Second Sunday of Epiphany – morning
Sunday 19th January 2020
Epiphany 2 – morning
Isaiah49. 1-7
John 1. 29-42
Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs
Well if we were not convinced about the importance of the baptism of Jesus last weekend, we get a second account of it this week! And repetition is a sure way in Biblical references of guaranteeing significance. But this week we are also witnessing the passing on of authority and a role.
For this week we see how John acknowledges that as Jesus’ star rises, so his own must decline – even his disciples seem to be drifting away and towards the latest sensation to arrive in town – the charismatic carpenter from Nazareth is collecting followers as he goes – seemingly without much of a fight.
And we are also introduced to Andrew – who surely should be the model for our own efforts to evangelise. Andrew is the one that people obviously find approachable and he is the one who is continuously – or so it seems – bringing others to Jesus. Whether it is his own brother, Simon – who gains a new name or nickname – Peter – The Rock. Or a small boy with some fish and loaves or later still in the story a curious crowd of Greeks who come seeking Jesus, but who speak first to Andrew.
Do you know someone like Andrew in your lives? The person everyone turns to for an introduction to others in a circle of friends? The one who is good at making connections? The one who can persuade others to try something out when they are feeling shy or uncertain? Or is that a role you might fulfil?
As we begin this New Year and begin thinking about those people who might be elected to be members of our PCC or as churchwardens for the year ahead, it is a good model to have in mind! I know the Annual Meeting is a way off as yet, but it will soon come around!
“Among you stands one whom you do not know”
That is the great paradox about seeking Jesus, isn’t it? It was true for the first disciples and the crowds that came to see what all the fuss was about whenever some new preacher arrived in the neighbourhood.
Once, when the Queen was walking around the village of Balmoral in her holiday uniform of headscarf, tweed skirt and sensible brogues, she was stopped by someone telling her “You look just like the Queen!” To which the Queen is reported to have replied, “How very reassuring,” – before resuming her walk – still unrecognized for who she really was. And, having once seen her myself at some horse trials with Princess Anne, I can vouch for how very ordinary and unremarkable she can appear!
So if the woman with one of the most recognisable faces in the world can pass for a stranger, how much more can we overlook the presence of Jesus in our midst? The one for whom we have no reliable image? No selfie. No portrait. No coins or stamp bearing his effigy?
“Among you stands one whom you do not know”
Have you ever seen that TV series where a millionaire goes undercover? They work in needy communities and with support agencies to try and understand, first hand, what the problems of such people are and how best to target their wealth. And the unrecognized Jesus lifts up and helps and nourishes the invisible, overlooked people who stand among us, whom society too often doesn’t see – let alone know. But these are the very people to whom Jesus came to preach the Good News and with whom we too should be communicating on his behalf today.
“Among you stands one whom you do not know”
If you are sitting there congratulating yourself that you do know him. If through the gift of faith you can recognize him – then rejoice and be thankful. It is not obvious or natural, but if – by the gift of grace, – you can see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, you can also see all those other people among us for whom Jesus is still unknown, who sorely need to know the Lamb of God, and you too can point them towards him. You can tell them what you have discovered about Jesus – you can be an Andrew to their Peter.
John had to realise that Jesus would achieve far more than he could – I wonder if today we would know anything about John were it not for the part he played in the story of Jesus? And Andrew would see his brother Peter go on to be named by Jesus as the one to take on the burden of leadership following his death – I wonder how Andrew took that on board? Being the first person to spot something or someone does not guarantee that you will be the one to be remembered, but that is OK if you believe that a greater purpose is being fulfilled.
“Among you stands one whom you do not know”
Who might that be?…….. – I wonder?