January 19, 2020
Sermon for Epiphany II
Bishop Keith Andrews
January 19, 2020
Appointed readings: Exodus 12:21-28 Psalm 40:1-10 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42
The following is a copy of Bishop Keith Andrews’ notes of the sermon he gave at Anglican Church of the Epiphany on January 19, 2020.
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“He has put a new song in my mouth;* a song of thanksgiving unto our God.” Psalm 40:3
Good evening. Today has been a beautiful day of fellowship and ministry conversations among your clergy and lay leaders. I thank you all for your time and the hospitality you have shown me. And, it is wonderful to worship with the Epiphany people who are named so in order that they, too, might reveal God through their life of following Jesus.
The gospel today is like a snippet from a digital newspaper that depicts a specific story of John the Baptist’s ministry. John is in Bethany where he is baptizing the people from surrounding towns, as well as, those who have made the trek from Jerusalem, some further distance away. He saw Jesus coming in his direction and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) As we learn from the narrative in Exodus 12 today, the Lord was about to do a great work, so he spoke to the elders of Israel about what He was going to do and how they were able to participate in it. Nine plagues had not been enough to address the pride of Pharaoh, for he persisted in making the people of God his slaves. So, he would send the angel of Death across the land of Egypt. His instruction, then, was to select a lamb for dinner that was free from defect and spread the lamb’s blood on the lintel and the doorposts of the house. The Destroyer would not enter the homes with this sign, which was given them by the Lord. The lamb gave his life for the freedom of the people in that home who had been subject to slavery. So, let’s do a little free response, ‘What does the Lamb of God give those who receive the offering of His life for them?’
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This is something that you should not only know intellectually, but then daily count the blessing that flows from this gift as it sets your life; your heart, on God who reveals Himself as you walk out by faith the joy of your salvation with an attitude of gratitude and generosity.
Now, let’s pick back up with John’s testimony: While it is not clear to whom John is speaking, he explained himself, “I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” (John 1:31) “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him”’ (John 2:32) “I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34) John, in the Spirit, understands that the One who Saves God’s people is the promised Messiah and that Messiah was revealed to Him as the one on whom the Spirit rests. Not only that, the one on whom the Spirit rests, will baptize with the same Spirit. And, the Messiah, given as God’s Son, is also the Lamb of God that not only protects God’s people from the Destroyer, but is God’s gracious gift to set people free from their sin. 2 John, then, ‘bore witness’. John said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) The next day, he did the same thing as he was standing with two disciples, one of whom was Andrew, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36) John pointed those who sought him and re-directed them to Jesus. And when they began to follow Jesus, he asked them, “What are you seeking?” (John 1:38) They asked where he was staying so they could spend the day with him, and they did. They became his disciples because he invited them to visit with him in the home where he was staying. Then, Andrew went and told his brother, Simon, “We have found the Messiah,” (John 1:41) and Simon followed him to where Jesus was. On that day, in John’s gospel, Simon becomes Peter, ‘the Rock’.
The power of John’s witness is given us as an example to follow ourselves wherever we go. His witness points people to Jesus. Jesus forms them in their faith with lots of love, discussion, teaching, food and support. Home hospitality is a great place for people to learn from Jesus and about Jesus! While these narratives are instructive for the whole church today, it’s just us with Him in this place today.
• We are receivers of this Word and in receiving, how might we do as John did when he pointed his friends to Jesus and said—“Behold the Lamb of God!”
• Or, how might we bear witness by speaking of who Jesus is when we are in conversation with others—“I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
• Or, how might we be more grounded in God’s Word and prayer, that we hear God speak to us as John did, “who on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain. This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
• Or, Andrew, who asks where he might spend more time with Jesus, “where are you staying?”, who also spends the day with Jesus after Jesus invites him to, “Come and see.”, who then goes to his brother and, “brought him to Jesus.”
Might the people of the Epiphany be inspired today by the witness of John and Jesus and Andrew and Peter who, each in their own way, offer their bodies as living sacrifices for others that may, too, may find and feed on the Passover Lamb who is the Son of God. Because of their witness and the Spirit’s work in us, may we increase our desire and daily action to bear witness to the One who Saves.