1. The Calling of The First Disciples

We are continuing to read the Gospel according to John from the beginning of the new year. Again we look at that classic statement which summarizes the creation of the world and stresses the role of the eternal ‘word’ in creation. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:3-4). Notice how the focus shifts from creation in general to human beings. Life and light symbolize ways in which God and the word are present to sustain creation.

During the time of John’s writing his Gospel, the Christian church was suffering from persecution and oppression. Jesus’ believers were considered by Jews to be heretics, because of their faith in Jesus as Christ. They were expelled from the synagogues, and the Jewish community. Nevertheless, John says the light enlightens the darkness from when they first met Jesus, and they will live with Him despite oppressions and persecutions. They became God’s children through becoming Jesus’ disciples. Today we will consider what it means to become a disciple of Jesus as we delve further into the second part of Chapter 1.

When John the Baptist started preaching in the Desert of Judea many people came from all over the country. They aspired to the prophecy about the coming Messiah, and dreams of liberation from the Roman occupation. Therefore they sympathized with John’s teaching which predicted that the end of the world was near, and the coming of the Messiah was imminent. Andrew and his anonimous brother (perhaps John the son of Zebedee ) were also there, coming from Galilee. And John the Baptist said to these two: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me’” (John 1:29-30).

Jesus appears for the first time in the Gospel, but does not speak. The focus is on John’s testimony about him (John 31-34). John continually testifies to Jesus’ unique relationship with with God. John’s witness leads his disciples to become followers of Jesus. Jesus initiates conversation with the two disciples with a question which has a symbolic as well as literal meaning. ” . . . What are you looking for?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see” John 1:38-39). To seek Jesus is to seek after God. The disciples address Jesus as a teacher or rabbi. The conversation ends with an invitation to come and see. “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter” (John 1:41-42). The story of the first two disciples is incomplete until their witness brings others to Jesus. a new title for Jesus is introduced - Messiah. And, as in all early Christian tradition, Peter has the prominent role.

Jesus recognized immediately the founder of the Church in Peter. The given name by Jesus ‘Cephas’ means ’stone’ in Aramaic, similar to ‘Petros’ in Greek. John’s Gospel presented the scene as near the Jordan river, whereas Matthew and Luke reported that Jesus called them in Galilee. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-20).

After a while Jesus understood that the time for His own ministry has come and decided to go back to Galilee, His home province. Philip, another Galilean, was with John when Jesus set out to Galilee. Jesus called him too. Philip obeyed but Nathanael, his friend from the same province, was sceptic. So Philip tried to persuade him: Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip (John 1:45-46).

For the first time, witness to Jesus is met with resistance. Though the precise meaning of Jesus’ words about the fig tree (John 1:48), is unclear, they show that Jesus has insight that no one else has, and that this insight comes from his relationship with God. Nathanael recognizes this and greets Jesus’ words with a confession of faith in Jesus as the Son of God, and the King of Israel, the true ruler of the people ( John 1:47-49).

2. Becoming Jesus’ disciples

These stories from the scriptures about God’s calling of individuals to become disciples of Jesus give us two lessons. The First is the fact that we meet Jesus through relationships and connections to other people. At first John the Baptist presented Andrew and his brother to Jesus. In the same way, one after another to Nathanael, all leading to having faith in Jesus. Discipleship can be contagious!

Here I want you to notice that through the second part of John, chapter 1, the word “see” is used repeatedly. When he “saw” Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God! (John 1:36). And when Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “I “saw” you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you” (John 1:48).

These expressions tell us that preaching is not the only way to convince or persuade people. Inviting others to see and believe is just as important. After that, it is God who will act to foster one’s faith. That remark leads us to the second lesson, which teaches that we arrive to see greater things through being Jesus’ disciples. Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that” (John 1:50).

But what kind of “great things” shall we see? The answer is: He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51).

The background to Jesus’ teachings allude to Jacob’s experience, one who betrayed his brother for stealing the birthright, which caused him to be expelled from his father’s house. Then, on the way to the house of a maternal uncle, he spent a night in the desert alone. And there, “He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (Genesis 28:12).

He learned from the dream that even in the middle of darkness in a desert, he was not alone because God was always with him. Jesus tells us that though we are living on earth this world is not a closed universe, but opens-up to heaven. Whatever pains we have in our earthly life our Lord and Father knows all about it, and He offers us recompense and healing. We become citizens of heaven through Jesus.

This thought is reinforced through our choice of the invitation verses from Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Recently, in Japan the phenomena of collective suicide cases is drawing much attention. Those who become acquainted through dangerous internet based extreme groups often try to kill themselves. There was a typical case of seven people who suicided in a car with carbon monoxide poisoning. All of them experienced problems with living, jobless, divorce, family troubles, failure of university entrance examinations, etc. The majority of those who attempt to kill themselves are suffering a grave depression, often caused by conflicts and stresses in personal relationships. They might think that death will free them from the pain of human life, a thinking which offends God’s will. Our life on earth is only a journey, incomplete in itself, and should not be measured by any earthly means. Our lives must continue on, divinely, to eventually realize heaven. We as Christians must let others know, by testifying and witnessing.

As Paul says, our citizenship is in heaven from where we eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though we live on earth, we are heavenly citizens sent by God, which means God is always with us. Whatever happens, experiencing failures or being betrayed, God won’t abandon us. Jesus is also there to share our burdens. So much so, we can always stay joyful, regardless of our present circumstances.

Everyone has failed at least once, been denied one’s competence or aptitude, or lost our social identity. Just like members of John’s ministry who were excluded form the Jewish community, imprisoned or killed. But John said: “In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus enlightens our way and life in the darkness. Therefore, those who believe in God won’t be destroyed when one’s existence is upset through the harsh reality of life.

If those who suicided only knew that, they might have changed their mind. We, as citizens of heaven, sent by God, must try to spread this message, regardless of it being accepted or not. Together, we are gathered in this church today, listening to these encouraging words. In God’s presence we are supported by each another. We trust in His son and our savior, Jesus, to guide and direct our lives. For this experience, we are truly grateful.