Sermon notes – Sunday 14th January

We do, I’m sure you’ll agree, like to tell people of our discoveries and our finds.

We eagerly share with each other our discoveries of restaurants we had found, good places to go on holiday, television programmes or films we have seen, supermarkets we prefer and why. If you found a good gym or a hairdresser or even a dentist, you would tell others, encouraging them to share in what you have found.

When we find something we believe to be good then we tell others.

And yet, when it comes to faith, we suddenly become a bit more reluctant to do that.

And it’s not really surprising. Our faith, our relationship with God, is close to our hearts, it’s more important to us than a TV programmes or a restaurant. If someone wants to reject your suggestion of where to shop then or go on holiday, well that’s their loss. But when someone rejects your faith then that’s more difficult, I know it is.

But that is not the only reason we keep quiet. Often, we have made this all more difficult than it needs to be. You believe you need a reasoned argument to defend what you believe and doubt you can give all the answers. It’s better if you don’t start something you can’t finish. But that’s really not true, very few people outside of a church environment want a theological discussion. If they do then they generally make it through the door to ask me. But I promise you that, despite my ability to talk about it, nobody outside of a church building has ever asked me about the political themes and liberal theology found in the gospel of Mark. Not a single person. People are generally far more sensible than that – they have busy lives to be getting on with.

In today’s reading we see the message we can share with others in its simplest form. Jesus finds you, Jesus sees you, we have found the one that changes everything, come and see, come and see.

Jesus finds Philip. That’s all it says. Jesus goes to Galilee and finds him. He is seeking him out.

And later on we hear that…

Jesus had seen Nathanael. He’d seen him under the fig tree. Again, there is no detail. We don’t know what Nathanael was doing there – he may have been studying scripture, that’s where rabbis taught, but equally he may have been having a rest, or a spot of lunch. Whilst he was living his ordinary life, whatever he had been doing, we know that Jesus sees him.

While we carry on with our ordinary, daily lives, Jesus sees us. We are known and we are seen.

That truth is also demonstrated in today’s Old Testament reading, the calling of Samuel. The Lord knows Samuel, he sees Samuel and he actively calls him over and over again until Samuel hears him and listens.

Psalm 139 we hear of how we were known in our mothers’ womb. We are known as we are being formed and before we are even born.

The Lord knows every part of his creation. We are completely and utterly known and completely and utterly seen.

But today I want us to go back in the story a bit and focus on the invitation that Philip gave to Nathanael. Philip – excited and convinced found Nathanael – cynical and doubtful (I like Nathanael – how many of us relate to him!).

Nathanael…wasn’t too sure. “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

We’re not sure what Nathanel had against Nazareth.

It could have been as simple as local tribalism. An ‘our village is better than yours’ mentality. It’s difficult to find an equivalent example for here in central London – but think along the lines of football team supporting or maybe political differences.

For whatever reason, Nathanel was not immediately convinced and enthusiastic but Philip gives him that simple invitation, I have found Jesus, the one who changes everything, come and See. Come and See.

This is my invitation to you today. By all means share it with others if you wish to do so. But hear first the invitation for yourselves.

I have found Jesus – come and see.

All too often and all too easily these words can and often do become…come and see what happens in a church building on a Sunday morning. And to be honest, it would be really convenient for me if everyone took up on that offer. But…that’s not really the invitation.

The invitation to all is simply…I have found Jesus, the one who changes everything, come and see.

Come and see him in the beauty of art and poetry.

Come and see him in the work of those who are feeding the hungry, in the generosity of those who donate, in the love of those who put others needs before their own.

Come and see him in the work of those fighting for justice, in those being a voice for the people who are unheard. For those shouting out for the rights of all the workers who are underpaid and struggling to live, for those who have highlighted the injustices in our benefits system and spoken out about child poverty. Come and see.

Come and see him in the quiet. Stop and wonder at God’s creation. Watch the sunlight and shadows on the frosty ground, see the raindrops in the puddles, watch the sunrise and the sunset.

Come and see him as we worship, both here and online. Listen…and pray. Sit in his presence and wait.

It doesn’t need to be difficult, it really shouldn’t be difficult, it’s as simple as the invitation itself.

We have found Jesus, he changes everything, come and see.