Meeting Jesus

When a well-known fashion designer like Gucci or Stella McCartney produce a new design for an extravagant dress it is very likely that a large clothing store will ask someone to make a copy of this dress which they can then market at a cheaper price. However although this new dress will look attractive and have appeal to the general public, it will not have the uniqueness or quality of the original article.

But, Gucci and Stella McCartney will have students who study their work.  Those of them who respect the authority that is over them, and are eager to follow instructions will not only profit by knowing the designer and increasing their knowledge of their craft but will be putting themselves in a position where they will be able to do even greater work.

'Those that believes in me will do what I do, yes they will do even greater things' (John 14:12)

So we have a choice.  We can both read about Jesus in the Gospels and if we have the time and the opportunity; study theology: or we can decide that it would be really worthwhile to meet Jesus.

Someone may have read articles about David Beckham and may even have spent their life studying football.  They may know a lot about David Beckham but have never had the opportunity to meet him.  Of course, reading magazine articles may provide a clue on how to meet the famous footballer. He and Victoria may be attending a function in the neighbourhood so the person goes in the hope of seeing and talking to the famous footballer, maybe like Zaccheeas, they climb a tree. Of course, I needn't tell you that the best way to ensure you meet David Beckham is to become a really good footballer yourself.  However, that is not within the abilities of many of us. However, another way of meeting David Beckham would be to find yourself in the right place at the right time.

This is what happened when Andrew first met Jesus at Galilee. It is very unlikely that Andrew would have had the opportunity to read newspaper articles about Jesus, although he may have received some reports from other people that had been in contact with him.  But the interesting thing in this first contact is not just that Jesus chose Andrew, but Andrew recognised Jesus. St John's gospel states that after Andrew met Jesus he went to his brother Simon and said, “I have met the Messiah”.  The account in Matthew and Mark is slightly different.  They describe Jesus meeting Andrew and Simon simultaneously.  It does not really matter how the meeting took place.  What does matter is that Andrew immediately recognised the authority of Jesus and was prepared to give up his current lifestyle to follow him.

Last weekend I was staying at Whitchester Christian Retreat Centre and Guesthouse at Hawick. There were 10 other guests staying there. Four of them were keen chess players. In fact the reason I was there was because I am also a keen chess player, and I along with the other 4 was playing in the Hawick chess congress. Elaine Rutherford was one of the four. Some of you will know who she is, but for those who don’t, I will tell you. Elaine aged 17 and still a pupil at James Gillespie’s School in Edinburgh became the World’s women amateur Chess Champion.  The press hailed her as a super hero. She is now aged 19 and studying medicine at Aberdeen University. All the guests, not just the chess players, said she was delightfully unassuming. I got to know her a little during the weekend, and was very touched when several times she broke away from her own game to come and see how I was getting on in my game.

Now there are three things I want to point out about Elaine. She was a world-recognised authority. She was unassuming. She was interested in other people. Elaine the world super hero reflects the personality of Jesus in a minute but faithful way.

Continued