The Invitation ~ John 1:29-42 ~ January 16, 2011

The Invitation

John 1:29-42

Second Sunday after Epiphany

January 16, 2011

People love to talk.

If there’s anything that can be said about the explosion of new technologies over the past twenty years, it is how much we love to talk.  We have cell phones, email, text messaging, instant messaging, ‘Facebook,’ ‘Twitter,’ blogs and so on…  Conversation isn’t just for around the water cooler, the cafeteria, or the occasional phone calls anymore…  Thanks to technology, you can talk to pretty much anyone, any time you want.  But what do we talk about?

Last fall, one of my seminary course assignments was to interview confirmation students and talk to them after faith.  One of the questions I asked them was “what are some of the things you talk about with your friends?  After a long pause, one of the teens answered “you know, stuff…”  So I asked him another question: “do you ever about God, or Jesus, or church?”  There was no pause this time.  He quickly said “no.”  He went on to say “there’s a few students at school who talk about Jesus all the time, but people try to stay away from them.”

I don’t think it’s all that different in the adult world.   In our country, almost ninety percent of people believe in God and describe themselves as Christians.  But we don’t like to talk about Jesus outside of church…  People who do talk about Jesus get labeled Jesus freaks, as if to say “you’re not normal.”  Talk about God and religion really makes people uncomfortable.  Our society tends to think of our religion as a personal matter; something we should keep to ourselves.

But do we really, honestly believe that we should be silent about the love, life, and salvation God gives us in Jesus Christ?

In our Gospel lesson for today, John the Baptist had witnessed things that he could not keep to himself.  He saw the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus Christ.  This same Holy Spirit told him that Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Andrew and Simon heard John’s testimony—and followed him until the day Jesus appeared before them.  With John’s testimony, God drew Andrew and Simon to Jesus, to make them his disciples. 

If you have been baptized and believe in Jesus Christ—it is because God used someone in your life to draw you to baptism and join you to Christ.  With that baptism, God forgives us of our sin.  The living Christ abides with us wherever we go, never to leave us or forsake us.  Like Jesus, we will rise from the dead on the day that Christ returns to reign over all creation.  And God does all these things apart from our merit or deserving.  So why would we want to keep all this to ourselves?

The good news of Jesus Christ and of his salvation is a story that needs to be told.  The world desperately needs to hear it.  Sin and evil are grim realities in our world.  As sinners, we hurt others—and others hurt us.  Sin alienates us from God.  We need Jesus’ forgiveness and redemption.  We need the peace, reconciliation, and justice that flow from Jesus’ love.  Suffering and pain are very real as well.  We need Jesus’ strength to make it through the trials of life…  We need his hope to persevere until the day we see him face-to-face…

Whenever I think of telling others about Jesus, I immediately think of the people who stop you on the street or knock on your door.  I have a friend who loves to walk city streets and engage people in conversation—and he can always turn the conversation into a testimony about Jesus Christ.  This is certainly one way to share the faith—but it’s not the only way.  Not everyone has the gifts that my friend has.  Talking about our faith is not as easy as some people make it look.  There’s so much about God, about Scripture, and about the world that we don’t understand.  If you’re a shy person, it can be very difficult to talk about your faith.  But everyone bear can witness to the love of Jesus Christ.  In baptism, God has makes us gifts for this weary world.  The Holy Spirit will always be drawing us to people and situations where we can bear witness to the life and hope that is ours in Christ.  And it’s not just in words that we share our faith…  Sometimes we share our faith best by saying nothing and instead by listening, by being present with others, and showing that we care.  Very often, our actions of love, compassion, and forgiveness speak louder than any words possibly could.  The Spirit will guide you and help you know what you can do to minister to the love of Christ.

One thing that all of us can do to share the love of Jesus Christ is to invite someone to church.  Here in church, God nourishes us with Word and Sacraments.  Here, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness.  Here, we are a family of sisters and brothers who support and care for one another.  Here in the church, God brings together all of our gifts, our talents, and our passions so that we can carry Christ’s love out into the world.  And unlike so many institutions in our society, you don’t need to be of a certain race or gender, age, income bracket or social standing to be a part of all that Christ is doing at Grace Lutheran Church.  Here, everyone can come and see, and experience Christ’s grace and love bringing salvation to the world.

If you are a sinner who needs redemption, Christ invites you to himself today…  If you are weary and hurting from the pains and trials of life, Christ invites you to come and see the salvation he is bringing…  If you hunger and thirst for healing and for hope; Christ is here to walk with you and love you forever…  The journey with Christ begins here in the church, together with your sisters and brothers in Christ.

The story of Jesus Christ is a story that must be shared.  Christ’s invitation is out, and his salvation is for everyone.  And God’s will for you is to use your voice and your hands to call the lost, the poor, and the suffering to himself.  None of us need fear being inadequate or unable to witness to Christ.  This is God’s work—and God’s Holy Spirit will guide us, strengthen us, and show us what to do.  Let us go forth in hope—and spread the good word.