Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday after Epiphany. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "All People that on Earth do Dwell"
Today's Gospel
John 1:29-42The First Disciples of Jesus
John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water said to me, ‘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.”
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Reflection
Let’s start with a quiz question.
What are the first words that Jesus says in the Gospel according to John?
We see them in today’s passage in John 1: verses 38 and 39.
“What are you looking for?” They said to Him, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.”
Of course these aren’t the first words Jesus said, and we know from the other Gospels that Jesus knew John Baptist beforehand. Indeed, this passage opens with the story of John the Baptist baptising Jesus in the River Jordan. His testimony about the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus from heaven and remaining with Him. John’s testimony that Jesus is the true Messiah.
This is a moment of recognition and transition as John points towards Jesus as the true Son of God. Up until now it has been John who had a huge following, and people were coming from hundreds of miles to be baptised in the Jordan to be John’s disciples. Some thought he was a prophet and some also believed that John was the Messiah.
But now John is fulfilling his role and pointing people towards Jesus when he says “There goes the Lamb of God”. And the following day he repeats the same words in front of his own disciples. John is acknowledging that his role is complete and that he has achieved his purpose in paving the way for Jesus. He is not resentful or jealous, he is full of joy. In John 3:30 he speaks of that joy and how he must become less and allow Jesus to become greater. And so he is pointing own disciples and others towards Jesus.
Now we turn again to Jesus’ words when John’s disciples went to him and asked where he was staying. Jesus responds, “Come and see.” This not a command or an instruction, it’s an invitation. In my mind, I imagine Him saying it quietly, almost in a whisper.
But it’s not just an invitation to come and see where Jesus is staying, it’s a welcome to be with Jesus, to follow Him as his very first disciples. It’s a loving response to the desire of the two to want to be with Jesus and to follow Him willingly. Andrew and his friend believe the wonderful testimony of John and yearn to follow the anointed one – ‘Lamb of God’.
Jesus’ first question isn’t “Who do you want?” but, “What do you want?”
They don’t just want to meet Jesus, they want to be with Him. They want a relationship with Him, to follow Him and devote themselves to Him. They want to become his first disciples. And Andrew’s experience is so overwhelming that he wants to share it with others; he goes away and invites his brother, Simon Peter who will become known as the ‘rock of the church’.
They want to remain with Jesus and abide with Him. They answered Jesus’ quiet invitation to be with Him and had courage to believe in Him. We too are invited to come and see and meet Jesus, and we are asked to courageously put our trust and faith in Him.
We are invited by those who point to Him and have experienced the love of Jesus for themselves - and we are personally invited by Jesus Himself to open our hearts and ‘come and see’ for ourselves.
Like his first disciples, Jesus invites us to ‘come and see’ and also abide with Him, uniting us with the same Spirit that anointed and remained with him.
Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the testimony of John the Baptist,
and all those who came after him
who point us towards Jesus the Lamb of God.
We pray that we may willingly respond to Jesus’ gracious invitation,
to follow Him and commit ourselves to Him,
to abide with Him and witness your glory
in our lives.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Will You Come and Follow Me"
Notices
The Ladies of Leesfield monthly meeting is on Tuesday 20th January at 2 pm in St Thomas’ Community Room. All are most welcome to join us for companionship and refreshments.
The Week of Christian Unity starts today, and runs until Sunday 25th January, and Churches Together in Lees and District will be celebrating with a special service at 3 pm at Springhead Congregational Church on the 25th.
