God Leads Us to Discover Christ

May God’s grace, mercy and peace be multiplied to you. Amen.

What are you looking at? If one asks that question emphasizing the you, it is a challenge, and perhaps a prelude to a fight! But ask the question this way: “What are you looking at?” Now the emphasis is different. Now you are challenged, but not to a fight. You are called to give account. Now someone wants to know what it is that has captured your attention. It might be a teacher. It might be a parent or a child. It might be the Lord.

Oh, yes. Was it really so different a question when Jesus asked his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”

“What are you looking at?” Someone who is searching might ask that question. It might not be put in exactly those words, but that is the question they are asking. They want to know what our life is about. Like the comic bit in a movie where someone stops and stares at the sky, drawing everyone else’s gaze heavenward, our lives are to be lived in such a way that people notice, stop, and ask, “What are you looking at?”

Who, me? Oh, I look to the Lamb! And I look to Him

For Real Life

The Baptist we encountered last week is back today. He is shifting attention away from himself. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (). Last week John said the Christ was greater than he. This week he says it again. Like the prophets of old, disciples had gathered around John. They must not look to him. They must look to Jesus.

What an amazing ministry, the ministry of John the Baptizer. How much we tend to like the spotlight. Even when we pretend humility, we can enjoy the attention that gives us the opportunity to be humble! That’s the way we are wired this side of . Sin is, in the final analysis, abject self-centeredness. Yet here is John— “Don’t look to me, look to the Lamb!”

Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus gives back life itself, which sin has stolen. The Father breathes back in the wind of the Spirit through the Good News of Jesus. Like the lamb on the Day of Atonement, Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the people—all the people of the world.

John knew that we must start here. John’s ministry is not as abrupt as the proverbial slap on a baby’s bottom to force a cry that draws the breath of life into infant lungs. Still, that is the impact of his words, “Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” We draw the breath of faith, and it brings forgiveness. Now we are really alive.

John emphasizes the nature of his ministry, matching the need of humankind to look to the Lamb. “I came baptizing with water so that He would be revealed to Israel” (). John’s gaze was toward Messiah. That must be where his disciples look as well.

John 1:31 EHV

31 31I myself did not know who he was, but I came baptizing with water so that he would be revealed to Israel.”

The world is full of “eye candy for the human spirit.” Bogus spirits like the false nirvana of drugs, alcohol, even sex; the myriad of self-help books available on Amazon.com; the covers of magazines or athletic heroes—they are all offered, every one, as evidence of what can be ours, as suitable goals for the energies and dreams of the mind and soul. But each, without exception, is empty. They cannot give us life. They will not see us to death, let alone into eternity. The voice of John cries to us today, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” ()

Come back today to the first things, holy ones of God. Come back from wherever your eyes typically wander. Look to Jesus. John said to his disciples, and to us today, “I have seen and testify to you today that Jesus is the Son of God” (, paraphrase). Look to the Christ of the cross and empty tomb. Look to Jesus, who forgives and gives you real life. Gaze on him with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. People are watching us. Like John, do our lives say, “Look to the Lamb?” Dear holy ones of God, look to the Lamb… And look to the Lamb

For Real Community

A second time John, in the company of his disciples, sees Jesus. What he sees he wants his disciples to see. John sees that Jesus is more than a man. He is the Savior. Again, John says, “Look, the Lamb of God” (). Marketing experts tell us we need to encounter information six or seven times before we begin to pay real attention. John seemed to know that already in the first century. It is as though John grabs them by the robes, looks them in the eye, and says, “I am not the point. I want to point you to the one who is. Look, there is Jesus!”

John’s disciples take the first step from John to Jesus. They follow after Christ. One can imagine their timid, tentative gait. Jesus turned and spoke. Last week we encountered Christ’s first words in the Gospel of Matthew. Today we hear his first words in the Gospel of John. Jesus, the Word of God incarnate, speaks life into being in the souls of humanity.

“What do you seek?” (). They were seekers. It’s not just a twenty-first-century concept. There is evidence all around us that people today are seeking spiritual meaning and vitality. We are seekers also today. Others may seek that which they do not know. But we seek that which knows us and has swept us up into life. We look to the Lamb.

Jesus wanted to know what those disciples of John who were following Him were about. He didn’t just ask what they wanted. He said, “What do you seek?” or as another translation puts it: “What are you looking for?” (EHV). There is more than desire behind the answer to such a question. There is absolute need. There is the yearning of the human spirit. They sought the Christ, and we can sense their timid hope in the words of this Gospel.

That timid hope is betrayed in their somewhat lame response, “Where are you staying?” (). Was this the real, burning question that John’s twice-insistent “Look!” had created in them? Aren’t we the same? Can it really be? Dare we allow ourselves to believe? Do we really know the full import of that for which we have hoped? Are we always really clear what it is we are looking for? Even in Christ?

This seems to be where these very-first-disciples are when Jesus turns and confronts them. He likes to ask questions, this Jesus of ours. He likes to challenge us. He likes to breathe faith into us, then draw it out of us again so that the words formed by faith are in the air for our ears to hear, our hearts to be comforted, and we say the yes of a graced faith again and again and again. Sometimes we fumble, and we say something silly like, “Where are you staying?” What spiritual seekers are these!

And with us, as with these first disciples, Jesus takes us where we are. He doesn’t reprimand. He doesn’t belittle the lack of theological sophistication in their response to his question. No, instead the grace of God thunders in our ears in the soft voice of Jesus, “Come and see” (). Christ drew them to himself with such simple words. He didn’t say, “You dolts! Couldn’t you say something more substantial than that?” What Jesus said then, he says again today in your hearing, “Come and see.”

John 1:39 NASB95

39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

. Christ drew them to himself with such simple words. He did not say, “You dolts! Couldn’t you seek something more substantial than that?” What Jesus said then, he says again today in our hearing, “Come, and you will see.”

Christ has swept us up into community with himself, the Father and the Holy Spirit. We see much more than where he lays his head at night. We see evidence of his presence everywhere in our lives. We see His forgiveness. We see and taste Him in his meal of life in the mystery of the Holy Communion. We see with the psalmist that He fills the universe, that those who trust in Him are never alone (). We see Christ in one another. We hear Christ in the voices of His children. We see life everlasting, sometimes very clearly and with vision bold, sometimes timidly like these first disciples. And still Jesus invites and promises, “Come and see,” for

Look to the Lamb!

Life Is a Holy Proclamation

These first disciples joined Jesus at about four o’clock in the afternoon. Immediately their lives took on the nature of proclamation. Andrew didn’t wait for someone to ask, “What are you looking at?” We are told that the first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah!” We have found the Christ!

Remember Christ’s first words in this Gospel? They were in the form of a question, “What do you seek?” The response of the disciples seemed inapt. But now we learn what they were seeking—the Christ—and that faith’s goal had found its mark. They were not seekers any longer. They had found him!

Dear holy ones of God, this is what looking to Jesus does. The transforming nature of faith shows in the change that takes place in our lives. The Scriptures are full of words such as born again, rebirth, regeneration, renewal, transformation. And when you look to Jesus, you are never the same again. One whom Christ invites to follow is changed by the invitation. Seeking is no more because He has found you.

Now this is not theological theory. This is the fact of what has happened to you and to me through faith in Christ Jesus. Look no farther. Look to the Lamb. God has marked you in Baptism with the indelible mark of one who is His child. Believe it when He says He loves you. Trust him when He says He is with you always, to the end of the age. Look to the Lamb today and tomorrow and every day.

This is what the world needs—the people of God living by looking to the Lamb. This trusting gaze will show in our lives this coming week. People will notice. How many lives will be touched by those of us here today? How many eyes will see evidence of something in us that causes them to wonder? How many opportunities will we have these next seven days to say, “Look to the Lamb! Come and see”? God will use our heart’s gaze, our soul’s fixation on Jesus, to proclaim to the people in our lives, “Look to the Lamb!”

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH AND THE HOLY COMMUNION

P—The Lord be with you.

C—And also with you.

P—Lift up your hearts.

C—We lift them to the LORD.

P—Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C—It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

And with your spirit.

Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord.

People: It is proper and right.

Holy Father, It is proper and right to bless You, to praise You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in every place of Your dominion. For You, O God, are ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, existing forever, forever the same, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit.

And he exclaims:

Singing the triumphal hymn, exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying…

You brought us out of nothing into being, and when we had fallen away, You raised us up again when You united us with Your Only Begotten Son in Holy Baptism. You left nothing undone until you had lead us up to heaven and granted us Your Kingdom, which is to come. For all these things, we thank You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit: for all things we know and do not know, for blessings revealed and hidden that You have been bestowed on us. LIYM

We thank You also for this Service today, even though thousands of archangels and tens of thousands of angels stand around You, the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring aloft upon their wings, singing: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Together with the host of heaven we also exclaim and say: Holy are You and most holy, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. Holy are You and most holy, and how awesome is Your glory. You so loved Your world that You gave Your only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Take, eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.

People: Amen.

“Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying, “Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying,

The Priest again exclaims:

Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

People: Amen.

Then the Priest says in a low voice:

Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again. And so we now we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented.

And he exclaims:

We give you thanks, dear Lord, for Saint John the the Baptist, the prophet and forerunner; for the holy, glorious, and most praiseworthy apostles and with the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us.

We also remember all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection to life eternal. Grant them rest, O our God, where the light of Your countenance keeps watch. LIYM.

And he exclaims:

Your own of Your own we offer to You, in all and for all.

Again we beseech You, Lord, remember all faithful Pastors who rightly teach the word of Your truth.

Again we praise You for the freedom to worship you, for the one holy Christian and apostolic Church, and for those living pure and reverent lives.

We also pray for our civil authorities and our armed forces: grant that they may govern in peace, Lord, so that we, too, may live calm and serene lives, in all piety and virtue. LIYM.

Among the first remember, Lord, our Presiding Pastor Curtis; grant him to Your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, and health, unto length of days, rightly teaching the word of Your truth.

People: We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Lord our God.

And remember those whom each one of us calls to mind at this time, and all the people.

Priest (in a low voice): Once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood, and we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented,

And remember those whom each one of us has in mind, and all the people.

People: And all the people.

The Priest prays the following prayer in a low voice:

Remember, Lord, this city in which we live, and every city and land, and the faithful who live in them.

Remember, Lord, those who travel by land, sea, and air;

Remember the sick; the suffering; the captives; and their salvation. We especially cry out for Your healing hand to rest upon Gianna, Don, Tim and Jeff as they recovers from surgery and Carol who awaits surgery. We also pray for those who are dealing with an array of ailments: Jana, Matt, Barb, Linda, Holly, Ed, Darsie, Glenda, Daryl, Robert, Rich, Betty, Dale, Jim, Bev, Donna, Raleign, Jeff, and Bethel.

Remember those who bear fruit and do good works in Your holy churches and those who are mindful of the poor, and upon us all send forth Your mercies.

And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. LIYM.

And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: And the mercies of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

The people respond with Lord, have mercy, after each petition.

Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

And now O Lord, we thank you for these precious Gifts here presented to be consecrated. As we prepare to receive them, we pray for our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity. Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace. That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, grant us this petition O Lord.

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

The people respond with Grant this, O Lord, after each petition.

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

We also look to You for that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, that we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance.

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

We entrust to You, loving Master, our whole life and hope, and we beseech, pray, and implore You: Grant us to partake of Your heavenly and awesome Mysteries from this sacred Table with a clear conscience for the remission of sins, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and boldness before You, not unto judgment or condemnation. LIYM.

We give thanks to You, Who by Your boundless power fashioned the universe, and in the multitude of Your mercy brought all things from nothing into being. Look down from heaven, O Master, upon those who have bowed their heads before You; for they have not bowed before flesh and blood, but before You, our Awesome God. Therefore, O Master, make smooth and beneficial for us all, whatever lies ahead, according to the need of each: Sail with those who sail; travel with those who travel; heal the sick, Physician of our souls and bodies.

And he exclaims:

O Lord Jesus Christ our God sanctify us, You Who are enthroned with the Father on high and are present among us invisibly here. And with Your mighty hand, grant Communion of Your most pure Body and precious Blood to us, and through us to all the people.

Through the grace, compassion, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

People: Amen.

The Holy Communion

When our Lord Jesus Christ, had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and saying, “Take, eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you in remembrance of Me.”

People: Amen.

“Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying, “Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins; this do in remembrance of Me.”

People: Amen.

We remembering, therefore, His saving commandment to love one another, and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again. We now beseech You: Send Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented.

Priest (in a low voice):

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

Holy Gifts for the holy people of God.

Remember us in your Kingdom O Lord, and teach us to pray:

People: Amen.

“Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying, “Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

People: Amen.

Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again. And so we now we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented.

And grant us, Master, with boldness and without condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:

And grant us, Master, with boldness and without condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:

The Clergy and the People:

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Lamb of God

Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with all.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest (in a low voice):

And he exclaims:

Through the grace, compassion, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Holy Communion

Priest (in a low voice): Hearken, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You Who are enthroned with the Father on high and are present among us invisibly here. And with Your mighty hand, grant Communion of Your most pure Body and precious Blood to us, and through us to all the people.

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

Priest: The Holy Gifts for the holy people of God.

People: One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

When our Lord Jesus Christ, had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and saying, “Take, eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.”

People: Amen.

“Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying, “Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

People: Amen.

Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again. And so we now we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented.