What Are We Looking For?

John 1:43-51

There is a difference between what you happen to find by accident and what you find because you are looking for it. Finding money on the ground is a good example of the first case –– we normally don’t expect to see a coin lying on the sidewalk. Finding your misplaced car keys is a good example of the second case –– car keys are something we go looking for because we need them. It just so happens that the Greek word translated as “found” appears three times in a brief section of our gospel reading from John. “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ …Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote…’” (John 1:43-45). According to some very reputable scholars the sense being conveyed in this passage with the word found is of the accidental sort.

Far be it from me to disagree, but I have to wonder. Jesus was looking for disciples and he found Philip. Philip was looking for someone to share his news with and he found Nathanael. The people of Israel had long been looking for the promised one, the Messiah, and Philip believed this person had been found. There is an intentionality here, a purpose to all the seeking and encountering that leads to a circle of faith that continues growing ever wider, right up to this very day. What we really have to come to terms with is what it is that we are looking for in life. Are we seeking a fellowship of faith? Are we searching for the one who is worthy of our praise? Or are we interested in something else, something far less significant?

Sometimes we will be happily surprised to find things we were not looking for. But Jesus was sent to find and tend to the needs of God’s people, some of whom had been waiting with expectation and hope for God’s Messiah to appear. I don’t think that was an accident. I think it was the sort of grace that remains active in our lives today.

Prayer: Lord, you look for us until you find us; give us faith by which to see you and the patience with which to await your coming reign. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Skepticism Abounds

John 1:43-51

In our increasingly electronic age we find ourselves bombarded with information of all sorts, much of which is dubious in nature. A healthy dose of skepticism is a necessity when opening an email, for example, or watching a political ad.

But what if we need to convey information to someone else? How do we overcome their doubts? The gospel of John offers insight on addressing skepticism. “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’” (John 1:45-46). Ultimately all Philip did to answer Nathanael’s question was to invite him to check it out. “Come and see,” he said.

The good news of Jesus Christ, as enlivened by the Holy Spirit, is capable of changing lives. In our efforts to share that good news we do not really need to be experts on complicated theological subjects. Imagine approaching your neighbor with the words, “Bob, I need a minute of your time to tell you about the Second Helvetic Confession and what a difference it can make in your life.” I don’t know about you, but most of the neighbors I’ve had are far more interested in personal stories of faith than ancient rubrics or constructs authored by long-dead academics. (There’s a place for such stuff, but it isn’t back yard barbeques.) Philip hit the nail on the head. When Nathanael scoffed at what he said, Philip simply challenged Nathanael to “come and see.” Sometimes that’s all it takes. Sometimes we need to let God deal with the skepticism and simply invite others to participate.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to share our faith in simple terms and to allow your Spirit to work through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.