Defection!

When a footballer or politician ‘defects’ to the other side, there is uproar. They have left all that is good and gone over to the dark side. There is booing in the Houses of Parliament, and jeers (or worst) from the football stands. What is it about ‘others’ when ‘sides’ are made evident? Is that they can’t walk the walk as well as talk the talk? In the old stories contained within scripture we won’t find any of this – or do we? When two or one defect, what is the result of their defection?

This is rebellious stuff, hence no surprise he’d lose his head at a party later – literally.

Politics

In USA there is the case of one politician who admitted that he lied in his resume but that didn’t matter as “I campaigned talking about the people’s concerns, not my resume“. There are many politicians in the UK who have swapped sides of the House over the years, but no re-election was deemed necessary. Were they capable of walking the walk and well as talking the talk?

How does this relate to the passage?

In John’s account (John 1:29-42) of what Matthew and Luke describe as the ‘Baptism of Jesus‘ there is one really odd thing. There’s no baptism… John the Baptist, the guy who is in all four Gospels – whereas Jesus’ birth is only in two – has been on the end of some difficult probing questions from the Levites and Pharisees. The key message is that John sees, they do not see = who Jesus is.

Then Jesus pops by as if he’s asking if you have any spare sugar or milk. John spins around and declares that “this is the one”. John sees something in Jesus that others are not able to see. But even John didn’t immediately see Jesus as the Messiah. It was when John was baptising with water he saw this image of a dove descending from Heaven onto Jesus.

Dove

As God is seen within creation, and the image of the dove was a key part in the ongoing journey of peace after the flood in Noah’s story (Genesis 8:11). [Just recall that Noah’s story was not the original, it was a sequel drawn from Babylonian Sumerian myths – it’s mention in the Epic of Gilgameš at section 11.147]  God wasn’t suddenly transforming into a dove, like some cartoon creature. It is a metaphorical sign, prevalent in Hebrew Scriptures. A sign showing that Jesus was the truth, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence. John’s description emphasises God’s declaration of “my beloved son”.

Come and See

‘The following day’ John is with two of his disciples, and Jesus hears John’s declaration of who Jesus is, and they turn and follow him. Disciples follow their Rabbi, that is more than trailing or stalking them. They are inquisitive of what their Rabbi is doing, how he lives – does he walk the walk as well as talk the talk?

“What are you looking for?….Come and see“

John 1: 38-39

Now this was four o’clock in the afternoon. Good job we are not in Glasgow, as it’s probably quite dark by then. Andrew and one other are the two disciples. They listen and Andrew goes off to Peter, his brother. The one who will walk on water, and have the ‘keys to the church’. Peter, the stalwart of the church, who will fail three times, isn’t the first disciple to be called but Andrew, the lesser known brother is called first.

Epiphany

We have these various words which describe certain periods of the Church diary: so what does Epiphany mean? It’s the appearance or manifestation of God as a human.

This is a tale of humility. It started with God born as a baby. That baby is worshipped by kings (Matthew 2, from the perspective of the Western Church), then we have the acknowledgement by God through this baptism (if we read the accounts in Matthew and Luke, not necessarily John), and (from the perspective of the Eastern Church) we then have the local population seeing Jesus with the first sign at the wedding at Cana. We have signs in terms of materialism and then spirituality. Which one did God favour?

Defection

Oh yes, that. The first disciples mentioned in this Gospel are the ones of John. The one who’s been out in the desert for some time, teaching people that they should repent, that is change their ways, to turn contrary to the ways of the Romans – this is rebellious stuff, hence no surprise he’d lose his head at a party later – literally. Jesus didn’t pinch them from John. John was already declaring of the one who is far greater than himself. Jesus does not give the new disciples a package of evangelistic notes, a lapel badge, a pen with his name along the side, nor a pen drive with a fluffy top. He offers an opportunity “Come and See”.

Jesus is one of few words. Even at this trial with Pilate, Jesus only reflects the question back to his interrogator. It’s walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

Condemnation?

John doesn’t complain that he has lost his best disciples, there’s no tirade that the cult of Jesus is wrong and stick with John. No condemnation of another ‘religion’ or that if they do so they’ll go to hell. We might hear more of that type of language today if someone moves from one understanding to another. No, Jesus merely says “Come and See” and they go. Can we take the more humble approach?

Andrew then hears, reflects and tells his brother Simon. He has to also come and see who this Jesus character is. Jesus sees something in Peter and calls him Cephas, or Petros or Peter. Peter leads the emerging church. In Matthew’s Gospel we will hear that James and John. It is as if each person who hears signposts to another who this Jesus person is.

How do we do this?

So it’s not talk the talk, but walk the walk. There’s no expensive evangelistic package to purchase, not a training qualification to obtain. John, Andrew, Peter and many, many others, just signposted their belief to others. We can lead people towards an understanding of Jesus but they have to accept Jesus for themselves. Belief starts with that person making a decision: not adopting someone else’s decision.

Free ourselves of the burden of having to have some magic key phrases to tell others,
be open to live out our faith. And then let others come to their own decision.