Rev. George Miller
Jan 2, 2022
John 1:35-43
Have you ever felt, while traveling through this thing called life, that
you have been here before?
Ever have a moment when you’re like “I’ve done this before,” even though it’s
a brand-new experience?
Ever meet someone, or go somewhere for the 1st time and it feels
so familiar?
Ever look back over your life and think “This all seems to be part of a
plan in which what came before has prepared me for what’s happening now?”
If so, you are not alone. There’s
a word for it- déjà vu. I knew a guy who
claimed to have “vuja de”, in which he experienced things before they happened.
Déjà vu, vuja de, I’ve been here before, “oh, that’s why that happened,”
are not uncommon, leading scientists, philosophers, entire world religions to ponder
about the concept of time, purpose, and cosmic schemes.
Why are any of us transplanted in the center of this vast state in the lower
half of the country?
Why, of all places, did you come to visit Highlands County, and decide “Hey,
I want to move here!” What were you
looking for when you moved to Sebring, Lake Placid, Avon Park?
Was my love for Disney a way to prepare me for ministry here?
How in the world did you find EUCC?
Was it on purpose, a happy accident, a random set of circumstances?
Why are any of us right here, right now, when there are a billion other
options?
What or who were you looking for when you stepped through the front doors
of Emmanuel?
In today’s scripture, 2 themes appear when Jesus says “Follow me” and “What
are you looking for?”
In order to understand this moment of Jesus’ ministry, it is wise for us
to travel 3 years later.
At the end of John’s gospel, in ch. 21, Simon Peter as at the seashore
with the resurrected Christ. After giving
instructions to “Feed my sheep,” Christ says his final words- “Follow me.”
Step back to John 20, Mary Magdelene comes to the garden alone, sobbing.
In her sorrow, she sees a man who asks “Whom are you looking for?”
With that question she witnesses the resurrected Christ, discovering that
she is not as alone as she thought.
Now we time travel ch 18. Jesus is
in another garden. The soldiers come to
arrest him, baring torches.
Jesus steps forward and asks “Whom are you looking for?”
Follow me.
Who are you looking for?
Who are you looking for?
Follow me.
And now, we travel back to today’s reading, 3 years before. Jesus meets the disciples for the 1st
time, and it makes sense.
Here they are; here he is.
John the Baptist points Jesus out.
Simon Peter and his brother follow.
Jesus turns and asks them-
“What are you looking for?”
Note, it is not a “who?” but a “what?”.
Jesus probably knows that at this moment in their life, they cannot fully
grasp what is going on.
Jesus must know that Simon Peter and Andrew are looking for a thing, a
solution, a quick fix.
But what they come to discover is that Jesus is more than a what, more
than a thing, but that Jesus is a “who”.
Why does this difference matter? Because
“who” represents a relationship. “Who”
represents somebody, not just some body.
“Who” indicates expressions of emotion, times of discussion, meals to share,
and experiences to be had.
“What are you looking for?” Jesus asks.
Their answer is “Teacher, where do you dwell?”
Jesus renames Simon, and the next words he’s recorded as saying is “Follow
me.” And the rest of John’s Gospel shows
us what that looks like-
-attending events and nourishing folk where scarcity turns into plenty
-Meeting those who are thirsty and different at the wells of their life
-Offering healing to those who are paralyzed, blind, unwell.
-Being present, saying “Do not be afraid” when the seas of life are
rough.
-Reminding folks not to cast stones
-Weeping when his best friend dies, and Martha and Mary are in deep
emotional pain.
John shows us where following Christ will lead, even when it is to the
cross, but it will also take us into the garden and at the shore.
Today’s reading is so powerful because in a déjà vu, vuja de way, it shows
us what will happen, while also explaining what it all means.
Just as the disciples are asked a question by Jesus, we are being asked a
question 2,000 years later.
The Resurrected Christ asks “What or who are you looking for?”
Are you looking for a Rabbi, a teacher, to instruct, and guide?
Are you looking for someone to be mad at and blame, baring your torches?
Are you looking for someone or something in that lonely garden of yours so
that you don’t feel so alone?
Who are you looking for today?
The babe in the manger?
A man on a mountain?
A Christ on a cross?
The Resurrected in the rosebushes?
And if you find who you are looking for, will you follow?
And if so, how?
Does following look the same for each person?
Does following mean to teach?
Does it mean to heal?
Does it mean to feed?
Does it mean to stand up against those baring torches?
Does it mean consoling folk in their own personal garden?
Why are you here, today?
What are you expecting?
Who are you looking for?
How will you follow?
For these questions, we say “Amen.”
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