ACT 2026

0:00 The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. The scripture says, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I've said, After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel. And John testified, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

0:40 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I myself have seen and testified that this is the chosen one. The next day, John, again, was standing with two of his disciples. And as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, Look, here is the Lamb of God. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

1:15 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, What are you looking for? They said to him, Rabbi, which is translated as teacher, where are you staying? He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which is translated as anointed.

1:50 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, You are Simon, son of John. You are to be called Cephas, which is translated Peter. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Let me pray. Good and gracious God, may the words of my mouth and the meditation upon all of our hearts be acceptable to you, our Lord and our Savior. Amen. Please be seated. Well, friends, since it's a new year, I think I'll just review again. For some of you who've never heard me preach, I like to involve the audience as much as possible.

2:34 So I'll invite you to say a hallelujah, an amen, or an are you with me as a way to feel like you're a part of this. So are you with me? Yes. Very good. Very good. Well, the title of today's sermon is Act 2026. Act 2026. I was thinking of things like movies and theater and drama and plays. Have you all ever been to a theater, a movie or a play before? Sure. Yes, for sure. Broadway shows or shows off Broadway or shows that are played here at different places.

3:08 I have only actually been to one Broadway-style show and it was in Los Angeles. And it was interesting, to say the least, from my perspective. And my wife does enjoy shows and I remember she would tell me about musicals she would do back in high school and she loved to act and so forth. And as you know, I love movies. I always bring up movies whenever I can as illustration points for sermons. But I do like certain shows like Jesus Christ Superstar. Are you familiar with that?

3:37 Yeah. Or God Spell. That's a fun one. Those are really cool renditions of things I've seen mostly on TV and those types of matters. But I love the silver screen and I love movies and I love theater though because they're different than movies because the action is happening right in front of you with drama and play. It's fiction, but it's happening live. And my main point today is sort of a question that we'll consider together. Are you ready to play your part in Jesus' drama? Good.

4:15 But think about that. Are you ready to play your part in Jesus' drama? Or if you know this line in reference from a very old movie, will you be ready for your close-up when Mr. Jesus comes around? My hope is that as you think about 2026, you're starting to consider that Jesus is perhaps inviting you to do something this year. It might be a renewal. It may be you have a new part to play. It might be a special part in the production that's happening before you.

4:54 And I know there's plays, I've never been to these, but I know there's plays where actors will actually invite the audience into what's happening. They'll talk to them. They'll interact. And today I'm offering that we think of this passage here with John the Baptist and Jesus showing up and these disciples as an interactive theater drama inviting people into it. Are you with me? Yeah. In a way, there is a stage and there are actors and there are invitations and there are moments to become part of this unfolding epic drama.

5:30 That's why I titled this Act 2026 because you are being encouraged to act and step into the act that Jesus is unfolding before you. Are you with me? Amen. Okay. Well, let's get into the opening act, if you will. In verses 29 through 34, as we heard, John the Baptist is announcing that Jesus has come and it's a very, very big deal. This makes me think of trailers in movies for big releases or I was actually thinking of one of my favorite movies and it's always fun to share, Singing in the Rain.

6:10 It's a great movie, very old movie, but a great movie. But in the beginning of the movie, there's this whole play and parts about what it's like when a movie comes to town and the big action and all the ways the whole town gets ready for it. And I'm thinking of that sort of a thing with John the Baptist as he's describing this Lamb of God coming. John the Baptist is speaking of the monumental nature what is the Lamb of God, the one that takes away the sin of the world.

6:40 And I was thinking of it sort of in my mind as I was reading that. I was hearing movie trailer voices, you know, think of it like in a world there's one Lamb that came. Or I always love my friend says this one, you're going to pay for the seats but you're only going to use the edge. It's this sort of excitement that John the Baptist is getting at that the one, the only Lamb of God is coming and he's come. And there's a lot of hype to that essentially.

7:16 There's a lot of perhaps mellow drama and you might be thinking, well, what do we do with that? And if we look at verses 35 to 32, these disciples, I like to look at them as people who just saw the trailer or the advertisement that John the Baptist gave and they're sort of just standing there and sitting there wondering like, this is a really big thing he's talking about. What do we do with it? And I think about people when they go to see a new movie or they hear of a new movie that's coming to town or a new play that's been released.

7:47 And I think people kind of wonder, there's some people when they go to a movie, they don't go until a friend says, hey, you should see this. Or somebody says, don't go see this. Or I'm the type of person, like, I don't like to watch movie trailers at all because I feel like it gives away the movie. So if it's a movie I really want to see, I don't watch the trailer. And I'll go and find out myself. I'll watch it and I'll be my own judge.

8:11 But other people have to wait for someone else to tell them, hey, here's this movie. Go see it. Go check it out. And I think that's sort of what's happening here with the disciples and John the Baptist. Because in verse 35, the next day, John, again, was standing with two disciples and 36, they watched Jesus walk by and he exclaims, look, here's the Lamb of God. And in verse 35, 36, 37, these two disciples think, I think they decide, well, if John is all hyped up about this Lamb of God, I guess we should go see it.

8:45 We should go see the movie. What's this all about? And so that's what they do. And in verse 37, 38, what we see, if you will, is the two disciples, in my opinion, they are going to the back of the movie theater. I think they paid for it, but they're going to the back of the movie theater. They're sitting in there and they just want to watch the show hiding. Think of it like that. They don't want to be noticed. But I love it because Jesus is sort of an interactive street performer, if you will.

9:13 And he's an interactive actor and he notices them come in. And in verse 38, what does it say there? When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, what are you looking for? What are you looking for? Jesus is no dummy. This is his stage. He realizes someone else has sort of walked into it or doesn't realize they're on his stage. And so Jesus goes right for it. I love it. He says, what are you looking for? What do you want? And this is key.

9:46 What do you want, friends, in general? What do you want in 2026? And heck, what do you want from Jesus in 2026? He's asking you. If he asked these two disciples, why would he not ask you if you're lingering behind him, if you were just trying to sit in the audience unnoticed? How many times have you come to the Jesus Sunday movie marathon that happens every single Sunday and you hid in the back and miss Jesus asking you, what do you want? Perhaps think about that this week.

10:41 Let's move into act two here. What we see is these two are ready for Jesus' question and maybe you are ready too. At the end of verse 38, what we see here is they say to him, Rabbi, which translates as teacher, where are you staying? They want to know where Jesus is staying. I always find that so fun. A little bit creepy. Yeah, I think some people are like, yeah, I always think the same thing too. But jokes aside, I think they're considering where do we go to find you if we wanted to get a hold of you.

11:18 And it makes sense. You want to get his address. Where is he staying? You know, his details so we can come find him when we need him. But I love how Jesus responds. Jesus responds, come and see. It's an invitation. It's an answer to say, come on over. Let's see what happens when you come and see where I'm staying. Friends, I really want you to think about what does Jesus want you to come and see? in 2026, what does it mean for you to enter into the play of Jesus' drama?

12:03 I would have you consider that this is not a passive action. Jesus is active in this time. He's saying to you, come. And it requires you come and you get close so you can see. And then to see that requires you, you want to get up and close to him. You want to get close to Jesus. He's inviting you to that. That is the act of 2026, 2027, 30 minutes from now. How close will you come to Jesus as he's coming close to you? Think about that.

12:52 Because again, friends, if he asked those two disciples and you are his disciples, why would he not ask you? As you think of that, let me share a story for those folks who go, I just don't know. I think you can get something out of passive action or active action, if you will. I have a really good friend. His name is Shaw. Really good friend to me. We really love this one author. His name is Henry Nowen. Are you familiar with Henry Nowen? Okay, maybe not.

13:30 Very Catholic, spiritual man. Writes many good books on reflection, prayer, different things. But long story short, my friend Shaw wanted to go visit this man up in Canada. And this was back in, I think, the early 90s. So people weren't tweeting like they do, like, hey, I'm over here or somebody's not available. But he didn't know this author, but he just loved him and he wanted to go visit him. So he booked a flight from, I think, Los Angeles all the way up to Canada where I believe he was staying.

14:01 He gets there and long story short, the man had passed away already and he didn't get to visit with this author. Now, it is a little bit tragic. But at the same time, I think the thing I love about my friend's action here, he went for it. He said, I'm not going to leave anything to give me a barrier. I'm not going to try to ask a secretary or an administrative assistant or send him an email and hope he responds to me. He was just going for it.

14:30 And I love it. And I still think he got something out of the fact that he went without knowing what the result would be. And it's important that we know to connect it here that any action to move closer to Jesus is good because we are coming to see him and we don't have to physically be with them to see him. That's helpful. But you can move closer to Jesus and that attempt is a good thing. Just because you didn't get the exact results doesn't mean you didn't move closer and he closer to you.

15:05 Are you with me? Very good. Well, let's move into the final act, if you will, here. In verses 40 to 42, what we see here is Andrew has been mesmerized by Jesus. They got to hang out with him all day. Whatever happened, whatever went on that day, was confirmation that for them Jesus is the saving one, the Lamb of God. He heard about the movie. He saw the trailer and he's seeing it happen. And now he's like, I got to tell people about this movie. It's mind-blowing.

15:42 It will change your life, as they say. And so he goes and he sees his brother because if it changes his life, he wants to go change his brother's life because Jesus is the Messiah and that means the anointed one, the one that God has always said would come to bring radical change to the world, to the people of God and Israel and to the new Israel to come in the church. And that's the long hope that God has not forgotten his people. And that's what Andrew was excited about and wanted to share with his brother.

16:15 And so essentially, a new act is beginning here. A drama is unfolding. It's becoming even more cosmic. In a movie language, in a dark world, a light has dawned. Come and see. Behold. And so, Andrew wants to tell his brother that he's convinced you got to see this. And so in verse 42, what we see here is from this passage, again, Jesus goes right for it. Again, Jesus acts. Jesus announced a name change, a scene change, a character change. Jesus is the director. He's getting up, he's saying, this is my movie, and he's saying to Peter, no, no, no, no.

16:56 You're not going to be this sort of person anymore. You're going to be this. This is the cast that I want for the movie that's unfolding. You will live out your true identity in the role and title of Peter. A rock. Right? You are the rock. Friends, is that not amazing how Jesus acts, how Jesus invites people into the story to show them I've got something that is going to change your world and the world. And he's inviting people to follow into that. And so this is what happens when you come up and close to see Jesus.

17:39 And I don't know, maybe you don't want that. Maybe you don't want a name change. Maybe you don't want a character change. Maybe you don't want a new plot line in your life. That's between you and Jesus. But I think you should come close and see. Well, we're going to come close to the closing of the curtains for today's show. But I don't forget there is a sequel with you and your role, I think. Let's get to applying this briefly. First, this year, what is something you need to perhaps think about when it comes to Jesus, the act of 2026?

18:15 Is it thinking about the Lamb of God? Is it learning more about what does Jesus mean as Messiah? Is it that you as a person, what does it look like for you to spend a day with Jesus? Do you need to go on a retreat this year sometime and just take intentional time to get away and be with Jesus? Do you need to stop and consider what would Jesus change your name to? You ever thought about that? What would he change your name to? How might he recast you?

18:49 As an illustration point, I know a pastor, his name is Justice, but that was not the name that his mama gave him. He's actually changed it when he became a very, very serious follower of Jesus in his 20s. And the fun part about this is I was preparing this sermon, I actually don't know what his birth name is. But that doesn't matter because I know his Jesus name, if you will. He is Justice. At some point he realized that he wanted to be different because he spent time, he got up close and personal with Jesus and it transformed him so much so that he says, Jesus has given me a new name.

19:27 That other name was great, but this is my new name, my new character, the role that I will play for Jesus. So again, perhaps think about that. What name has Jesus given you? Well, friends, you might be saying with respect, I'm a little too old to play a new part, pastor. You're so young, blah, blah, blah, whatever. Well, I feel you, I hear you. But I still think this sermon or this passage with Jesus really illustrates there's really no excuses. He's coming around every time. It's in my mind, you can act in many ways.

20:14 in Jesus's play or movie. If you want to watch the play or the drama of Jesus, that's great. Read the book over and over again. Study it. Learn it. It might be a passive way of learning it, but you're going to be like the IMDB of your Bible study group. You're going to know it back and forth. You're going to fall in love with it. Maybe you're going to nerd out on all the theology. Go for it. That is an action that you can take to come and see Jesus.

20:45 No excuses. Now, don't forget Jesus is the director and he's the producer. So any action that you intend with Jesus, it won't be wasted. Perhaps right now you can say, Jesus, I just want to be a stage hand. I just want to help out. I don't want to get super involved in one of the major cast roles. Can I be a script supervisor, Jesus? Can I just memorize scripture? Can I make sure the scriptures are being said properly, understood properly, not to be a legalist or not to be a hard person to say, you got to do it this way.

21:19 If you want to press on somebody, press on yourself. Find those scriptures, keep yourself accountable. Or maybe you want to be an extra. You want to get close, but you don't want to be in front of the camera. That's fine. Ask Jesus. Or maybe you want to be a stunt person. What does that mean in Jesus' play? I don't know. Ask him about it. Maybe you want to be a promoter of the show, of the movie. Go out there and tell people, hey, Jesus has got a new movie and you're in it.

21:54 That would get some heads to turn. I think you get my point. Any action, sitting, standing, reading, reflecting, praying, is a way of coming and getting closer and seeing something about Jesus. Are you with me? Yeah. And perhaps you can be like that old movie quote that I brought up. I'm ready for my close-up now, Mr. Jesus. And Jesus will gladly invite you into this dramatic play and recognize this is an interactive stage. Jesus is saying to come and see that the world in this play, things are going to end well.

22:33 This is a comedy. It's going to end well in the best sense of it. Come and see. Friends, go and do it. Act this year in 2026. What part of the drama are you in? Are you in act one? Are you in act three? Are you in the resolution? Are you in the climax? Act and see how Jesus will meet you wherever you are in his drama because Jesus is inviting people to act. Amen. Amen.