Southwest Community Church
January 4th
  • Come Now Is The Time To Worship
  • Light Of The World (Sing Hallelujah)

  • Intro

    Epiphany - such a weird moment. Christmas feels over. Some of us put it all away on the 26th of December. Others of us are intentionally trying to savour all twelve days of Christmas - these are the people who are saying weird things like, “but today is only the 11th day of Christmas!” (Today really is the 11th day of Christmas, by the way. Tomorrow is the twelfth, the Eve of the Epiphany… but we will celebrate the Magi’s arrival to see the Christ child today. In some traditions, Epiphany not only focuses on the arrival of the Magi, but also the baptism of Jesus - both are revelations of who this Jesus is.
    And Epiphany, after all, just means a sudden, powerful moment of realization or understanding about something important, like a lightbulb going off in your head… but in the context of the Christian year - the way we mark time as believers, so that we tell the whole story of God’s salvation history year by year, Epiphany also means appearance. So, in many ways, the culmination of Advent (waiting for and anticipating the “arrival” or the coming of Jesus) is both Christmas and Epiphany.
    Christmas - the baby arrives and with the celebration of that coming, we are emboldened to trust that Jesus’ second coming will also occur as promised.
    Epiphany - the appearance of the Christ child not just to the select few, but, if visited by the Magi, people from Persia which was the enemy of Israel, then this Child has come not just for Israel, but for the whole world. Even their enemies.
    And, we find in the story of the Magi, that they followed and found. They followed the star. They found the child. And, perhaps in their journey - both to the child and back home again, they were, in some way or other, also found.
    The beginning of the gospel of John doesn’t have the birth narratives and the story of the Magi, but we do have a call story - after the Prologue - those first 18 verses that we spent all of December exploring, the tone shifts, and the story begins. The spotlight is initially on John the Witness… as he is the “teacher” of the moment. But we know from the prologue that the focus of John’s teaching is to point to Jesus.
    John 1:29–34 NIV
    29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
    Today, we will read the next section - and see more following & finding there too.
    Do you have a teacher? A mentor? Someone whose word and opinion matters?
    I’ve had many teachers in my lifetime - music teachers and school teachers and professors, mentors - both those I’ve known face to face and those who have led me through their writing.
    But I have recently become a student of a new teacher: Julie Stuart
    Awhile back, I started seeing ads for something called Clever Poppy. And, for a variety of reasons, the idea of taking up embroidery was appealing to me. So I put some of Julie’s kits on my Christmas list… and, well, now I’m an embroiderer. Or, I suppose, you could say, I’m a student embroiderer. An apprentice.
    (Show my finished project)
    But the point is, that when I start a new stitch, I go to Julie’s helpful step by step videos and she guides me through. I can watch a step over and over again. I can try it out until I get the hang of it and then move onto the next step. With Julie’s kiwi accent guiding me each step of the way.
    Julie is my teacher. I listen to her voice. And she points me in the right direction. Well, at least so far. Stay tuned to see how my embroidery journey develops. :)
    In our text today, we will see this idea of listening to your teacher, of choosing to follow them, …
    Our reading for today is John 1:35-51
    John 1:35–51 NIV
    35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
    This is the Word of the Lord.
    THANKS BE TO GOD.

    following & finding

    In our text today, we see multiple would-be disciples, multiple entry points, multiple takes on who Jesus is, and an enigmatic ending.
    So let’s look at each of those in turn…

    Multiple would-be disciples

    Did you notice the whole ensemble cast of characters? Jesus and his cousin John - John the Witness as the fourth gospel emphasizes, but who we also know from the other gospels as John the Baptist. And then those who follow or investigate this Jesus fellow…
    Andrew (one of John’s disciples)
    Simon Peter (Andrew’s brother)
    unnamed disciple (a second disciple of John’s)
    Philip
    Nathanael

    Multiple entry points

    For Andrew & the unnamed disciple, it’s their teacher John pointing them towards Jesus.
    They ask Jesus about where he’s staying (really? Is that what you really want to know about the word made flesh? The one was was there in the beginning, was with God and is God? Where… are you sleeping?!) But Jesus responds with those beautiful words: Come and see.
    For Simon, his brother finds him.
    Andrew encounters Jesus and can’t wait to go tell his brother.
    Jesus knows Simon even if Simon doesn’t know Jesus. Renames him, gives him a nickname? Cephas. Petros (in Greek)
    For Philip, Jesus finds him and calls him directly. “Follow me”
    For Nathanael, Philip finds him - and then invites Nathanael’s curiosity with his own “come and see.”
    Philip uses the same words Jesus has for the first disciples, and the same words the Samaritan woman will use when she goes to the people of her village - come and see!
    And Jesus knows Nathanael.

    Multiple takes on who Jesus is

    As these would-be disciples encounter Jesus, they are processing who they think Jesus is… and they are naming it differently!
    Rabbi (Andrew & friend in v 38 & Nathanael in v 49)
    Messiah (Andrew to Simon in v 41)
    When we say “Jesus Christ” we are really saying, “Jesus, the Anointed One” or “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus, the Chosen One”
    Christ is a title indicating the Jesus is the Messiah. The One prophesied about, the one waited for.
    Prophet like Moses (Philip to Nathanael in v 45)
    The Torah promises there will be another prophet like Moses - different from the Messiah - a clearly important leader for the people
    Jesus of Nazareth (Philip to Nathanael in v 45, Nathanael in v 46 - not a positive title!)
    Son of Joseph (Philip to Nathanael in v 45)
    Son of God (Nathanael in v 49)
    King of Israel (Nathanael in v 49)
    So, which one is right? All. And none.
    The titles all gesture to what is true about Jesus, but none of them is quite the whole picture.
    And perhaps, the gospel writer is intentionally building the tension here - who is this Jesus? (Come and see!) And, of course, one of the unique features of this fourth gospel is that we’ll hear Jesus answer the question with the I am statements that are scattered throughout the book. Jesus will answer the question himself with multiple answers - images that will point us towards his true identity.
    But, the presence of multiple, overlapping, and different explanations for who Jesus is, in an intriguing part of this text.
    Multiple discples, multiple entry points, multiple takes on who Jesus is.
    And then

    An enigmatic ending…

    John 1:50–51 NIV
    50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
    There are two main things I want us to notice in this odd ending…
    There is more to come. And so, the gospel writer has Jesus issuing an invitation to the disciples, but also to the reader, that there is more… so “come and see.”
    But secondly, there is a new threshold between heaven and earth. This image of heaven opening and angels descending… does it make you think of another story?
    Genesis 28 - the story of Jacob stopping for the night and having an epic dream… including heaven opening and angels ascending and descending a ladder. The place is named Bethel - of house of God - the threshold between heaven and earth was a place.
    But now. Now, in Jesus, that threshold is a person. The kingdom of heaven is now walking around and dwelling in our midst.
    Word made flesh - and we beheld his glory.
    So, multiple people - maybe including you and me?
    Multiple entry points - whether you have a teacher like John pointing you in the right direction or whether someone comes to tell you about what they’ve found, or whether Jesus says, “Come. Follow.” directly to you.
    Multiple takes on who Jesus is - one of the realities of living out our faith in community, is that we are ALWAYS wrestling with who Jesus is. Always rediscovering Him. Always noticing how we’ve forgotten about this aspect, or how we never really thought about or took seriously this thing. But being in community makes us walk around and see Jesus from different vantage points. And also we see Jesus in one another. And so we’re always trying to piece together who Jesus is. And then make sure we keep Him at the Centre of what we’re doing, and who we are as a community.
    And, if Jesus really is the location of the threshold between heaven and earth - well then, of course, we end up here at the Table.
    We follow Jesus here. And following Jesus will bring us back here again and again.
    But also, we find Jesus here - and we are found by Jesus here. Again and again.

    following & finding at the Table

    -The table is a point of orientation & re-orientation
    It’s the place where we gather and covenant together - with God, yes. But also with one another. And it’s the place where we remember and share together in bread and wine.
    WORDS OF INVITATION
    Look, here is the Lord’s Table spread as for a feast. Bread for breaking, wine poured for drinking: signs of his love and hospitality, symbols of his life broken, his blood poured out.
    He is not dead! He is risen and present among us, evidence of God’s covenant grace and promise.
    So we come in faith to the table, you and I, companions on the journey. Some of us fresh and eager, others weary, in need of nourishment.
    All of us conscious of our failings.
    Words of confession and forgiveness may be offered here extempore or using prayers from Part Two of this book. At the conclusion of the prayer the words of invitation may be concluded
    Come now, don’t hesitate, the feast is ready and the Lord himself invites you.
    WE COVENANT
    Creating and redeeming God, we give You thanks and praise.
    Your covenant of grace was made for our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
    We come this day to covenant with You and with companion disciples:
    to watch over each other and to walk together before You in ways known and still to be made known.
    Pour your Spirit upon us. Help us so to walk in Your ways that the promises we make this day, and the life that we live together, may become an offering of love, our duty and delight truly glorifying to You – Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
    This day, we give ourselves again to the Lord and to each other to be bound together in fellowship, and to work together in the unity of the Spirit for the sake of God’s mission.
    WE REMEMBER
    It was the night of the Passover, and Jesus and his friends were sharing supper together.
    While they eating he told them that one of them would betray him. They were appalled and protested saying, ‘Not I Lord, I would never betray you.’
    Jesus took some bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘Take this and eat. This is my body.’
    He took the cup of wine and after giving thanks passed it among them, saying as they drank, ‘This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. I will not drink again until the day comes when I drink with you in my father’s Kingdom.’
    As the story is told (or immediately after) the person presiding breaks the bread and pours the wine.
    PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
    Creating and redeeming God, we give you thanks and praise for your covenant of grace: a covenant expressed in sinful people who know forgiveness, the weary who are refreshed, the hungry who are nourished, the captives who are set free and the oppressed who experience liberation. Thank you that you chose to make us a part of your story.
    Thank you for Jesus Christ who revealed your love in his death and resurrection and who continues to share his life with us through bread and wine.
    Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit who sustains us in our walk together, helping us to watch over each other, to pray for one another, and to work together for justice and truth.
    As we eat this bread and drink from the cup, (signs of hospitality and grace), may we be empowered to serve boldly wherever you may call.
    Accept these prayers and our heartfelt thanksgiving in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
    INSTRUCTIONS - this morning, we will be served the bread & cup while remaining in our seats. Please hold both the elements and I’ll lead us in taking them together.
    [serving]
    WE SHARE
    The bread
    One people, one loaf, a sign of our common faith and testimony to the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Take this loaf, food for faith, and feed on it with thanksgiving.
    The wine
    One people, one cup, a sign of the new covenant poured out for you and for many. It is a covenant sealed by his blood. When we drink we must be thankful and agree together never to forget.
    Having gathered, and covenanted together, and remembered and shared, we also commit to journeying together.
    WE JOURNEY
    Holy God, we have been nourished and had our thirst quenched, through bread broken and wine poured in thanksgiving for your Son Jesus Christ. Send us out to be as generous to those we meet this week, that we might show through word and deed that he is not dead, but risen and present among us.
    Hallelujah! Amen.

      • John 1:29–34NIV2011

      • John 1:35–51NIV2011

      • John 1:50–51NIV2011

  • Who You Say I Am
Southwest Community Church
8 members