heart – because I see myself as being like him, or at least wanting to be. His passion was simply to experience the love and peace of God that Jesus had to offer – and then to share it with others.
At this point, let us take a closer look as to just who Andrew was. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he is identified by his secular occupation of being a fisherman. But in the gospel of John, from which today’s passage is taken, Andrew’s secular occupation is not mentioned. He is rather introduced as being a disciple of John the Baptist.
Andrew was a seeker. Somehow, the words and teachings of John the Baptist had touched his heart. Andrew had a hunger for wanting to know God. Not to just know about God, but to really experience God’s love and power and forgiveness in his life. That is why he became one of John’s disciples – because he could sense that this man was truly a prophet.
John the Baptist in turn began to point Andrew and some of his other disciples to Jesus. As he says in today’s gospel passage: “‘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.” And again, the next day John exclaimed as he watched Jesus walk by, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
Because of these testimonies, Andrew and another of John’s disciples then began to follow Jesus. Jesus then turned and asked them a question; “What are you looking for?” It is important for us to understand that this was not just a casual question. In John’s gospel, everything has a double meaning – and so it was with this question. Jesus was asking them; “What are you looking for in life – what do you really want out of it?”
In response, Andrew and the other disciple replied; “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Or in other words; “Where are you living, Jesus? What lives inside of you? What is it that gives you such life inside of you?”
Jesus answered, “Come and see.” Not just see the place where he was staying, but rather, “Come and experience my life.” “Come and experience all that I have to share with you.”
Such was Jesus’ invitation to Andrew and his fellow disciple, and it is also his invitation to us today. If we are ready – if we are seeking – Jesus invites us to experience all of his joy and peace and love. Jesus does not force himself upon us, but when we are ready to spend time with him he will always welcome us and share his life with us. Do we want that life that Jesus has to offer?
And if we do, are we willing to spend time with Jesus? To me, the next part of our gospel text is very significant: “They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.” Andrew and the other disciple did not just talk with Jesus in passing by squeezing in a few minutes or an hour or so in the midst of their busy schedules. They spent the rest of the day with him and got to know his heart and soul.
I believe that this has something very important to say to us in lives today. To really grow in our relationship with Jesus, we need to have experiences in we can remain with him for an extended period of time. In my own life, my most significant times with Jesus have not been during formal worship services like this one (although they are certainly very important!), but rather during retreats and church camps where I can be away from the normal “busy-ness” of life for several days or even a week at a time. It is during experiences like these that I can most feel Jesus’ love and peace in the deepest depths of my heart and soul.
I know so many people – both young people and adults – who have had similar experiences. My wife Carol still talks about the Via De Cristo weekend retreat that she had several years ago. Others around here have participated in “Kogudus” retreats. Or, of course, have attended summer church camp at UMM or other church camps. It is through these “times and places apart” that people often experience Jesus in the most personal, intimate, and life-changing ways. Maybe that has been so for you. Or if not, perhaps this is something that you might wish to consider doing. “Remaining with Jesus” in these experiences is never time wasted. Getting back to our gospel passage, the other thing we notice about Andrew is that after he experienced the life Jesus had to offer, he shared it with others – not by “evangelizing” or trying to “convert” them, but simply by telling them about and bringing them to Jesus so that they could experience him for themselves. As our gospel tells us; Andrew found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” – and then he brought him to Jesus.
This is the kind of evangelism that speaks to my heart – because it is personal, real, and sincere. We do not have to “preach” at people to get them to “accept Christ”. All that we need to do – and should do – is to let our friends know what we have experienced and invite them to “come and see” with us. If we are excited about Jesus – and excited about this church and what is happening here – we will very naturally want to invite others to “come and see”.
Andrew is one of my favorite disciples. He may not have become “famous” like some of the other disciples, but he knew Jesus in a very special and personal way. He loved his Lord, and that love changed his life – and then through him the life of his brother Simon and also the lives of many others as well.
Today we thank God for Andrew and others like him. They are the salt and light of God’s kingdom. May God grant that we might be like Andrew in our lives – in our love for Jesus and in our sharing that love with each other, for then we will be truly blessed. May it be so. Amen!
-------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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