St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church

Sermon delivered by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz

Epiphany 2 series A John 1:35-39

January 16, 2005

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come”, he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

If you have watched the news at all the last three weeks—you cannot help but see reports about the tsunami—the terrible under the ocean earthquake—and the horrible wave that swept on shore—killing what? Some 145,000 + people almost instantly? Then there are those who over the past weeks have died from injures they received—people who got sick from the lack of pure drinking water and good food. People who got sick from the contamination of dead bodies—from germs and bacteria—in the wake of such a horrible disaster. Lots and lots of people were interviewed. One man said—he remembers—how without warning—there was ocean water everywhere. Suddenly everything was awash in this horrible wave. People everywhere were screaming for help! He said he remembers seeing the faces of people in desperate need—crying out for help. He remembers having to decide—help these poor pitiful people—or save himself! He saved himself—he said—and now he has to live with that terrible guilt—that he did nothing—absolutely nothing to help the people all around him. Is that so bad? I would imagine it is! You pause for just a moment—your mind wanders for just a moment—and there they are! People drowning—people screaming for help. And there you are—saving only yourself! You try to go to sleep at night. Your head hits the pillow. You pull the warm thick covers up to your neck. You say your prayers. There—that was nice! And there they are again—the bodies of people floating face down in the water. People who are drowned—because you didn’t help them—because you were so busy saving yourself! You see these people when you stop at a traffic light—waiting for red to become green again. That little round light turns into a little round face! How terrible is that? You can’t drive faster than a guilty conscience. The precious good news today is—Jesus takes away all our sins. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world! This second Sunday after the Epiphany God’s Word is law and gospel—news to heal hurting hearts. Today God’s Word invites us:

Spend Time With Jesus!

1. Watch him

2. Listen to him

Again this Sunday we have read from the Gospel of the disciple Jesus loved—chapter 1. Again we read about Jesus by John the Baptist. Again and again Jesus came by this place out in the wilderness—where John was washing people in the Jordan River. This was a picture of repentance—of washing off the guilty soil of sin! How great is the love God the Father has lavished on us that Jesus should be our brother. How great is Jesus’ love—that he should be one of us—taking the blame—accepting responsibility for all our painful mistakes and hurtful acts. If anyone was ever in need of the washing of repentance it was Jesus—accepting the responsibility for all our failures and mistakes!

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” John did not say—Look—the Lion of Judah! He could have! Jesus is the Lion of Judah—so powerful that he commands the wind and the waves and they obey him. A horrible storm at sea—waves crashing over the little boat—grown men crying out in fear for their lives. Jesus says, “Peace! Be still!” And in an instant it is completely calm. A little girl dies. She doesn’t look dead. She looks like she is taking a nap—but let there be no mistake—she is dead. Her heart has stopped beating. She is not breathing. Her small fingers are cold to the touch. Death has wrapped its cold and bony fingers around her. The Lion of Judah says, “Little girl I say to you—get up!” And she is alive! No electric shock to her small and breakable body. The power of the word and will of the Lord of Life. She is alive again! Her small hands are warm again. Give her a snack! Give her some warm bread with honey on it! Give her a cup of fresh sweet milk and cream. She is completely well! John did not say—Look—the Lion of Judah—come to do battle with Satan and death. He said—“Look, the Lamb of God!” Say the word Lamb—to people in Israel 2,000 years ago—and they would think of blood sacrifices! God’s people would think of sin offerings, guilt offerings, whole burnt offerings, fellowship offerings. Worship at the temple was not the antiseptic worship we have—where even what we say and how we say it—is more often than not politically correct. Worship at the Temple involved death—blood and death. Priests looked more like the workers at the meat market—their chests orange from whole lambs and goats and sides of beef! Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter. As a sheep before her shearers is silent—Jesus did not complain. Jesus came to bleed and suffer and die to take away all our sins. Jesus came like a lamb to rescue sheep that love to wander!

When the disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” Here is a wonderful question—profound in its simplicity. What do you want from Jesus? Do we want someone who will make all our troubles go away? The fact is—life is full of unpleasantness. I was at a book store the other day—and picked up a book that said on the back, “Dear Reader, I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children…leading lives filled with misery and woe—magnets for misfortune…they encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune and cold porridge for breakfast. Put this book down at once and read something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing!” A series of unfortunate events—and this is a children’s book—grief and cold oat meal! Sometimes that’s painful reality! Jesus never promised to make all unpleasantness in this world to go away. In fact sometimes the life of a Christian is full of unpleasantness. What Jesus did promise was to be with you every step of the way. He promised to make you strong enough to persevere. He promised to never leave us—to never forsake us. He promised we would never be tested beyond what we could bear. When the difficulties come—he will make us strong enough to survive. Jesus promised when all our troubles are over—he will bring us safely home to heaven.

They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. If you spent the day with Jesus what would you see? You would see love! Not someone who tries to be loving—but someone who is love. God is love. Jesus is love. I heard about some people on an airplane the other day. One passenger was a mom with a little 8 month old baby. Have you ever been on a plane with a little baby? Sometimes little babies in pressurized planes—have terrible pain—like somebody pushing a Q-tip in your ear. It really hurts. And when little babies really hurt—they cry—very loudly! What do you do? On this one plane an angry woman stood up and screamed at the mommy and her crying baby—screamed at her to make her baby be quiet or get off the plane! Can you imagine Jesus doing that? Can you imagine Jesus’ face getting red—the back of his neck physically hot—the cords of his neck showing—his hands in fists—saliva spraying from his mouth—as he screams at a noisy little baby? Can you? I don’t think so! Spend the day with Jesus and what would you see? Watch Jesus’ eyes—and you would see compassion! You don’t see that in our eyes all the time! It’s funny how Jesus made people—with those little fur things above our eyes. You can kind of tell what people are thinking—by watching their eye brows. You can tell when people aren’t happy—when two eye brows almost turn into one—like this little roof overhang by your eyes. You can tell when people don’t believe you—when their eye brows go up—and they roll their eyes. You can tell what people are thinking—when they get this disgusted impatient—how can you be such a big stupid head—look. Jesus eyes were filled with compassion—with patience. Jesus’ eyes could also look right through you—deep into your heart. Jesus looked at Simon Peter—when the rooster crowed and Simon Peter had cursed and sworn—I don’t know this carpenter from Nazareth! Jesus’ eyes could show you your sin. And Jesus eyes could fill with tears that said I share your pain and sadness. And Jesus’ eyes say—I forgive you. I love you still!

So they went and saw where he was staying and spent that day with him. If you spent the day with Jesus what would you hear? You would hear Jesus talking about the kingdom of God! You would hear Jesus talking about law and gospel—about sin and forgiveness. You must have seen pictures of the people in California—where they had the mudslide! I can’t get out of my head the picture of that man—whose wife and 3 daughters were trapped in the mud—trapped in the house that collapsed on top of them. This man called out and cried out for help. Then he began to frantically dig—with his bare hands—with a sharp rock he frantically clawed at the mud and rock and lumber and brick and drywall—trying desperately to save his family! Finally police literally dragged him away—I imagine because it wasn’t safe to let him try any more. How horribly tragic—that his family perished—and he could not save them. Jesus came to save us—and our families from sin and guilt and ultimately eternal destruction. We don’t need to claw and scratch. We need to tell them that Jesus loves them. To tell them Jesus died to save them. To tell them that all that matters—all that counts is Jesus’ forgiving love. That’s all that really matters at all!

They spent that day with Jesus. It was about the tenth hour. Depending on whether John was using Jewish time it was 4 in the afternoon. If John was using Roman time it was about 10 in the morning. Since John’s first readers were Gentiles—and they spent the day with Jesus it would make most sense to think of 10 in the morning. Whatever the time—years later—John remembered the time! It was such a wondrous—powerful—life changing moment—a man who didn’t wear a watch remembers—that was the moment that changed the rest of his life! It’s kind of like that commercial where they show people on their vacation in the Bahamas—having so much fun—the priceless part is they do NOT need photographs to remember their vacation! Do you understand that? It means it is so wonderful—all you have to do is close your eyes—and it all comes back! All you have to do is smell some river water—and you can see in your mind the video—of John pointing to Jesus—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! In a moment you remember spending that day with Jesus. And beginning with that day—nothing would ever be the same again! Spend time with Jesus—here in Church—in Bible class—reading your Bible at home. Spend time with Jesus watching and listening and Jesus will not just change now. Jesus will change forever! Amen!

To God alone all glory!

Rev. Anthony E. Schultz