See, Behold, Known, Seen, Observed, Saw, Seeking… and note that the word ‘Behold’, in its etymology, derives from seeing and discovering something that is revealed… which is the meaning of the word Epiphany – the very season of the church we are exploring.  In the reading there are times when the word “see” is directly used and other times when the word is translated “know”: much like the we say “Oh, I see…” and “I know what you mean.”   Even the words “testify” and “witness” are dependent on the experience of “seeing” 

In this story in John’s Gospel, so many words about seeing: seeing with your with eyes: with understanding: with wonder: with the Spirit: seeing with the heart: seeing as knowing.  So this story has a focus on seeing.

And John the Baptist sees Jesus: and exclaims:

“Behold the Lamb of God who carries away the sin of the world.

John the Baptists draws upon his knowledge and expectations, and names Jesus as he sees him.

In our Sunday Service we unpacked this ‘Lamb of God’ statement, and identified that it is a sacrificial term.  We, post moderns often misread it because we don’t realise who is demanding a sacrifice in the passion story and in this gospel.  I am summarising the lower version of this sermon here, but most helpful for us were two things to think about:

Jewish theologians have an important point when they say that ‘Atonement Theology’ looks like it’s reversing the Abrahamic story of Issac. Abraham moved from thinking that he needed to sacrifice of his son in a way to satisfy God’s imagined anger, to something far less troubling.  Jewish theologians say, ‘You Christians look like you’re reversing direction: you see God sacrificing his Son.’  And that’s not the Issac/Abraham story.

The second thing to help us think about the ‘WHO’ is demanding sacrifice is this: “Who is it that demands the death of Jesus?  Who wants to call it sacrifice?  Is it God?  Is it God who has fists in the air, shouting, “Crucify him!”? Is it God there who demands that Jesus die?:”  Nope.  Who does it turn out to be?  The crowd. The mob. It is the US of humanity. The machinery of human organisation that dehumanises one another: the systems that seeks our own power at the expense of others.  It is the US of Humanity who forgets that we not only need one another we need a planet that sustains us.

Now, on Sunday we did a whole lot more than those dot points: and if you want to be in touch with me, we can make a time and have a conversation about more of the complexities of theology… but needless to say, I ended up this sections with these words:

‘… and for those of you who are not fully comfortable with that unpacking: let me just clarify something… We are called and followers of Christ, not to huge theological debates: we are called to get curious about this Jesus, who he is, and how we can follow him: how the Spirit is working in our lives . And we are called to learn to love and forgive one another: we are called to care and respect all creation and we are called to live the Grace we have received in the world: as salt in the world… So it’s good for us to do the theological thinking: it’s equally as important to do the following and dwelling with Jesus in life. This story is about Seeing, and being called into following Jesus: And it ends with Dwelling.’

and then we moved on…

Jesus says to the disciples of John who are following him, in the story “come and see”.  It’s a very attractive invitation: because it leaves the agency with the person invited by the statement, should they come along to see.  So these disciples of John the Baptist came and saw where Jesus was staying,  and they remind with him that day.

“Where are you staying?” ask the disciples of John the Baptist.

Come and see’ replies Jesus.

They came and saw where he was staying, 

and they remind with him that day.

Notice the VERBS… Seeing Jesus , Hearing Jesus calling, Following Jesus and  Dwelling with Jesus?

Which one of these VERBS would you like to do more of? 

We are encouraged, not dwell with words about Jesus.  Not to dwell with theories about him: or what and how God acts in and through Jesus: but rather, to Come and See ourselves; and stay the day with him.  So, how might you make that happen: not only for you as an individual: but also how do WE, as a community, engage with that Staying the Day with Jesus?