Epiphany 2, Year A
January 20, 2008
The Rev. Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew
John
the Baptist was a man who had clarity.
He did what he did for a reason. “I came baptizing with water for this reason,
that he might be revealed to
Two of John’s disciples heard his proclamation and followed Jesus. Why? Jesus asked them the clarifying question: “What are you looking for?” John knew what he was looking for. Did they?
A year and a half ago I went to a three day workshop to learn how to be a Natural Church Development Coach. Members of both the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio and the Lutheran Synod were participating in the workshop. When I entered the room I discovered that the tables had all been preset with name plates. I found myself sitting between a Lutheran pastor who serves a parish five minutes from our home, and an Episcopal priest who is one of the few other ordained women with children who are of school age. After she and I had chatted for a few minutes her face lit up and she said to me, ‘There are so few of us moms who are working in parishes—let’s be friends.’ She knew what she was looking for and how to ask for it. It still amazes me that she was willing to take the risk of making herself vulnerable to someone she had just met. The only real way to find out if we could be friends was to take a chance and spend time together to see if the relationship worked. Fortunately for me her request has developed into a friendship that is a real gift.
When
John’s disciples decided to follow Jesus it gave them an opportunity to spend
some time with Jesus, to check him out for themselves, to see if this was what
they were looking for. They had John’s
proclamation as a recommendation and now they had the chance to have their own
experience with him. His response to
their implicit ‘May we join you?’ is the very open phrase “Come and see.” Evidently
the disciples found what they were seeking.
Not only did they remain with Jesus, Andrew went and found his brother
Simon and brought him to Jesus saying, “We
have found the Messiah.”
When John “saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove” and remain on Jesus, it showed him that Jesus was the One he had been waiting for. It was news that was too good to keep to himself. He told Andrew and another disciple. When Andrew followed Jesus and chose to remain with him, Andrew became as convinced as John was that Jesus is the Messiah. It was news that was too good to keep to himself. He told Simon. Not only did Andrew share his personal experience, as John the Baptist had, he personally brought Simon to Jesus.
The
other day I saw an advertisement on television for eHarmony, a dating
website. In the ad a woman says that she
was looking for just the right relationship, used eHarmony and met a wonderful
man, whom she married. She had such a
great experience with eHarmony that she then recommended it to her sister. The sister tried it, met the man who was just
right for her and also got married. They
then asked their mother what she was looking for. Mom said she was looking for a dog. They asked her “Wouldn’t you rather find a man?”
Mom tried eHarmony, met a terrific guy--with a dog—whom she then
married. He quipped, “Now she has my dog.”
Each of these women knew what they were looking for and, with the help of others, found it—in Mom’s case with a bonus. When the first two found what they sought, which happened to be a special person, their response was to share the good news so that others could find what they were looking for. In each case the woman knew what she was seeking, was told by another how she might find it, and entered into a relationship that was just right for her. That, in a nutshell, is evangelism.
Evangelism
means, literally, “to share the good
news.” People are willing to share
the good news about all kinds of things:
where to find a bargain; where to go on vacation; which doctor or
dentist is the best; which is a fabulous new book or movie. At times we are very clear about what we are
looking for: a friend, a job lead, a
soul mate, a fresh start, a place to call home.
At other times we may not be aware of looking for anything or anyone in
particular, but the opportunity may find us, as my friend found me. When we find that someone, that something,
that is just what we needed, it is good news indeed. Good news is meant to be shared. Perhaps you are brave and articulate. You may be blessed with a gift for sharing
your excitement. There plenty of people
who need to hear you share the Good News of Jesus Christ. If coming to know God in Jesus has
transformed your life, the Church needs your testimony so that others know such
change is real, that it is possible for them too. If you haven’t the words, or the nerve, or an
appropriate setting to speak as boldly as the folks from eHarmony, try the
other approach. If someone appreciates
music, tell them ‘We have a great music
program. Come and see.’ If a family is looking for opportunities for
their kids, tell them ‘We have a
terrific
Godly Play program. We’ve got great candidates for our next Youth Minister. Come and see.’ If they want to touch the community, tell them ‘We have a dedicated core of mission workers. Come and see.’ Look around you, lives are touched and changed every day. People come to know and love Jesus. If you don’t know in how many ways that might be true, come and see. The Good News is meant to include you.
Amen