Advent 4 - Rorate Coeli
One Year Lectionary
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (December 19, 2010)
“Crying in the Wilderness”
Readings:
Psalm 111
Dt. 18:15-19
Philippians 4:4-7
John 1:19-28
Sermon Form: Deductive
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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen
The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel reading of St. John the 1st chapter, especially the following verses.
John 1:19-28
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Finally they said, [to John the Baptist]"Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " 24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Doesn’t it seems rather odd that we spend so much time on hearing about John the Baptist at this time of year? It seems like we're getting ready for Christmas in every other facet of life except for in the readings we hear at church during Advent.
But John the Baptist’s is "the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" And that is precisely what we need at this time of year—and always. You see, John is a great example for all pastors and preachers in that he points not to himself but to the Christ who is the living Word of God that has taken on flesh to dwell among His people (John 1:14). So John answers the question as to his purpose by saying, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know."
This is the very same preaching about Christ that is to continue in the church until the Second visible Advent, meaning the coming, of Christ at the end of the world. And we know that because Jesus says so Himself just before He ascends into heaven and out of sight: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-21
Do you hear that? Jesus Christ is the One who is, “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; who rose again from the dead on the third day and 40 days later ascended into heaven and is "with you always, to the end of the age." And this is all accomplished in the baptizing and teaching of everything commanded by Christ, the living Word of God—in other words, in the proclamation and pouring out of the forgiveness of sins in Baptism, preaching, Confession & Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. John the Baptist does not talk about church growth, how many members, how to get people into church, no John points to Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—and your sin too.
John the Baptist was speaking to the hardened hearts of unbelievers, so he said, "among you stands one you do not know." Martin Luther has a wonderful way of explaining those non-hearing hearers, those self righteous teachers of the Law: "They listen all right. But they stand and look at John the Baptist just like a cow looks at a new gate . . . as though they had not heard a single word he was saying. Thus they stand there and with hearing ears they do not hear."
Neither John nor the Christ to whom he points measure up to what they or we think the Messiah should be. They expect a conquering champion come to fight for them against all those other evil folks. They expect to be commended for their superior lifestyles and spectacular preaching of the Law to the people so that they will become more like them.
But of course isn’t it the same today? Who wants a Jesus who, though we can't see Him is indeed here in the water of Baptism, in the preaching of the Word, in the forgiving of sins, in bread and wine? And all that from the hands and mouths of men no more pleasing to the eye or splendid in status than that guy John the Baptist, a wearer of camel hair and eater of locusts. People like him don't fill the pews to the rafters like the preachers in today’s world who would have you believe there is no glory like the glory you can have today only if you have enough faith and let your light shine among men.
Luther says, and we must understand it holds true for us also: "The same situation prevails today, when we teach that to attain the life to come, people have to know the teachings of Christ and confess the [2nd] article [of the Creed], I believe in Jesus Christ." And this does not mean to simply use His name as we please or add it onto any old prayer and desire of our hearts. It means to believe that He is the one who not only was born on Christmas day as the baby of Mary, but the One who suffered and died for you; the one who rose and ascended for you; the One who will come again for you to raise your flesh; and even the One who comes today for you here in the preaching of the Word and in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Because these are among all the things He has commanded us, aren't they? And so they are the very things in and through which he promises to be with us always, to the very end of time and this world.
So once again to quote Luther as he follows in the footsteps of John the Baptist, "We see this everywhere among the smart professionals. . . . They would be happy to have a Christ . . . according to their liking. Yes, but what the Lord God has in mind is this: Man, you ought to accept Christ just as God sends him, not as you want him to be. . . . If you will receive John with his testimony, then you will have Christ at your door; therefore receive John and His witness."
And so once again you here today from this pulpit an echo of John, as well as Paul who preached "nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" [1 Corinthians 2:2]: "Among you stands one you do not know." And more importantly, among you stands the One who knows we are all sinners. It is Christ who knows that we look to ourselves and our own actions trying to justify ourselves, to make ourselves feel better. Who else but us could fill the church? God must need help because whatever we’re doing isn’t working, the church is going to fail, falter, and slowly melt away, oh dear what can we do to save the church.
Repent, for Christ was, is, and will always be the Lord of the Church. It is Jesus Christ who is the One who came on Christmas Day as a lowly infant; it is He who is the One who will come again on the Last Day in all His glory; it is Jesus Christ who is the One who always was coming even before the foundations of the world as the eternal Son of God; and always is coming even today in all the things He has commanded and given to forgive you all your sins and give you eternal life. So we are to stop our sniveling and weeping that the church will fade away. John the Baptist has cried out, Jesus Christ is come, you have eternal life, and that is more than we could ever imagine or dream. The reality is Jesus Christ is still Lord of the Church, and you will be in that church with Him and all the saints, forever and ever. Amen
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
AMEN
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