Jesus, compassionate Savior, send your Holy Spirit upon us to open our eyes and hearts to you and your love and grace. May we see God the creator through you and serve you with joy. By your power let us be lights to the nations inviting all we meet to come and see you and there to find acceptance, forgiveness and hope. We ask this in your most holy name. Amen.
Dennis Sepper, Burnsville, MN
Warm-up Question
Who do you see when you look at Jesus? What words or titles do you use to describe Jesus?
Come and See…an Extremist?
April 16, 1963—Today is the Commemoration day of Martin Luther King, Jr on the Lutheran calendar (for the entire calendar see pages 15-17 in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal). Tomorrow is a national holiday and our country pauses to remember the life, work and words of Dr. King who fought against race segregation and for civil rights and the dignity of African Americans and all people. Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.
However, in 1963 Martin Luther King was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for leading a non-violent protest against the direct order of city officials. While in jail, King learned that many people, including pastors, had labeled him an “extremist” for defying the authority of government representatives. In response to that label, on April 16, 1963, King wrote a letter to those pastors and the quote below (edited a bit for space) became famous. Dr. King wrote:
But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Was not Amos an extremist for justice: “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like am ever-flowing stream.” Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Was not Martin Luther an extremist: “Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.” So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?
Labels and titles matter. They reveal what others see in us and how we see ourselves in the world. They also reveal what we see in others. There are a number of labels and titles for Jesus in today’s Scripture readings.
Discussion Questions
- Do you agree with Martin Luther King, Jr. that Jesus, Amos, Paul and Martin Luther were extremists? Why or why not?
- What are some of the labels or titles you have? Are you happy about them or not? Why?
Second Sunday after Epiphany
(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings
For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.
Gospel Reflection
Last week we entered the season of the church year when our Gospel scriptures reveal more and more about who Jesus is and what Jesus’ mission and ministry will be going forward. Today John the Baptist and Andrew share who they see Jesus to be, revealing more about Jesus’ identity. John tells his followers and us that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away to sin of the world and that Jesus is the Son of God. Andrew’s encounter with Jesus and with his brother Simon reveals that Jesus is a rabbi (teacher) and then the confession that Jesus is the Messiah.
John and Andrew arrive at these titles as they come into a relationship with Jesus. John sees Jesus walking toward him and recognizes Jesus to be the one revealed to him by God. Andrew is willing to follow Jesus and moves from calling him a teacher to realizing he is God’s Messiah. Andrew invites his brother Simon to come and see Jesus and in Simon’s encounter with Jesus Simon’s name is changed to Peter (the rock).
It is the willingness to “come and see” Jesus, to follow Jesus and discover, by the Holy Spirit, who Jesus is and what Jesus is about in the world that assists us in saying who Jesus is and what titles we give Jesus. Earlier in his Gospel the evangelist John writes “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known” (John 1:18). Then later in John’s Gospel Jesus says to the disciple Phillip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). To “see” Jesus in the Gospels and in the other books of the New Testament is to see God, to see God’s character and characteristics.
However our mission doesn’t end there for we are to be like Andrew, willing to invite others to come and see this Jesus, to invite them to come and follow Jesus. This mission isn’t a burden but a joyful, exciting opportunity. Like Andrew we can’t wait to share the fact that we see Jesus the Messiah, the Savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Martin Luther King, Jr. saw Jesus as a prophet of justice and a loving, non-violent reflection of God. King shared that vision with others and invited them to come and see Jesus and the power of his servanthood to all humanity. How Martin Luther King saw Jesus was reflected in his life and we remember him for the example he gives to us of God working through us for justice and racial equality along with compassionate service to others.
So get ready for the weeks ahead where Jesus will be revealed in the gospel texts. Be willing to come and see as the story of Jesus unfolds and be ready to be inspired to invite others to come and see Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- Put yourself among the crowd on the banks of the river Jordan with John the Baptist. What do you think the people made of John’s declaration that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and is the very Son of God? Did they accept his testimony or do you think they had to see Jesus with their own eyes to believe what John was saying? Why or why not?
- Think about who invited you to come and see Jesus. Was it your parents? A friend? Your Pastor? How did they put out that invitation? What happened when you heard the call to come and see?
- In the warm up question we asked you to think about your titles for Jesus. How have those titles guided your life and your service to others?
Activity Suggestions
Invite some people with titles (official titles or unofficial ones given them) and have them share how they came to have those titles and how those titles shaped how they see themselves. Take time to prepare some questions and interview your guests. (Author’s note: my thanks to the Augsburg Fortress resource Sundays and Seasons for suggesting this type of activity.)
Closing Prayer
Jesus, compassionate Savior, send your Holy Spirit upon us to open our eyes and hearts to you and your love and grace. May we see God the creator through you and serve you with joy. By your power let us be lights to the nations inviting all we meet to come and see you and there to find acceptance, forgiveness and hope. We ask this in your most holy name. Amen.
