In-the-beginning

Our lesson last week suggested John and Jesus were fated to meet - and John, upon seeing him, announces that Jesus is the one. Matthew’s account is different, of course. There is conversation - the suggestion of relationship. Luke goes further - linking the two by blood (Mary and Elizabeth are relatives...). Mark’s gospel, eager to get to the good stuff, rather skims over the early years of Jesus life; baptism, temptation, disciples, and we’re away healing and whatnot. But today  from Mathew’s perspective — the relationship seems important. Jesus heard about what happened to John, and he took action; first, to protect himself (he withdrew to Galilee) but also to gain a fresh start for the work he was about to do.

His life (according to Matthew) had been an unsettled one. From Bethlehem to Egypt (for fear of Herod) then back to Israel (after Herod’s death) but not to Bethlehem (for fear of Herod’s son) but to Nazareth instead.  A well-travelled family, we might say. But this was a refugee family, from the very beginning. Jesus early life (whatever his future was to be) was marked by peril and uncertainty - frantic travel and constant vigilance. And it seems as though his entry into adulthood would be the same.

Down to the Jordan - an encounter with John; a religious experience (in the wilderness) then forced to flee north again when the authorities turn up the heat on one who was perhaps a mentor - certainly a significant figure in the development of his public proclamation - which begins (in Matthew’s account) with words not unlike those of the Baptizer;  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

I suppose that it was time...time for Jesus to stop running and take a stand. Time for him to decide (as in the Joshua passage) whom he would serve.  Perhaps there was never any doubt, but I’d like to think that it was - even for Jesus - a process. When is enough enough? When to run? When to speak? Who to trust? Whom to accuse? These are human questions, and Jesus was fully human (on that the creeds agree).

Jesus has found, in John, a spiritual movement that has opened up some possibilities; with John arrested, Jesus begins to imagine that he can pursue those possibilities, but not alone. Two sets of brothers, for a start. Their instant responses suggest that they too had been engaged by the things that have been going on.

 These Galileans were likely friends form the old days - people who had kept up with the gossip and followed the news. And so when Jesus sets out on his own, they are quick to support him.

And then, it begins. Crowds from all corners of the region; sick to be cured; many broken people longing to be whole. Dozens of hundreds of thousands who have questions that seem to defy answers. And Jesus follows in the footsteps of his mentor, announcing the kingdom of the Father.

This very human need for support - (don’t you think that if he wished, Jesus could have worked more efficiently and more effectively on his own…?) - the concern for one another that develops as they travel and eat and teach and learn together is (for me) the key to Christian discipleship. A faith that is only concerned with self-improvement and individual salvation is of no interest to me.

John’s arrest is the trigger that sends Jesus in search of those with whom he can engage the world and spread the news. While a one-man-tour might have created some buzz (and perhaps drawn a fair crowd) it is the day to day conversations, interactions and the communal effort of living the words into reality that are the marks of Christian community.

I had the chance to think about this earlier in the week when colleagues from the Presbytery paid me a visit. They were here to see how ‘the new minister’ was settling in - inviting me to talk about the challenge and reward of the early days (months) of my time here in the Hat. And I was delighted to be able to tell them that what I’ve found here at St John’s is real Christian community.  Not perfect - but eager. You are a group who have been lovingly and patiently influenced by many faithful souls and guided by the faithful Spirit to be aware, curious and engaged with the work of being and building community. This work transcends the leadership of the moment because you recognize that we are under the Spirit’s guidance - grown and shaped by the hand of God.

To be part of a community like this is, for me, a gift from God.

Jesus community started small. brothers, friends, those who were caught by the enthusiasm - some who were destined to mis-interpret the message. But together they were able to find strength and make sense of what looked like a sudden and horrific end to the project. If, at the resurrection, Jesus humanity was overwhelmed by the glory of God, then the humanity of those who loved him was confirmed as they took up the task of living out the word that Jesus gave them. Go and tell - make disciples - be communities of sacred support. That is where the church comes from - that is our history, and indeed, our present and future too.