An Invitation | The Second Sunday after the Epiphany | 18. January 2026 | John 1:29-42 | Timothy Eichler |

Luke 2:1-14 English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

This is a short sermon/homily as is any invitation.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

“What are you seeking?” Jesus asks three disciples who after hearing John the Baptist declare “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” the day before and now on day two “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

After hearing John’s words and seeing Jesus walk by two of the disciples of John begin to follow Jesus, so Jesus asks:

“What are you seeking?”

Good question. A question that gets at the heart and soul of one’s being.

A bit of perspective is required around the question.

Jesus asks this question to two of John the Baptist’s disciples; who heard John twice in two days declare publicly upon seeing Jesus: Then the two disciples of John begin following Jesus. That is, they begin to physically walk after him. They followed Him perhaps to hear what he had to say next. Out of curiosity they followed Him. We are not told why they followed Him. What we are told is that they answer Jesus’ question with a question: “Where are you staying?”

What kind of response is this question? What does it matter where Jesus is staying? What does it reveal?

What it reveals is a desire of the new followers of Jesus to know where to receive Jesus’ teaching. In other words, what they are seeking is the teaching of Jesus. The teaching of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

As Jesus asked the disciples, he asks you and me as we follow Him: “What are you seeking?”

When you come to worship what are you seeking?
When you go to a bible study what are you seeking?
When you ask for prayers what are you seeking?
When you pray for others what are you seeking?

In our seeking, like the seeking of the early disciples, Jesus invites all of us to “come and see”. To “come and see” the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. To accept His invitation means we are willing to leave one way of life for another way of life. To live in accordance with His teaching. This is the way of the disciple … the follower of Jesus Christ.

To “come and see’ what life with the Lamb of God is like, to go where he goes, be with who he is with, do what he does, and to tell and invite others about all that we have heard, seen, and experienced.

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen

Timothy Richard Eichler
pastoreicher@gmail.com
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Coronado, CA, USA