Sermon for Epiphany 2, 18th Jan 2026

Welcome sisters and brothers, and peace be with you. Take my lips O God and speak through them, take our minds O God and think through them, take our hearts O God and love through them this day. <Amen>

Sometimes I’ll read something and the words just stick with me. My favourite literary quotes are the ones that are there for me when I need them, whether it's one of the happiest day of my life or one of the the hardest.

They can be words of advice or inspiration, bits of rare beauty, or even raw moments of pain that are so perfectly expressed - they become unforgettable.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” : Charles Dickens


“Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.” : Charlotte Bronte

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” : Anne Frank

“We’ve all got light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.” : J K Rowling

Now, if I started to quote from my favourite Bible passages we’d be hear for a VERY long time and trying to pick just one or two is, for me, virtually impossible …. BUT … I’m gonna try :) …. BECAUSE:

Our Gospel for today (John 1:29-42) begins with one of the greatest encounters of all time - John the Baptist, meeting Jesus. As John sees Jesus his THIRTEEN words, yes - just 13 words, smash into our consciousness and are unforgettable,

“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

There you have, perhaps, a perfect summary of the entire New Testament.

Some theologians have argued that everything else, all the other 783,124 words in the NT, are merely commentary.

Perhaps that is true, but unfortunately, I fear, our Gospel lesson contains an image that may lack clarity for many who gather in faith communities around the world in 2026.

For example, If you worship in the centre of Auckland, Buenos Aires, Cologne, London, Madrid. New York, Sydney, or any large town or city … you don’t see too many sheep and shepherds!!


“Behold the Lamb of God!” Does that expression grab hold of 21st century humans as it did for Hebrew people, living two-thousand years ago?

So, this is precisely why it is important to learn the language of our faith.

No one can expect to grow in the Christian faith, and fully understand a scripture lesson like our gospel today, without some familiarity with Biblical tradition.

That would be like trying to watch American football and expecting to make perfect sense of the game without an explanation from a citizen of the 50 states who actually follows the game. <to prove my point - turn this around and try asking the next American you meet to explain cricket or rugby!>

So, if I may, let me expand a wee bit. In Jesus’ day the lamb had two CRUCIAL meanings for the Jewish people:

First, the lamb conveyed a deep, DEEP sense of gentleness, innocence and purity.

Secondly, the lamb was (and still is) the central symbol of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from their bondage in Egypt. An event commemorated, to this day, by the sacrifice of a lamb for the celebration of Passover.

John takes the symbol of the innocent, gentle, pure, sacrificial lamb and relates it not just to the Passover but also to human frailty and mis-deeds. “Behold the lamb of God”.

John then also shatters the traditional image that the Messiah is only for Israel\the Jews. He makes it perfectly clear that this “Lamb of God” is not exclusively for Israel but for everyone … “who takes away the sin of the world”. <PAUSE>

This Gospel also preserves an absolutely critical conversation that grew out of an exchange between Jesus and several individuals who, up until that time, were disciples of John the Baptist.

John encouraged his followers to change their teacher and follow Jesus.

Many of them, like Andrew, were trying to determine what that would mean. Yet, touched by the Holy Spirit, they were wise enough to know that they would gain wisdom by participation and observation, so they asked Jesus where he was staying. Jesus responded by saying simply: “Come and see.”

With that simple invitation … “Come and see” … the Lamb of God changed the world. <PAUSE>


Before long Andrew invited his brother, Peter, and, then Peter invited countless others to come and see the Messiah, the Promised One.

This dynamic of inviting and welcoming should be as central to the essence of our faith communities today as the day that Christ spoke those three words.

Like Andrew and Peter we too should want to find opportunities to bring others to Jesus.

We must remember that Christians are not born … Christians are invited by those who are already part of the Faith and, therefore, determined to repeat those oh so precious words of John: Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Christians do not impose! Christians do NOT force their faith upon others!Christians invite. Those people whose lives are changed by Christ experience a transformation, not because they were frightened, threatened or beaten. No, they were changed by a gentle invitation: “Come and see.”

But as critical as these three words are, I know that it is all but impossible to expect most people to say them to their friends or neighbours.

Why? Well think about it … actively sharing our faith is something that most of us have never been encouraged to do. People can be kind, people can be generous, people can worship with some regularity, participate in Bible Study, but sharing faith? No, that seems unnatural … too manipulative … too intrusive … and, these days, too “politically incorrect” … Sorry, but I don’t agree !!

Jesus was neither manipulative nor intrusive. Jesus employed no coercion, no threat, no intimidation; Jesus simply employed the approach we use today to recommend a book or a movie or a good restaurant … we say – come and see. So if you want to share your faith then use Jesus as your example and say, “Come and see!”.

I pray that you, who are members of the family, the Body, of Christ are enthusiastic and welcoming.

We have a worship life that enriches and strengthens.

We have a Christian life that gives individuals a sense of belonging, a feeling of participation in a community of values.

We are a people determined to be more caring towards those in need … and if others “just don’t get it” …

well, tell ‘em “COME AND SEE” - and to God will be the glory.

I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>