John 2:1-11 NLT, John 14:1-6 NLT

Jesus the Vagabond - 1

WHY JESUS?

JESUS THE VAGABOND

John 2:1-11 NLT, John 14:1-6 NLT

February 18, 2018 SP / March 4, 2018 C

Rev. Dr. Patti Agnew

ANNOUNCEMENT

Our preaching will be drawn from a book of the same title, Why Jesus? By Will Willimon. You can join me in a weekly study of this book, either on Wednesday evenings over at Covenant UMC beginning at 5:30 with a soup supper. Or, you can join me at Steve’s for breakfast and discussion on Thursday mornings at 7:30. Please let me know if you want to do that. I have a few copies of the book left.

INTRODUCTION

Why Jesus? Why do you follow Jesus? Why do you come to a Christian church? What is it about Jesus that makes him one of the most fascinating people of all time? Why Jesus?Why have you chosen to follow Jesus? Or maybe you haven’t. But the fact that you are here this morning makes me feel like there is something about Jesus that draws you in. What is it?

In a general sense, for me, it is because my life is much more full and meaningful when I pattern my life after Jesus, than when I don’t. One day, I was lost, struggling, trying to figure out what my next step was. In the midst of that struggle, I read Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message. Listen to Jesus’ words, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”That’s it! Those words spoke deeply into my soul. That’s what I wanted! That’s what I needed! To walk with Jesus. To work with Jesus. To learn the unforced rhythms of grace. To live freely and lightly. And it directed my next steps. Now, I discovered this was not easy, it was risky, andit took me right out of my comfort zone, on a regular basis. And the rhythm was not the one I would have chosen, it seems God’s time table is rarely the same as my own. But this life with Jesus is good. It is grace. It is freedom. It is life. So, Why Jesus? For me, because Jesus is life. What about you? Why Jesus?

ROADTRIPPING WITH JESUS

When we look back on Jesus’ life and ministry, we see many people were drawn to Jesus. Many people followed him. And if we could ask them, each would have their own nuance to the answer of Why Jesus? And as we look at history, generation after generation, people have chosen the way of Jesus. Men and women follow Jesus leaving their safe places, running risks, hoping to be blessed, and hoping to be a blessing on the way. (Brueggemann A Way Other Than Our Own p. 3-4) What is it about Jesus?

JESUS IS THE WAY

Jesus is always on the move. Jesus is God in motion. All of the gospels portray Jesus on a continual road trip. He doesn’t really drop deep roots anywhere. He just keeps moving and meeting people wherever they are, connecting with them, offering them healing, transformation, wisdom, freedom, restoration, life. And inviting people to follow him.

Jesus meets people on their turf. He meets the woman at the well. He meets Zacchaeus in a tree. He meets the fishermen on the lake shore. He meets the leper on the road. He meets Peter’s mother-in-law in her house. He meets the demoniac in the graveyard. He meets us where we are.

If you choose Jesus, be ready to move. To follow Jesus is not to sit around a table and talk about him. The best way to get to know Jesus is to live life, to seek to put his words into practice, to go out and be a blessing to people, and I promise you will be blessed along the way. That’s the way it is with Jesus.

In fact, one day he said thathe was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let me read the whole passage in John 14.

John 14:1-6 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.4And you know the way to where I am going.”

5“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus told him,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Now, let me clear something up about this passage, because for some of us, it makes us uncomfortable. For years, many people have used this verse to condemn anyone who doesn’t follow Jesus; or follow Jesus the way they think you should. It has been used in judgment, when I believe it was offered as an invitation of grace, an invitation to life.

This encounter with Jesus happens just after Jesus had his last supper with the disciples, Jesus had predicted his death, and told them one of them would betray him, just after he has predicted Peter will deny him. It seems like Jesus is saying he is going to leave them and they were distressed. So, Jesus offers these words of comfort. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Where I am going there is plenty of room for everyone. You will be with me. And you know the way.” But Thomas is like, “No, we don’t know, Lord. We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?!?” And Jesus says, compassionately, trying to ease their anxiety, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Come with me.

This is an invitation.

So, let me tell you a story. When my aunt and uncle retired, they built a house in a community on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. It’s not on the coast, it’s in the foothills of the Smokies. In the woods. Dense woods. You can hardly see through the trees. And the roads are curvy and hilly. It is a private community and there are limited street lights and the road signs are not good. So, the first time I went to visit them, I got to the entrance of their community at night and I had no idea how to find 1312 Arrowhead Drive. This was before cell phones and google maps! My uncle had arranged for me to wait at the entrance and he’d come meet me. Then I could follow him in. He drove out to the entrance, (it took about 10 minutes!). Then he slowly drove to their house and I followed him in my car. Uncle Jim was the way. I followed him and found my temporary home. I was like Thomas, I had no idea where I was going and I was anxious. So Uncle Jim came and met me and I followed him in.

That is what Jesus is doing here. He is saying:

You don’t know what way to go? Follow me, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

You don’t know what is right? Or true? Or reliable? Follow me, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

You don’t know how to find joy, peace, meaning, life? Follow me, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

It is all part of a promise. It’s not an exclusive club. This is not a statement of condemnation. Rather it is a joyous assurance, that if you want to know God, if you want to know the Father, or Creator, if you want life, then follow him. He is the way, the truth and the life. A grace-filled invitation.

LIFE WITH JESUS

Now, why would we choose the way of Jesus? What kind of life can Jesus offer? Abundant life. A good life. A party. His first sign in the gospel of John reveals a bit about what following Jesus will be like.

In the gospel of John, this is the way Jesus began his ministry. In the first chapter, John the Baptist identified Jesus and baptized him. Then Jesus began offering invitations to all kinds of people. Come with me and see. Come and follow me. Then…

John 2:1-11 NLT

2The next daythere was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,2and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.3The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

4“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,”Jesus replied.“My time has not yet come.”

5But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons.7Jesus told the servants,“Fill the jars with water.”When the jars had been filled,8he said,“Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.”So the servants followed his instructions.

9When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.10“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

11This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

So, some days following Jesus means going to a party! I love this interaction between Jesus and his mother. As he embarks on his public ministry, you can see him trying to distance himself from his mother, not in a rude way, in an independent way. Just like a teenager. Can’t you see Mary, all through Jesus’ life, “Let me introduce you to my son, Jesus, the Messiah. You know he’s going to be the savior of the world one day!” And you have to wonder how many times Mary had asked Jesus to come to her rescue, use his special powers. On this day, at this wedding feast, the host has run out of wine. A huge gaffe in this culture of hospitality. So she let’s Jesus know. He says it’s not their problem. But then Mary, as she walks away, says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you to.”

Sure enough, Jesus steps into action. Asks the servants to fill the large jars with water. And John so subtly lets us know…when the steward dipped into the jar... The water had been turned to wine. And not bad wine…good wine. In fact, the best wine! And, lots of it! Because that’s how Jesus operates! Abundance. Extravagance. Restoration of reputation. This is an act which depicts life with Jesus.

Jesus is in the transformation business.

Jesus hangs out with people and goes to parties!

Jesus takes ordinary things like water and fishermen. And turns them into extraordinary things like wine and leaders of a world changing movement.

The thing about Jesus is he is always on the road. He is always moving. And, he is always inviting people to join him on the way to truth and life. How will you respond?

Now, something I have discovered along the way with Jesus…if you are trying to figure out your next steps. If you are wondering if that crazy idea is worth following? If you are trying to discern your future. If you are trying to follow Jesus. One test to discern if it is Jesus leading you; ask yourself, “Does it take me out of my comfort zone? Is it risky?” If the answer is yes, then it probably is Jesus, inviting you on the way that leads to life.

Another thing, this is a life-long quest. Jesus doesn’t just offer us one invitation. Jesus is continually inviting us to new places, new endeavors, new discoveries, new challenges.

Where is Jesus inviting you to go? What are your next steps in following Jesus?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”