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Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church
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Third Sunday after Epiphany |
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John 4:42 Savior of the World As we move toward Easter our evening Bible readings will focus on the beloved Gospel of St. John. This Gospel is one of the greatest literary works of all time, and one of the greatest devotional works. At the same time it is unsurpassed as a book of theology, and much of what we know about God comes to us from the pages of this book. It has been a constant source of knowledge, and faith, and comfort, and hope to the Church of God, and any time spent in it will profit the soul for eternity. For that reason, I intend, God willing, that the sermons over the next several weeks will be taken from its pages also. John’s Gospel is not simply a factual biography of Christ. It is factual, but it is a testimony rather than a scientific presentation of facts. Events are arranged theologically, rather than chronologically. They are carefully arranged to accomplish John’s purpose, which is to invoke faith in us. “These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:31). That, in John’s own words, is the purpose of his Gospel. We see in John’s work the widening revelation of Jesus of Nazareth. This revelation is in two parts. First there is an ever widening recognition of Jesus as The Messiah. Second, there is a deepening understanding of who He is and why He has come. At first, Jesus is almost unknown. The miraculous circumstances of His birth, the visits of the shepherds, the magi, and the angels were probably not believed by the people of Nazareth, nor was He recognized as the Messiah, even in His home town. As He began His ministry not a soul recognized Him. But the Holy Spirit came upon Him as he was baptized by John, and John recognized Him. Then Andrew and Phillip followed Jesus. Andrew brought Peter, and Phillip brought Nathanael, and the circle of recognition widened. He was recognized by more when He turned the water into wine, and when He chased the money changers and merchants out of the Temple. Many believed on Him because of these actions, but their faith was shallow, and Jesus put no confidence in them. Next came the Jewish leader, Nicodemus. In chapter 4 the revelation of Christ extends out of the Jewish people to the Samaritans. So we see the widening scope of the recognition, or, revelation of Christ. There is also a corresponding deepening of the understanding of Jesus. He is declared by John to be the Word of God (Jn. 1:1); the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:36), but very few people understand what this means. Andrew understands that Jesus is the Messiah (Jn. 1:41), but, to Andrew, this means Jesus is a military leader come to deliver the Jews from the Romans through military conquest. That is the common understanding of the Messiah in Andrew’s time, and it is a role people will constantly try to force upon Jesus; a role Jesus will steadfastly refuse. Nathanael calls Him the Son of God and king of Israel (Jn. 1:49), but he is still thinking of the military leader. He does not mean what we mean when we say “Son of God.” Nicodemus recognizes Him as a teacher sent from God, but does not quite understand what that means, until he meets with the “Teacher” by night. (Jn. 3:2). The Samaritan woman recognizes Him first as a prophet (4:19) and then as the Messiah (4:26 & 4:29). But one of the most significant events in history, and one the most important statements about Jesus is found in John 4:42 when the people of Sychar say of Jesus of Nazareth, “we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” Savior of the World. What is a Savior? We use that word often in worship, in prayer, even in casual conversation. What do we mean by it? I could do all kinds of Greek word studies and give many theological definitions of the word, but I doubt I could express it any better than did the angel who assured Joseph that he could take Mary as his wife because the child she was carrying was conceived of the Spirit of God; “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). I will preach about this often in the future. For today let me simply say that Christ saves us from our sins by bearing them in himself, and by paying the price of our redemption by His sacrifice on the cross. God the Father forgives us because Christ, God the Son, bore our sins. Today let us focus on the work of Christ as Savior of the World. It is so very important to see that God’s vision of forgiveness and grace is for all peoples. Many of the Jews were angered at this. They wanted a savior to deliver them from the Romans. They wanted a Barabbas. But Jesus came for all peoples. He came for the Jews. He came for the Samaritans. He came for the Romans, and the Greeks, and the men and the women and the young and the old, and the black and the white and the red and the yellow and the rich and the poor. You will hear me say this so very often, because it is true. He came to be Savior of the World. Thanks be to God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. R. Dennis Campbell, Vicar, Holy Trinity Anglican Church,
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