Sermon

Two Men and a Wedding

October 15, 2023 St. Paul's Anglican Church Chatswood - Sermons

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What would it take for you to put your trust in someone and follow them?
For me, the reputation and credential of the person is an essential factor.
Do the actions of those people match the words that come out from their mouth?
But I think I relied on the witness and testimony of other people more.
Does anyone that I know and trust also follow that person?
What is their experience with that person?
We'll be spending a few weeks in chapter 1 to 12 of the Gospel of John
to read his testimony and witness about Jesus Christ.
John wrote to show his readers the greatness of Jesus Christ.
He warned us to see Jesus as glorious.
By seeing his glory and examining the evidence of who he claims himself to be,
John hopes that we'll become a believer and follower,
in other terms, a disciple of Jesus.
And as you follow Jesus,
and when Jesus becomes more central to your life,
your life will be abundant.
Jesus himself also has the same aim in mind
as he walked on this earth more than 2,000 years ago,
and as he now sits by the right hands of our Heavenly Father
to intercede for those who put their trust in him.
He told his disciples that he had come
so that his disciples may have life and have it abundantly.
Today, as we continue in chapter 1 and 2 of John,
let's look at Jesus' invitation to his very first group of disciples
and two aspects of who Jesus is.
You can find the outline in our St. Paul's app.
Last week, our senior minister, Steve, encouraged us
and invited us to look, to behold, to think,
and gaze, ponder, understand, and get who Jesus is
and what he has done.
He ended the sermon with these two points.
If you missed the preaching,
I encourage you to look up the St. Paul's Chesswood channel on YouTube
and to watch it again or go to our website to listen.
Firstly, how much we will align our life with Jesus
and grow in abundant life
is directly proportional to how much we behold Jesus,
look to Jesus, and understand Jesus.
We will be filled with all the fullness of God
as we grasp the breadth, length, height, and depth
of the love of Christ.
And to the degree that we grow in the abundant life
is a degree that we too will be a voice
to the greatness and goodness of Jesus Christ.
We will see from today's passage
how this proposition unfolds in two persons
we will meet today.
So please turn your Bible to John 1.35.
John 1.35.
When two of John the Baptist's disciples heard him referring to Jesus again,
saying, look, the Lamb of God.
They followed Jesus.
And our passage shows us that
Jesus took notice that they were following.
In verse 38, it says,
Jesus saw them.
Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked,
what do you want?
I want us to pause and try to imagine
what tone Jesus would use to ask this simple question.
Whichever way I imagine,
I still find the question,
what do you want?
A bit abrupt
and challenging to say it in a friendly way.
But it does not sound rude.
When I hear the question,
I can only think of the time
when my kids are much younger
and try to net me for something.
And that's how I answer or question them.
What do you want?
There will be another one of this kind of interaction
in the later part of our passage today.
How are you going to read the Bible?
How are you doing with reading the Bible?
Nick mentioned about
we encourage each other to read the Bible
and build a habit of reading
at least four or more times a week.
Are you a morning reader?
Reading your Bible in the morning?
Or evening reader
who has a Bible by your bed
and read before you sleep
or finish the day.
Maybe you read the Bible during the day
or maybe during lunchtime.
As you read the Bible,
how often would you pause and slow down?
Especially if it's some kind of dialogue
or passage that you have read before.
Do you ever consider what tone of voice
the people you are reading would use?
I believe our own culture and background
or whether we are reading the Bible
in a language that is not our hard language
may affect how we read the Bible.
We need to take care
not to read into what is in front of us.
Something that may originate
from our own culture and background
that is not helpful,
which may hinder us
from seeing the complete picture.
Pause and think.
Pause to imagine.
And use something like the app,
the word one-to-one,
which would be an excellent way of you
to behold Jesus better.
Pause and ask yourself,
is the perception of Jesus
really who he is?
Or are you making Jesus
into what you want him to be?
I hope as you listen
to this series of preaching
from the first 12th chapter of John,
you will see Jesus as who he is,
not what you want him to be.
Getting back to the question
Jesus asked the two disciples
of John the Baptist
as he saw them following.
Apart from the tone that he was used,
which is maybe hard to conclude,
we can also consider
why Jesus took that moment
to turn around and ask them,
what do you want,
after he saw them following.
John Carson commented that,
on one level,
what do you want
can be a straightforward narrative
to invite them
to articulate what is on their mind
while following Jesus.
However,
it may also be
John's intention
to guide his reader
to reflect
on more profound questions.
It might be that
the word,
the Logos,
the Messiah
who comes to take away
the sin of the world,
confronts those
who make any show
of beginning to follow him
and demands that they articulate
what they really want in life.
When was the last time
you think about such question,
about what do you really want
in your life?
What do you really want
from Jesus
as you follow him?
Why are you here
at church on Sunday
or any,
on today
or any other Sunday?
They told Jesus that
they want to know
where Jesus was staying.
These two disciples of John,
they reply,
demonstrate their intention
to follow Jesus
because at that time,
unlike ancient China,
students often move in
to stay with their teachers
so they want to check out
where they're going to live
later on.
In today's term,
asking where Jesus is staying
is like us
checking out
our kids' school
on orientation day
or going to all week
before you attend university.
You want to check out
the place,
you want to check it out
for your kids
or yourself
before taking the next step
to be fully committed.
And Jesus saw
their intention,
he invited them
to,
his invitation to them
was,
come and you will see.
And they went
and remained with Jesus
for the whole day.
They are invited
to come and see the Lord.
There is an invitation
for us
as we come
to consider Jesus.
It's not just
an invitation
for those who are
not Christian,
but it's an invitation
for Christians as well.
It's an invitation
for meditation
and reflection
on Christ.
That invitation
still stands today.
Jesus is asking you now,
what do you want?
And inviting you
to come and see
who he is
and what he has
accomplished for you.
At these two disciples
of John
find out who Jesus is.
One of them
named Andrew
goes and finds
his brother Simon
and brings him
to Jesus.
Andrew has become
the voice
of the greatness
and goodness
of Jesus Christ
after spending
a day with him
like his previous
teacher,
John the Baptist.
We are told
in verse 43
to 46
that another person,
Philip,
also went
and found Nathaniel
and brought him
to Jesus.
Philip even used
the very similar phrase
that Jesus used,
come and see,
and extended
Jesus' invitation
to Nathaniel
even after he made
some degrading comment
about where
Jesus is from.
From Jesus'
interaction
with Nathaniel
between verse 47
to the end
of chapter 1,
we see how Jesus
is all-knowing.
Or if we use
one of those
big words,
we can see Jesus
is omniscient.
Let's read that
interaction again.
When Jesus saw
Nathaniel approaching,
he said to him,
He truly
is an Israelite
in whom
there is no disease.
How do you know me?
Nathaniel asked.
Jesus answered,
I saw you
while you were
still under the fig tree
before Philip
calls you.
Then Nathaniel declared,
Rabbi,
you are the son of God,
you are the king
of Israel.
Jesus said,
you believe
because I told you
I saw you
under the fig tree.
You will see
greater things
than that.
I saw you
while you were
still under the fig tree
before Philip
called you.
Do you notice
a word that
John keeps using
as he encourages
his reader
to look to Jesus?
It mentioned
John the Baptist
saw Jesus passing
and the two
of his disciples
went and saw
where Jesus
was staying.
John also highlighted
that Jesus saw
the two of
John's disciples
following
and Jesus
saw Nathaniel
while he was
still under
the fig tree
before Philip
calls him.
I saw you
is such a simple
face
but it also
is so rich
and manifested.
I believe
it also
can be a good
revealer
of what's going
on in our hearts.
I saw you
an image
of parents
playing high
and sick
and pick-a-poo
with their children
coming to mind.
The laughter
and joy
in their playful
interaction
are so contagious.
It can also
be a marker
of the beginning
of a relationship
as if someone
would say
when I saw you
the first time
I fall in love
with you.
That's my wife
over there.
On the other hand
if you know
that you have
done something
wrong
something you
should not have
done
or you have
not fulfilled
what you
ought to have
done
hearing their
face
can bring up
so much
worry
fear
anxiety
and guilt.
I saw you
can be comforting
and reassuring
especially to
someone
who may be
at a crossroad
or a dana
feeling all alone
questioning
all the things
that are happening
in their life
where there
seems to be
no one
who care
or take notice
of the pain
and suffering
you are going
through
having someone
to say to you
I saw you
could mean so much.
I believe
Nathaniel
may be going
through one
of those moments
under the fig tree
but he followed
Philip
to go and see
Jesus
but he was
seen
by Jesus
before he
got there.
Jesus
knows
Nathaniel
and tell him
that he
saw him
while he
was alone
under the fig tree
and that's
what
Jesus
is saying
to you
and me.
Jesus
has supernatural
knowledge
of what is
going on
in your
world
and he
does not
hold
any of
that
knowledge
against
you
or me.
No need
to be
embarrassed
about what
is going
on in
your mind.
Jesus
saw you
and he
is the
answer
to all
the
questions
you
have
about
your
life
and
your
world.
Jesus
does not
use
his
knowledge
about you
to control
or manipulate
you.
He
loves
you.
Jesus
is all
knowing
with
supernatural
knowledge.
He
promised
that
when you
see
and
behold
him
your
life
will
change
and
you
will
see
greater
things.
He
can
do
it
because
he
is
also
all
powerful
as
we
see
from
chapter
2
verse
1
to
12.
There's
a
wedding
at
Canaan
in
Galilee.
Jesus
mother
was
there
and
so
were
Jesus
and
his
disciples.
It is
here
that
Jesus
had
another
abrupt
interaction
with
someone,
his
mother.
Let's
see
in
verse
3.
When
the
wine
was
gone,
Jesus
mother
said
to
him,
they
have
no
more
wine.
Woman,
why
do
you
involve
me?
Jesus
replied,
my
hour
has
not
yet
come.
Again,
I
find
it
difficult
to
put
the
phrase
woman,
why
do
you
involve
me?
In
a
pleasing
and
non-confrontational
way.
But
why
does
Jesus
have
to
speak
nicely
and
offensively
to
people
or
his
mom
all
the
time?
The
problem
of my
discomfort
is
obvious
to do
with
me.
I'm
concerned
about
the
tone
of
Jesus'
interaction
earlier
and
here.
It
has
a lot
to
do
with
how
I
want
to
present
Jesus
as
a
friendly
person
or
for
others
to
think
that
I
am
a
nice
person.
But
apart
from
being
our
friend,
there's
more
to
Jesus
and
it's
nothing
to
do
with
what
people
think
of
me.
Here's
a
lesson
for
myself
and
maybe
for
some
of
you
too.
Before
we
see
Jesus
as
our
friend,
be
sure
you
see
Jesus
as
the
Son
of
God,
the
King,
the
Lamb of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world.
We
need
to
see
Jesus
as
who
he
is,
not
as
what
we
want
him
to
be.
The
hour
that
Jesus
mentioned
is
constantly
referred
in the
Bible
about
his
death
on
the
cross,
his
resurrection,
and
his
return
to
the
Father's
side
until
his
second
coming.
That
is
the
only
way
that
sin
of
this
world
is
dealt
with
once
and
for
all.
It's
our
only
way
to
be
reconciled
with
God.
We
need
to
acknowledge
Jesus'
Lordship
before
we
can
see
the
genuine
friendship
that
Jesus
offered
to
each
of
us.
There
is
something
special
about
this
wedding
at
Canaan,
and
it's
not
just
because
the
wine
has
run
out.
Wedding
is
used
as
a
metaphor
for
our
relationship
with
God
in
the
Bible.
Jesus
is
a
bridegroom
who
takes
care
of
the
wedding.
Our
eternal
relationship
with
God
is
an
image
of
one
big
everlasting
joyous
wedding
where
we
enjoy
banquet
where
food
or
wine
will
not
run
out.
On
the
contrary
anything
we
try
to
rely
on
for
joy
in
our
life
our
great
relationship
our
career
success
our
wealth
and
our
achievement
will
ultimately
run
out.
No
matter
how
hard
we
try
to
build
a
great
life
something
comes
in
and
ruin
our
effort
our
efforts
are
never
enough.
In
Jesus'
time
the
wine
running
out
means
the
bridegroom
had
done
a
terrible
job
of
preparation.
It's
a
disastrous
situation
that
would
be
a
very
shameful
embarrassment.
It
would
be
the
talk
of
the
time
forever.
By
making
new
wine
for
the
wedding
at
King
Jesus
showed
he
has
power
over
the
created
order
because
he
is
the
creator
who
comes
to
earth.
He
is
all
powerful
omnipotent
and
can
make
everything
new.
Jesus
did
much
more
than
simply
feel
a need
or a
first
some
kind
of
social
disaster.
He
turns
embarrassment
into a
blessing.
what
the
master
of
banquet
said
to
the
bridegroom
in
verse
10
is
a
climax
of
this
story.
Everyone
brings
out
choice
wine
first
and
then
the
cheaper
wine
after
the
guests
had
too
much
to
drink.
But
you
have
saved
the
best
till
last,
till
now.
Instead
of having
to
endure
shame,
the
bridegroom
was
publicly
honored
for
his
over-the-top
hospitality
for
saving
the
good
wine
for
last.
Jesus
came
to
bring
blessing
to
us,
not
judgment.
He
used
stone
water
jar
that
was
set
aside
for
ceremonial
washing
to
change
water
into
wine.
It
is
through
his
death
on
the
cross
by
his
blood
that
he
cleansed
us
and
forgives
us
of
our
sins.
He
holds
the
power
to
change
whatever
embarrassment
in your
life
that
are
so
shameful
that
you
would
want
to
keep
hiding
into
something
for
his
glory.
But
before
Jesus
can
give us
a cup
of
blessing,
he
will
have
to
take
the
cup
of
divine
wolf.
And
he
did
it
willingly
for
you.
And
you
don't
have
to
hide
anything
anymore.
changing
water
to
wine
is
the
first
of
many
situations
in
John's
gospel
where
Jesus
restores
something
to
better
than
original
condition.
It
reveals
Jesus'
deep
concern
for
meeting
people
at
their
point
of
need,
no
matter
how
trivial
or
inconsequential
those
needs
may
be.
John
told us
in
verse
11
of
chapter
1,
and
also
later
on
in
chapter
20,
verse
30 to
31,
why
he
has
chosen
to
tell
us
more
particular
events
in
his
gospel.
Verse
11,
what
Jesus
did
here
in
Canaan
of
Galilee
was
the
first
of
the
signs
through
which
he
revealed
his
glory
and
his
disciples
believed
in
him.
In
chapter
20,
verse
30,
Jesus
performed
many
other
signs
in
the
presence
of
his
disciples,
which
are not
recorded
in
this
book,
but
these
are
written
that
you
might
believe
that
Jesus
is
the
Messiah,
the
Son of
God,
and that
by
believing
you
might have
life
in
his
name.
God
John
wants
us
to
read
his
gospel
and
come
to
believe
that
Jesus
is
the
Messiah,
the
Christ,
the
Son of
God,
and
by
believing
we
might
have
life
in
his
name,
and
it
will
not
be
any
ordinary
life,
but
life
that
is
filled
to
the
broom
and
abundant
life.
Believing
and trusting
is
relational.
I can
imitate
and do
exactly
what
another
person
does,
but
that
will
not
guarantee
I
have
a
relationship
with
that
person.
Jesus
is
looking
forward
to
a
relationship
with
his
followers.
He
invites
anyone
who
makes
any
shows
of
beginning
to
follow
him
to
articulate
what
they
really
want
in
life.
Coming
to
Jesus,
what
do you
really
want
in
life?
Jesus
invites
us
to
come
and
see
him
and
form
a
relationship
of
following
him.
That
relationship
will help
us to
understand
the
glory
and
greatness
of the
relationship
between
God the
Father
and
God the
Son.
When
you
come
to
Jesus,
you
have
to
look
out
for
his
glory
already
revealed
in
his
words
and
deeds.
As
you
read
the
Bible,
look
for
Jesus.
Look
and
read
directly
of his
teaching
from the
gospel.
Pause
and be
amazed
at the
wonders
that God
is doing
in Jesus.
Many
people
come to
Jesus
to treat
him
as a
primary
example
to
imitate
how they
are to
live
their
life.
That is
not
the key
to
abundant
life.
The
key
is to
believe
in
Jesus
after
seeing
his
glory.