SERMON: "Follow Me.”
As you listened to the Gospel story about Jesus miraculously appearing to his disciples at the Sea Shore – the same place that he first met the disciples and called them to follow him – as you listened to the story I asked you to look at the beautiful bulletin cover.
It is a wonderful painting by the Chinese Artist He Qi, who is known and beloved for his Christian paintings and vibrant colors. I have two copies in my office, also vibrant in colors and vibrant in message.
He Qi is currently a California resident, and he studied at Nanjing University and Art Institute and Hamburg Art Institute. Now he is an Artist in residence at Fuller Theological Seminary.
His art works have been displayed in museums, galleries, universities and churches, in New York, San Francisco, Berkeley, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Birmingham, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Hartford, Elizabethton, Richmond, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Nanjing, London, Oxford, Gevena, Aachen, St. Petersburg, etc.
His art works have been introduced in numerous newspapers and magazines and are loved by many.
This painting depicts the story told in John when Jesus appears to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias in a miraculous and yet very familiar way. Jesus meets his displaces at the seashore, at the boats, at their daily work as he met them first to call them and asked them to follow him.
It might be a very miraculous meeting after the resurrection, and yet Jesus meets his disciples in the same way he lived with them: fishing, eating, talking and blessing them.
He Qi’s painting is the moment when Jesus once again shares a meal with his disciples: breaking the bread, Boling the fish over the charcoal fire, letting the fire flames from the fire warm their faces, their hearts and their faith.
Jesus then specifically talks to Simon Peter and asks him not once but 3 times if he loves him. Simon Peter might have been offended and surprised by that repeated question – and yet it was a rebuttal and refusal of the 3 times he betrayed Jesus before the rooster crowed.
“Do you love me?” Jesus asks Peter 3 times. And 3 times he asks him to be the disciple and the leader in the world that he was called to be.
Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.
Do what I did. Do what I called you to do. Be a good shepherd in the world and among people.
And then Jesus says: Follow me.
Once again, he repeats the words of the first calling at the seashore on this final day on the seashore.
Follow me.
There are 21 times in the Gospel where Jesus says Follow Me.
To follow Jesus is not just to walk behind him or listen to his words. It is transformation. Is it embracing Jesus values and teachings as our own. And we are willing to leave the old way and habits behind us and reshape our priorities, our actions and our hopes.
To follow Jesus is an ongoing process and choice – not only at baptism or at confirmation Sunday, - but a daily call. It is about doing the things that Jesus would do, having the values that Jesus had, imitating his humility, his generosity and his compassion. To impact the world positively because we believe in him and follow him.
At Easter I quoted a Danish poet Soren Ulrich Thomsen who said: “I believe in the resurrection because I cannot believe in the opposite.”
That confession is such a powerful statement of faith and hope that can be transformative in our own lives and in our communities and society and how we do follow Jesus.
I believe in the resurrection because I cannot believe in the opposite.
I believe in love and hope as I cannot believe in the opposite.
I believe in compassion and commitment because I cannot believe in the opposite.
I believe in diversity, equity and inclusion because I cannot believe in the opposite.
I believe in the resurrection because I find it impossible to believe in the opposite.
I believe in kindness, love, and compassion as I find it impossible to believe in the opposite.
I do believe in the light and love that is a blessing in my ordinary life, as I believe in the light and love as a mysterious miraculous presence of Christ.
So today we confess our faith with the confirmand – and we confirm that we want to follow Jesus with faith, hope and love, with goodness and kindness.
We will do justice, love kindness,
and walk humbly with God.
And we will sing the beautiful words of the hymn:
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
AMEN
Speech to the Confirmand
It is indeed a beautiful day today. To gather here in this beautiful church. To gather here to celebrate and confirm what we believe in and trust in.
In this virtual age and time, we have met via zoom since November 2025. 3 girls from San Francisco, Manhattan Beach and North Carolina. Today 2 of them are attending virtually and will be confirmed later this Summer in Denmark.
And here in this beautiful church we have you.
Since November we have met to talk about faith, Christianity, hope and ethics. Talk about how to be a follower of Jesus in the world.
There are so many voices to listen to. Social Media, Influencers, Friends, Celebrities, Politicians etc. But I have been asking you to listen to the voice of God. To listen and reflect on how to believe in goodness, kindness, justice and compassion in a word that often preaches and shows the opposite.
So, let your gentleness be known in the world.
Let your kindness and grace overcome all the cynical and dividing voices.
Let your faith show you what to do, what to believe and how to be.
You have all 3 chosen your confirmation word of today – a word or a motto to follow you and remind you of your faith, your commitment and your confirmation.
Amon the 3 of you, you focused on two words, two mottos that truly are great words to live by:
For Nothing is impossible with God.
A word spoken by the Angel Gabriel to Mary when she cannot comprehend or understand that she is pregnant. A word spoken to us to make us hope and have faith even when it seems impossible.
The sport company Adidas had an ad years ago – Impossible Is Nothing. It was a very inspirational and motivational campaign, reminding people that anything is possible. Reminding us of that records and human limitations are meant to be broken. Reminding us that we can do important things. No matter what we are going through right now, no matter how impossible the situation may seem, no matter how helpless or hopeless we may feel, we should remember this, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. That we are not alone. That God is with us.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!
This is the big spiritual religious creed to follow. That we do believe in a God that is greater than what we understand and comprehend.
And then the second word:
Treat others as you would like others to treat you. Do to others as you would like others to do to you.
The Golden Rule is the perfect test for all our actions and thoughts. Would I like to be treated that way? Would I like to talk about this way? Would I like to be seen like this?
The Golden Rule is that fundamental principle, a simple command that sums up Moral and Ethics from the Bible. The rule reminds us to consider our impacts on others and to treat others with love, humility, respect, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and peace.
It also reminds us that we are peers to others, we are neighbors called to be good neighbors, and to show consideration.
I commend these 3 girls for choosing these fundamental and important words on their confirmation day – and even more for their lives.
Have faith – keep hope – believe that nothing is impossible with God.
Be kind – show compassion and believe in the transformative power of love.
I enjoyed our time together. I enjoyed our talks. I have enjoyed giving you a time and a place to ponder and wonder upon this amazing life of ours embraced by a loving God.
Today you confirm your faith. Today God confirms his faith in you as his beloved children.
So be brave, humble, kind and courageous.
Be good and be a good neighbor.
Embrace life. Extend grace and love without fear.
Always let your light shine in a world that too often is filled with darkness.
Put your imprint on this church, this time and this world. Go and be the light of the world.
Congratulations. Tillykke.
Disse fire smukke unge mennesker, gid I laenge leve maa!
Amen