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SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2008

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

John 1:29-41 (What are you looking for?)

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TODAY’S SERMON THEME:

Jesus turned around, stopped His new followers in their tracks, looked them squarely in the eyes, and asked: "What are you looking for?" He asks the same question of us today. What are WE looking for?

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1. A few years ago, a friend of mine in Austin, Texas -- a pastor of a small Baptist church -- was asked to give a spiritual talk at a federal prison. My friend was introduced by one of the inmates, who started off by saying something like this: "A long time ago, two boys lived next door to each other in a small West Texas town. The two boys grew up together. They played together. They went to school together. The rode motorcycles and played guitars together. they even went to Sunday School and church together. When they were 13 years old, they went to Bible camp together. At the end of the week-long camp, they got a chance to make a decision about their faith. The preacher at the closing service asked the campers a question: 'What are you looking for in life?' One of those boys said he was looking for Jesus, and he went forward and gave his life to the Lord. The other boy decided he was looking for excitement and fun in life, and he turned God down. And now I want to introduce you to one of those two boys, Pastor Hal Briggs. He is the boy who said YES to Jesus at that summer camp. I am the other boy. I am the one who wanted fun and excitement. And I want to tell you today that being in prison is not much fun."

2. What are you looking for in life? What an intriguing question to ponder this cold morning. Two brothers faced that same question a little more than 120 years ago -- in Buffalo, New York. The brothers had attended a church school class and listened as their teacher explained how important it was for them to come to know the Lord as their Savior, and friend. The teacher said they all needed to make a choice for God in their lives. After the morning class ended, the two brothers hurried down the front steps of the church together. One of them announced: "This is my last day of attendance at this school." The other countered with this statement: "I will not say the same thing. I will stay here and learn more about God." FROM THAT MOMENT, the two brothers headed off in opposite directions -- one as a teacher, the other as a revolutionary who advocated anarchy and chaos as a way of life. Here is where their story crosses into the pages of history:

(1) The brother who became a teacher toiled and struggled to make a difference in the lives of his students. He lived in virtual anonymity his entire life -- earning a meager salary, accumulating very little in the way of earthly wealth, and attracting very little attention.

(2) The other brother, the one who gave up on God, made a HUGE name for himself in the eyes of the world. As a matter of fact, he made headlines in the newspapers of the world on September 6, 1901. On that day, this anarchist brother proudly attended the Pan American Exhibit in Buffalo, New York. And he mingled with a crowd of people waiting to shake the hand of the President of the United States, William McKinley. But instead of shaking the President's hand, this man -- LEON CZSOLGOZ -- stuck out a pistol and shot him. President McKinley died eight days later and his Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt, became the Chief Executive of our nation. LEON CZSOLGOZ, the man who was looking for chaos and anarchy in life, found it. Six weeks later, he was executed for the crime of murder.

3. What are you looking for in life? Somewhere along the line, I am sure that you have been asked that question. And I am sure that you have asked it of yourself. It may be the most popular question being asked these days. (1) WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The personal fitness gurus and the health professionals all over the world are asking it.

(2) WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The human resource people are asking it. And so are the employment counselors of the world.

(3) WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? It is a favorite question of personal trainers. And financial consultants. And loan officers, and insurance agents.

(4) WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Psychologists ask the question. Psychiatrists ask the question. Addiction specialists ask the question. And college recruiters. And military recruiters. And bankers. And Realtors.

(5) EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Money? Success? Happiness? Security? A sense of identity? A place to belong? Hope? A nice retirement? A new home? A new body? A new car? A new relationship? A sense of power? A sense of worth? A new car? A new job?

The fact is simple: Until we know SPECIFICALLY what we are looking for in life, we are going to have a difficult time finding it.

4. What ARE you looking for? Everybody seems to be asking that question. But the most important person who will ever ask that question is the Lord Jesus. And He just happens to be asking us that same question this morning. Right here. Right now. Just look again at our Gospel lesson for this morning from John Chapter 1:

(1) For two full days after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river, the crowds were told about His identity. John's Gospel carefully points out that at Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit of God descended upon Him in bodily form, as a dove, and that John the Baptist saw it clearly. And not only that: John the Baptist clearly states that Jesus IS THE ANNOINTED ONE OF GOD, the Messiah, the One who would be the savior of the world.

(2) On at least TWO occasions, John the Baptist tells his own disciples that Jesus is the "Lamb of God, (the One) who takes away the sins of the world." Jesus, according to John the Baptist, is the One who is coming after him, the One who will baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit. "I baptize you with water," John said, "but the One coming after me, who is more powerful than I, will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire." This is the One who "ranks ahead of me," John said, "because He was before me."

(3) John the Baptist even tells two of His own disciples to follow after Jesus. And so they did. One of them is Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, the fisherman. The other is not named. But tradition says that it was John, the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. . . the author of the Gospel of John. The "disciple whom Jesus loved." "The beloved disciple."

(4) And then we come to the most important confrontation in the lives of Andrew and John: As they followed behind Jesus, Jesus turned around, stopped His new followers in their tracks, looked them squarely in the eyes, and asked them this question: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

(5) The two men were startled. And without thinking, they ask Jesus a question in reply: "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Now, some commentators insist that the two men are looking for creature comforts, plush accommodations, a great place to stay. But I believe differently. I believe they were just stumbling around for something to say. They were startled. Something about Jesus, something about His countenance, startled them.

(6) Whatever their reason for following, or for asking this ridiculous question, Jesus responds with the greatest invitation of all: "COME AND SEE." And so they did. They followed Jesus. Stayed with Him. Listened to Him. Learned from Him. And Andrew went straightway to his brother Simon Peter and announced: "We have found the Messiah." We have found the One promised by God. Our Savior. Our Lord.

5. In my own life, my own experience, I can attest to the life-changing effect that comes with deciding to FOLLOW Jesus. Actually, in my own spiritual journey, I take the opportunity EVERY MORNING OF MY LIFE to hear Jesus say to me: "COME AND SEE." I take the opportunity every morning to set aside my own agenda -- my own ego, my own self-will -- to follow Him. I hear Jesus ask me: "Steve, COME AND SEE what I have in store for you today!" And I say YES to Him. Every morning. Every day. I have spent too many years of my life following my own agenda. I have spent too many years looking for selfish things for selfish reasons. I have wasted too much time following "the devices and desires" of my own heart, as the Prayer Book says. TODAY, I would rather follow Jesus. Today, I prefer His plans over mine.

6. So. What are you looking for this morning? If you're looking for fame and fortune in this world, you are probably looking in the wrong place. If you're looking for a great body or a wonderful deal on investments, then you are probably looking in the wrong place. If you're looking for psychological advice or advice about a medical condition, then you are probably looking in the wrong place. BUT . . . If you are looking for HOPE IN THE MIDST OF DESPAIR, for LOVE IN THE MIDST OF LONELINESS, for LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS, for ETERNAL LIFE in the midst of death and depression . . . then you HAVE come to the right place. Jesus said (Revelation 3), "Behold, I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock. If anyone answers, I will come in and have (eternal) fellowship with him." CAN you hear Him calling to you?