The words of John the Baptist about Jesus in today’s Gospel “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”, are the first ones spoken about him in St John’s Gospel. They are, if you like, our first impression of Our Lord, at least according to St John. That made me think about first impressions, and find out what others have said on the subject…

J.K.Rowling said “A good first impression can work wonders”, while Will Rogers pointed out that “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”. Elliott Abrams reminds us that “first impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes.” So first impressions are important. However, some people warn us of the dangers involved in trusting first impressions: “I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this, but first impressions are often entirely wrong.” (Daniel Handler). Famous author Franz Kafka went further: “First impressions are always unreliable.” One point made by Sherrilyn Kenyon is that “It is sometimes difficult to get rid of first impressions,” while Daniel Tosh issues a salutary warning: “You know who makes a great first impression? Liars.” We have been warned…

So there seem to be widely differing positions on the subject. Take two famous Russians. Back on positive grounds, Tolstoy advises “In difficult circumstances always act on first impressions.” But fellow Russian author Anton Chekhov warns: “Each of us is full of too many wheels, screws and valves to permit us to judge one another on a first impression or by two or three external signs.” Well, now I really don’t know what to make of it all.

Does this have anything to say to us church-type people? Oh yes! I leave the last word to someone called Nelson Searcy. We might all pay attention to what he has to say about arriving at a church… “Seven minutes is all you get to make a positive first impression. In the first seven minutes of contact with your church, your first-time guests will know whether or not they are coming back. That’s before a single worship song is sung and before a single word of the message is uttered.” Food for thought…

Fr Matthew