| You Will See Greater Things |
“You Will See Greater Things”
John 1:43-50
November 25, 2007
Early in Jesus’ ministry he recognized that while he could perform
miracles that would amaze and delight people the miracles were not
what he, or faith, was all about. I happen to believe, that Jesus’ idea of
faith was and is all about developing healthy relationships with others
and setting people free to act on their faith. And so, Jesus began to
invite a few people to join him on his journey into the ministry. It started
with Andrew and John. Soon Andrew spoke to his brother Simon Peter,
and along the way Philip heard the words, “Follow me.”
Today’s scripture reading begins with Jesus inviting Philip into ministry,
moves into Philip inviting Nathanael into ministry, touches on the
wonderment of Jesus insight into the worth of people, and then highlights
what Jesus felt was the greatest miracle… God working through
someone like Nathanel.
Somehow, Jesus impacted very ordinary people in very extraordinary
ways. So much so... that those who were asked to follow Jesus began to
ask others to come and experience the one they were sure would totally
transform reality. Philip became so excited that he had to find his friend
Nathanael and share the good news that the one people had been
seeking since the time of Moses had been found. Philip knew it was
Jesus they had been seeking their entire lives. Nathanael was just a bit
skeptical. “He’s from Nazareth!? Can anything good come from
Nazareth?”
We read in John’s gospel... John’s version of the story... that Nathanael
quickly changed his mind when Jesus essentially said, “I know you
Nathanael. There is nothing fake about you.”
I’m not sure if it was amazement or skepticism that Nathanael
expressed when he asked, “How do you know me?” Perhaps based on
your own past relationships you know the feeling behind his question.
Have you been hurt time and again causing your trust in others to be
less than complete? If so, I would imagine you hear Nathanael’s voiced
edged with caution. Or perhaps, you have been neglected by others for
so long that for Nathanael to be noticed by Jesus triggers the sound of
hopeful disbelief.
Whatever you or I hear in Nathanael’s voice, Jesus heard potential... just
as he hears potential in each of you. Jesus’ reply to Nathanael was, “I
know you because I saw you sitting under a fig tree before Philip called
you.” What I think Nathanael heard Jesus say was, “I saw you before, I
know who you really are, and I still want you to be a part of this ministry.”
Wow. Nathanael could only respond by saying, “You are the one. To
know everything about me and still want me to be a part of making God’
s kingdom become a reality right now. Wow. You are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.”
And that is when Jesus said, “If you think wonderful ministry has been
happening you ain’t seen nothing yet!”
Henri Nouwen writes, in a book entitled, “The Road To Daybreak,” of his
experiences at a monastery in France called “L’Arche.” L’Arche is
devoted to the education of severely handicapped adult persons and to
that end provides a variety of opportunities for learning experiences. To
facilitate the process, meetings were often held to discuss, not only the
patients needs but also the needs and perspectives of the teachers and
helpers. Nouwen writes:
“During one meeting of the long-term assistants, Nick, who works with
four handicapped men in the wood shop, spoke about his joys and
frustrations. He explained how hard it is to do a job well and at the same
time keep the needs of the handicapped men uppermost in mind. He
wants to become a skillful and efficient carpenter, but realizes that the
products of his work are less important than the growing self-esteem of
the men he works with. This requires a lot of patience and a willingness
to let others do slowly what you can do rapidly. It means always choosing
work in which people much less capable than yourself can participate. It
asks for a deep inner conviction that a slow job done together is better
than a fast job done alone.
Nick told us how long it had taken him to come to this insight. At first he
had been primarily concerned about learning the skills of carpentry from
Joe, the director of the wood shop. He was very excited about learning a
new trade. But then he came to see that his skills were meant not just to
make blackboards, play blocks, and coat hangers for kindergartens, but
also and above all to help four handicapped people grow in human
dignity and self-reliance.
I found this out myself,” continues Nouwen, “when I went apple picking
with Janice, Carol, Adam, Rose, and their assistants. My attitude was
get the apples picked, put them in bags, and go home. But I soon
learned that all of that was much less important than to help Rose pick
one or two apples, to walk with Janice looking for apples that hang low
enough so that she herself can reach them, to compliment carol on her
ability to find good apples, and just to sit beside Adam in his wheelchair
under an apple tree and give him a sense of belonging to the group.
We finally collected four bags of apples, but eight people took more than
an hour to do it. I could have done the work in half an hour. But efficiency
is not L’Arche’s most important word. Care is.”
Jesus didn’t need Nathanael to do ministry and spread God’s word. It
wasn’t efficiency that Jesus was looking for. If you want efficiency look at
the outdoor worship and cafe that Jesus ran. One time he fed 5000 and
another time 4000 - all with a few fish and some loaves of bread. Do you
really think Jesus needed Nathanael or Andrew or Peter... or any of the
others to run an efficient ministry? No way! I’m not even convinced that
Jesus was concerned with making sure that everyone “got saved.” If the
salvation of everyone was the goal, then there was no need for anyone
else to be involved. There would have been no reason for God to have
been incarnated in human form. God could have caused everyone to
believe in God as easily as Nouwen could have picked all the apples
that were needed by himself.
Jesus did need Nathanael and the others in order to be in a relationship.
Jesus was about making relationships. Not just any relationship... He
was about developing relationships that were transforming -
transforming in a way that caused people to have an ah-ha! experience
with God.
You know what I mean? Transforming, so that a light bulb would turn on
and people would finally understand what God’s Grace was truly about.
There is no way to force that understanding. To force the knowledge of
God would merely make puppets of us all. Jesus was about making
transforming relationships and not only that, Jesus was about making
disciples that in turn could develop transforming relationships with others.
Now you tell me. To be known by God is a wonderful thing... to have a
faith is a wonderful thing, it is indeed a miracle. What happens, however,
when you begin to reach out to others and share the good news of God’
s love? Do you not see greater things? Sharing yourself and your
experience of God is truly sharing life.
In some ways I feel a bit like a resident of L’Arche. Ministry could
happen so much more effectively without me. Surely exasperated with
my slowness, God continues to gently nudge me forward, never
abandoning me. God, who we experience in a very real way through
Jesus Christ, could find others to reach out in ministry more effectively.
Instead, the one who created all that is, decided to invite Nathanael, and
Philip and Peter, and you and me to experience greater things with Him.
We are invited to be in ministry, to help develop disciples... to be
transformed even as we are helping others transform. Jesus promises
us that this is only the beginning. The more excuses we can find for our
own unworthiness, the more God loves us and can use us. Because we’
ve been there we are the experts in loneliness... transformed into
belonging. We know the power of pain... transformed into joy. We have
experienced the darkness in the bottom of the well of despair and its low
self-esteem... and been transformed. Who better to share God’s grace
than we who have experienced that grace first-hand?
Last week I spoke of hilarious giving and the idea that if you become a
hilarious giver you will be doing the unexpected by the world’s
standards… but not God’s – you will begin to live your life according to
what you have. You will begin living your life out of your abundance… not
out of a sense of scarcity. You will be living your life with the joy of one
who is becoming like God.
This week has been a reflection on how Jesus suggests living that life of
joy will cause even greater things to occur than the miracles which he
accomplished.
In a moment, you will have a chance to respond to God’s grace in your
life in two ways. One is to fill out an estimate of financial giving based on
a percentage… a tithe… of what God has and is giving you. Then, as
you place your card on the altar, offer yourself to God as a holy and living
sacrifice. Offer to God your prayer of willingness to be a transformer of
the world because you have been transformed by God’s grace.
Two offerings in response to what God has been doing and continues to
do in your life. I guarantee it is only a beginning. When you give of
yourself and give of what you have, you will indeed see the greater
things Jesus offers. AMEN.
John 1:43-50
November 25, 2007
Early in Jesus’ ministry he recognized that while he could perform
miracles that would amaze and delight people the miracles were not
what he, or faith, was all about. I happen to believe, that Jesus’ idea of
faith was and is all about developing healthy relationships with others
and setting people free to act on their faith. And so, Jesus began to
invite a few people to join him on his journey into the ministry. It started
with Andrew and John. Soon Andrew spoke to his brother Simon Peter,
and along the way Philip heard the words, “Follow me.”
Today’s scripture reading begins with Jesus inviting Philip into ministry,
moves into Philip inviting Nathanael into ministry, touches on the
wonderment of Jesus insight into the worth of people, and then highlights
what Jesus felt was the greatest miracle… God working through
someone like Nathanel.
Somehow, Jesus impacted very ordinary people in very extraordinary
ways. So much so... that those who were asked to follow Jesus began to
ask others to come and experience the one they were sure would totally
transform reality. Philip became so excited that he had to find his friend
Nathanael and share the good news that the one people had been
seeking since the time of Moses had been found. Philip knew it was
Jesus they had been seeking their entire lives. Nathanael was just a bit
skeptical. “He’s from Nazareth!? Can anything good come from
Nazareth?”
We read in John’s gospel... John’s version of the story... that Nathanael
quickly changed his mind when Jesus essentially said, “I know you
Nathanael. There is nothing fake about you.”
I’m not sure if it was amazement or skepticism that Nathanael
expressed when he asked, “How do you know me?” Perhaps based on
your own past relationships you know the feeling behind his question.
Have you been hurt time and again causing your trust in others to be
less than complete? If so, I would imagine you hear Nathanael’s voiced
edged with caution. Or perhaps, you have been neglected by others for
so long that for Nathanael to be noticed by Jesus triggers the sound of
hopeful disbelief.
Whatever you or I hear in Nathanael’s voice, Jesus heard potential... just
as he hears potential in each of you. Jesus’ reply to Nathanael was, “I
know you because I saw you sitting under a fig tree before Philip called
you.” What I think Nathanael heard Jesus say was, “I saw you before, I
know who you really are, and I still want you to be a part of this ministry.”
Wow. Nathanael could only respond by saying, “You are the one. To
know everything about me and still want me to be a part of making God’
s kingdom become a reality right now. Wow. You are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.”
And that is when Jesus said, “If you think wonderful ministry has been
happening you ain’t seen nothing yet!”
Henri Nouwen writes, in a book entitled, “The Road To Daybreak,” of his
experiences at a monastery in France called “L’Arche.” L’Arche is
devoted to the education of severely handicapped adult persons and to
that end provides a variety of opportunities for learning experiences. To
facilitate the process, meetings were often held to discuss, not only the
patients needs but also the needs and perspectives of the teachers and
helpers. Nouwen writes:
“During one meeting of the long-term assistants, Nick, who works with
four handicapped men in the wood shop, spoke about his joys and
frustrations. He explained how hard it is to do a job well and at the same
time keep the needs of the handicapped men uppermost in mind. He
wants to become a skillful and efficient carpenter, but realizes that the
products of his work are less important than the growing self-esteem of
the men he works with. This requires a lot of patience and a willingness
to let others do slowly what you can do rapidly. It means always choosing
work in which people much less capable than yourself can participate. It
asks for a deep inner conviction that a slow job done together is better
than a fast job done alone.
Nick told us how long it had taken him to come to this insight. At first he
had been primarily concerned about learning the skills of carpentry from
Joe, the director of the wood shop. He was very excited about learning a
new trade. But then he came to see that his skills were meant not just to
make blackboards, play blocks, and coat hangers for kindergartens, but
also and above all to help four handicapped people grow in human
dignity and self-reliance.
I found this out myself,” continues Nouwen, “when I went apple picking
with Janice, Carol, Adam, Rose, and their assistants. My attitude was
get the apples picked, put them in bags, and go home. But I soon
learned that all of that was much less important than to help Rose pick
one or two apples, to walk with Janice looking for apples that hang low
enough so that she herself can reach them, to compliment carol on her
ability to find good apples, and just to sit beside Adam in his wheelchair
under an apple tree and give him a sense of belonging to the group.
We finally collected four bags of apples, but eight people took more than
an hour to do it. I could have done the work in half an hour. But efficiency
is not L’Arche’s most important word. Care is.”
Jesus didn’t need Nathanael to do ministry and spread God’s word. It
wasn’t efficiency that Jesus was looking for. If you want efficiency look at
the outdoor worship and cafe that Jesus ran. One time he fed 5000 and
another time 4000 - all with a few fish and some loaves of bread. Do you
really think Jesus needed Nathanael or Andrew or Peter... or any of the
others to run an efficient ministry? No way! I’m not even convinced that
Jesus was concerned with making sure that everyone “got saved.” If the
salvation of everyone was the goal, then there was no need for anyone
else to be involved. There would have been no reason for God to have
been incarnated in human form. God could have caused everyone to
believe in God as easily as Nouwen could have picked all the apples
that were needed by himself.
Jesus did need Nathanael and the others in order to be in a relationship.
Jesus was about making relationships. Not just any relationship... He
was about developing relationships that were transforming -
transforming in a way that caused people to have an ah-ha! experience
with God.
You know what I mean? Transforming, so that a light bulb would turn on
and people would finally understand what God’s Grace was truly about.
There is no way to force that understanding. To force the knowledge of
God would merely make puppets of us all. Jesus was about making
transforming relationships and not only that, Jesus was about making
disciples that in turn could develop transforming relationships with others.
Now you tell me. To be known by God is a wonderful thing... to have a
faith is a wonderful thing, it is indeed a miracle. What happens, however,
when you begin to reach out to others and share the good news of God’
s love? Do you not see greater things? Sharing yourself and your
experience of God is truly sharing life.
In some ways I feel a bit like a resident of L’Arche. Ministry could
happen so much more effectively without me. Surely exasperated with
my slowness, God continues to gently nudge me forward, never
abandoning me. God, who we experience in a very real way through
Jesus Christ, could find others to reach out in ministry more effectively.
Instead, the one who created all that is, decided to invite Nathanael, and
Philip and Peter, and you and me to experience greater things with Him.
We are invited to be in ministry, to help develop disciples... to be
transformed even as we are helping others transform. Jesus promises
us that this is only the beginning. The more excuses we can find for our
own unworthiness, the more God loves us and can use us. Because we’
ve been there we are the experts in loneliness... transformed into
belonging. We know the power of pain... transformed into joy. We have
experienced the darkness in the bottom of the well of despair and its low
self-esteem... and been transformed. Who better to share God’s grace
than we who have experienced that grace first-hand?
Last week I spoke of hilarious giving and the idea that if you become a
hilarious giver you will be doing the unexpected by the world’s
standards… but not God’s – you will begin to live your life according to
what you have. You will begin living your life out of your abundance… not
out of a sense of scarcity. You will be living your life with the joy of one
who is becoming like God.
This week has been a reflection on how Jesus suggests living that life of
joy will cause even greater things to occur than the miracles which he
accomplished.
In a moment, you will have a chance to respond to God’s grace in your
life in two ways. One is to fill out an estimate of financial giving based on
a percentage… a tithe… of what God has and is giving you. Then, as
you place your card on the altar, offer yourself to God as a holy and living
sacrifice. Offer to God your prayer of willingness to be a transformer of
the world because you have been transformed by God’s grace.
Two offerings in response to what God has been doing and continues to
do in your life. I guarantee it is only a beginning. When you give of
yourself and give of what you have, you will indeed see the greater
things Jesus offers. AMEN.
DeWitt United Methodist Church
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