Introduction
There are dozens upon dozens of ways to center this text and there are a lot of beautiful nuances to the language and verb tenses chosen by the author that uplift greater meaning. And so, if you aren’t finding what you’re looking for in this commentary, I encourage you to read Karoline Lewis’ commentary on John[1] (see footnote for link) or Gail R. O’Day and Susan E. Hylen’s commentary on John[2] (see footnote for link). There are good themes around invitation (come and see), finding and being found, and witnessing that can be found in this text (but it is more than I can cover in this commentary).
For me, what’s sticking out this week is identity.
Identity
I want to start with a quote from O’Day and Hylen that sets the tone for where I’m going this week. O’Day and Hylen write,
“Another discipleship theme in John that is prominent in verses 35-51 is the recognition of Jesus’ identity. Each new disciple who comes to Jesus has a new name or title for him: “Rabbi” (v. 38), “the Messiah” (v. 41), “him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote” (v. 45), “Son of God” (v. 34, 49), “King of Israel” (v. 49). To these Jesus adds a title of his own: “Son of Man” (v. 51). All of these names address important aspects of who Jesus is: the one who fulfills Scripture, the one who answers Israel’s hopes for a future leader, a new king like David or prophet like Moses. Each of these titles draws upon a particular set of expectations from first-century Jewish culture and applies them to Jesus. The reader is asked to begin to see Jesus in these terms, as the one in whom all of these titles are becoming a reality. None of these titles is a complete expression of Jesus’ identity. Nor is any of them identical to what the reader already knows to be true about Jesus from the prologue, that Jesus is the Word-made-flesh. Yet each of them can contribute something to the reader’s growing understanding of who Jesus is. In the remainder of the Gospel, the reader will find further clarification of the titles: how Jesus acts as a rabbi, for example, or what is means for Jesus to be “King of Israel.” At this early stage in the story, it is notable that these new disciples use titles for Jesus that express something true about who he is, even if they have not yet come to full understanding of him. Throughout the Gospel, people will continue to struggle with understanding Jesus’ identity. The reader is invited to join in this struggle.”[3]
Here’s why this is critical to me. Throughout so much of my preaching and throughout so many sermons, commentaries, and preaching that I’ve read/heard, we often emphasize the disciple’s lack of understanding around Jesus’ identity. Their misunderstanding about his role. Their misunderstanding about the crucifixion. Their misunderstanding about seats of power. And yet, as we look at each of these titles (that the different disciples give to Jesus in the first few chapters), is this not a remarkable level of recognition and depth? Seeing Jesus as teacher, King, Messiah, prophet, all in the space of a breath. They recognize this authority, spirituality, and connection with God and tradition. They test out these understandings and seek to grow even more understanding. What if the lesson is not that they are getting it wrong, because (as noted above) all of these are partial truths, what if the lesson is to do likewise. To try to come to know God through different titles, roles, and perspectives? Jesus does not negate or reject any of these titles but allows the disciples to begin to see him in that way knowing that their recognition of him will only grow over time.
Even in Jesus’ recognition of Nathanael, as “an Israelite in whom there is no deceit” and “sitting under a fig tree,” while important to Nathanael because he feels seen, these descriptions do not encompass all of who Nathanael is and who he will be. It is through relationship with God and through relationship with one another that we truly begin to see all of one another.
Preaching Possibilities
Identifying God
Someone walks into our church for the first time. They hear us call God ‘Father, Creator, Mother, Parent, Almighty.’ They hear us call Jesus ‘Messiah, Lord, King, Servant, Brother, Emmanuel, Prophet, Rabbi and teacher, healer, Son of God, Son of Man, Redeemer.’ They hear us call the Holy Spirit, ‘Sustainer, Ghost, Paraclete, Comforter, Advocate.’ And then they hear that all three are one.
Even for the churchiest of us, each of these descriptions and identifiers take some time for us to explain and define in our own heads. But somehow we expect others to simply “get it.”
We often lift up the disciples as negative examples. Don’t do what Peter does and deny Jesus three times. Don’t do what Thomas does and doubt Jesus’ resurrection. Don’t do what James and John do and bicker over the seats of power. Don’t mistake Jesus for just being a teacher when he’s actually the impossibly cosmic being known as the “I am.” But all of these are actually perfect examples of being human and being in relationship with God. Our faith is a journey. A journey of learning and relationship. It grows and regresses over time. We learn and we re-learn. Why do we demand immediate perfection of ourselves and of others who are coming to church to immediately understand mystery?
Discipleship is a journey, and we all have to grow. We come to learn who God is through experience and relationship. And it takes time. It takes time to see Jesus as our teacher as we break open the scriptures and begin to wrestle with his teachings. It takes time to see Jesus as our Savior when we are down on ourselves and believe we are irredeemable. It takes time to see the Holy Spirit as our comforter when we are grieving the loss of a loved one. It takes time to see God as Love when we feel completely unlovable.
It’s not heresy to work through these titles and thoughts and see what resonates with us and to struggle with it. It is honest and authentic discipleship (as evidenced by the twelve).
We are not expected to understand God. We can’t. But we are called to be in relationship with God and grow in that relationship each and every day.
Identifying One Another
I think that this is critical this year in particular but can be talked about in any year.
Jesus is just a man from Podunk Nazareth. Nathanael is just an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. Peter is just a rock and a denier. Thomas is just a doubter and a twin.
We are not just the product of one moment or one identifier. We are not just the product of where we come from. We are not just the product of our mistakes or our success. We are all these things and so much more.
In this presidential election year, the news, friends, and social media are going to be reducing people’s identity to their political party. Writing off those chaotic liberal Democrats. Eviscerating those selfish conversative Republicans. We’ll reduce people’s faith to Hard Right Evangelical, Radical Mainline Protestant, or Conservative Catholic (ignoring every other faith tradition). We’ll label the “snobby elite metropolitan” folks or the “smalltown/smallminded rural” folks. Everyone will be made into a caricature. Everyone will reduce one another to something or someone that can be written-off and discarded or easily accepted. And then when we are labeled, each one of us will immediately say that we cannot be described by only one description.
I am Micah. And some know me as an alcoholic. Some know me as a pastor’s kid. Some know me as a theologian and biblical scholar. Some know me as a baseball [ph]anatic. Some know me as a game nerd. Some know me as someone in recovery. Some know me as an enneagram five. Some know me as Sarah’s husband. Some know me as Henri’s dad. Some know me as a chaotic selfish mess. Some know me as an organized and hyper focused workaholic. Some people know me as a Philadelphian. Some people know me as a northeasterner. Some people know me as an introvert.
Who am I?
On most weeks I would be okay with the answer being, “a Beloved child of God.” And I am that. And you are too. But if we talk about the complexity of identity this week, we cannot conclude it with something so overly simplistic. But Psalm 139 (assigned for this week) says it all.
“13For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.”
God knows all of who we are. And God does not reduce us but instead loves us for all of who we are and all of our complexities. Our intricacies, differences, nuances, perspectives, and experiences are what make each of us indescribably beautiful. And God loves us because of all of it.
What if we could refrain from trying to boil ourselves and others down to the simplest and least interesting versions of ourselves? What if stopped trying to define everyone so that they have no room to grow? What if we were quicker to move toward relationship rather than writing people off because we think they are in the wrong box?
I know that the best version of myself is when I am in relationship with the most people of different perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, and beliefs. I become more of who I truly am and learn more about who I want to become when I surround myself with other people, leading with curiosity, openness, and hope.
This week I believe we are called to be more like the disciples. Curious, open, and hopeful for this relationship that they are beginning with Jesus and each other. Through those relationships we will grow in greater understanding of God, each other, and ourselves. Growing to be our true selves in a connected and loving community where God cherishes our abundant diversity.
[1] Karoline Lewis, John, Fortress Press, 31-34.
[2] Gail R. O’Day & Susan E. Hylen, John, WJK, 31-33.
[3] O’Day and Hylen, 32.
Micah Krey 
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