Hear His Voice; View His Works; and Beleive in Jesus!

Matthew 11:2-11  When we face our own mortality–when we are confronted with a serious illness—when we stand beside the graveside of a loved one--we want to know, and know for sure, that the one we have put our faith and trust in–is who he says he is-- and is able to do what he has promised to do.

            That is what John the Baptist was facing as he sat in Herod’s prison waiting for the executioner’s blade to fall.  Staring death in the face, it would be only human to have some nagging doubts, after all, if I’m betting my life on something–it had better be right. 

            But for John there was an even bigger issue than just some nagging doubts.  In his mind, the promises of God were in question when it came to Jesus.

            The promised Messiah was portrayed in two ways by the prophets of old–on one hand he was to be the gentle, suffering Messiah who compassionately cared for all people–healing their diseases and caring for their spiritual needs. 

On the other hand, the Messiah was also portrayed as a mighty King who would reward his followers and slay his enemies and bring judgment upon the entire earth

Jesus, proclaimed by John as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world, sure looked like the first kind of Messiah–gentle and meek and loving–but he really didn’t look like too much like the second–a mighty judge and conquering king.

            Facing death, seeing one part of Scriptures fulfilled but not yet all of it, there was a serious question in John’s mind about Jesus.  The Bible says that:

“when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

            Are you the one?  I don’t know if a more important question has ever been asked-- or can be asked--and we too need to know the answer to it and be certain about it.  Is Jesus the One?  Is he the One that we can stake our entire life on?  Or is there another?  Is he the one in whom all the promises of God are fulfilled or not? 

To ask this question and to seek an answer is not sinful doubt–at least not the way John asked it and the approach he took.

            What did John do with his questions?  He turned to Jesus.  He turned to Jesus as the one who could answer his question-he turned to Jesus for assurance that his faith was not misplaced.  What John did, and the questions he had, was a deep expression of faith that is completely consistent with other great statements of faith in the Bible.  After all, “Lord I believe–help my unbelief” is the prayer of a believer not an unbeliever.

            All of us have faith questions at times–all of us struggle to understand portions of Holy Scripture–all of us want to grow in our faith and in our confidence in God.  John the Baptist shows us the way to do that.  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  Search his Word.  That is exactly what Jesus would have us do.  He said:

 “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them”.

            In effect Jesus says, search the Scriptures–see what they say of the Messiah–and then see what I do and you will know the truth–that I am the one.  Yes there are still things to come–but trust the one who has already fulfilled so much-- to accomplish the rest.  Jesus gives the same answer today to those who struggle with doubts and questions. 

God is not afraid of our questions–he is not ashamed of our struggles.  He wants us to have the assurance of a deep and abiding faith and so he invites us to turn to his son Jesus–to search the Scriptures—to pray to him—and to receive the sacraments for assurance-- so that our faith in Christ does not waver.

            We need that Spirit-given certainty BECAUSE when it comes to the person and work of Jesus (as it is revealed in Holy Scripture and proclaimed by the Church) doubt is not a virtue.  Doubt is not the sign of a discerning spirit or intellectual superiority.  Doubt and skepticism, when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ, are tools of Satan that are used to trip us up in our walk of faith and the spiritual consequences are severe.

            Twisting Scriptures to his own advantage–asking us, as he did Adam and Eve:  “did God really say”--causing us to doubt--Satan desires to steal our salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life.  That’s what’s at stake when it comes to doubt and it’s deadly serious.

            Jesus told John’s disciples: “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of me”.  In the original Greek, that word translated as “offended” means to “trip up” and the word itself is the technical term for a kind of trap used to kill small animals. 

            Life and death are what’s at stake when it comes to knowing and believing what Jesus says about himself–that he is the one--none other than the True God in human flesh–the Messiah sent to save us from our sins by his own death and resurrection.  It is eternal life to know that and believe that for ourselves. 

That is the message that the disciples were to relay to John as he faced his own death-- and that is what Jesus would have us know and believe today.  And for the people who surrounded him that day listening in, and for us here today, Jesus makes the question personal.  The Bible says that:

“As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:  ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  What then did you go out to see?  A man dressed in soft clothing?  Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king’s houses”. 

Jesus says in effect, “What about you?  Where is your faith in all this?  What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  Something for entertainment value?  What did you go out to hear?  Were you drawn to John because he told you what your itching ears wanted to hear or because he spoke the truth about the One to come? 

            That’s still a good question for us to ask ourselves regarding our worship services and our pastors. 

Do you listen to what the pastor has to say because he tells you what you want to hear- or do you listen because he brings you God’s Word even when you don’t like to hear it?  Is he a reed swayed back and forth by every wind of doctrine-- or does he stand fast on those eternal truths handed down by the prophets and apostles of old?  Do you come to worship to be entertained and visit with friends or to grow in your faith and knowledge of Jesus? 

            The answer for the people that day was that they went out to John precisely because he brought God’s Word–not like their religious leaders who taught the doctrines of men–but because John would not be swayed by the opinions of men.  They went to John because he unswervingly held to the central message of the Kingdom of God–to repent of sins and believe in Jesus.  That message is life and salvation and the people received it in faith. 

            And so what was John’s reward for his faithful service?  Fine clothes?  A room in the king’s house?  No!  He was cast into the king’s prison in the rough camel hair garments of his Jordan days–known as a true prophet of God not only for his faithful proclamation-- but also for the opposition he received and the suffering he endured from sinful men-- like so many faithful men of God.  And among them all-past, present and future–John the Baptist was the greatest.  Jesus said:

“What then did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’”. 

            This was why it is so necessary to recognize who John was and why he was so important–he was the messenger sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. 

To know John the Baptist and to believe his message is to know and believe in Jesus the Messiah of God.  That is how important John the Baptist was—because he pointed to Jesus as the Savior of the world.

            As remarkable and as wonderful as all this is, Jesus saves the best for last-- for he tells us that those who are the least in the kingdom of heaven are greater than even John the Baptist–the greatest man who ever lived.  Jesus says:

“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.  Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

How is that possible that you and me–regular folks with regular lives-- least in the Kingdom of Heaven as it were--are even greater than John the Baptist?

            It’s because we have been blessed to see the whole salvation story that God tells in the death, resurrection of his son Jesus Christ.  John would not live to see it–he was executed a short time after these events. 

He never got to see Christ’s death on the cross that atoned for the sins of the world.  He never got to witness the glorious resurrection that changed the course of the world from death to life.  But we have heard it and seen it through the Word and Sacraments and by these gifts of God’s grace we know that Jesus is indeed the One.  Amen.

God Grant Us Endurance and Encouragment!

Romans 15:4-13 The verses before our text deal with congregational life when we don’t agree with one another about things not addressed in the Bible.  In these cases we are forbidden by God from standing in judgment over one another and questioning one another’s faith.  Instead we are commanded by God to bear with one another in love.

These Spirit-inspired words about congregational life still matter today.  It would be foolish to expect that hundreds of people in a congregation from diverse backgrounds and experiences will always agree with one another.  It’s simply not going to happen this side of heaven.  And so the counsel and command of God still stands:  do not judge one another but bear with one another in love.

But how do we do that?  Where do we find the spiritual resources necessary to live in peace and harmony with one another in our congregation when we disagree?  That is what we hear from God’s Word tonight.  The Bible says that:

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

            I want to give you two word pictures that I hope will help you understand what the Bible is talking about when it comes to endurance and encouragement. 

First of all, picture a weight lifter holding a barbell above his head.  The weight is pressing down on him but he is determined to hold it up.  That is the meaning of the word endurance—the strength to bear up under pressure that weighs us down. 

Now think about a long trench full of soldiers in WWI.  Bullets are whizzing over head, bombs are raining down.  The soldiers are scared to death.  But there in the trenches with them, running up a down the lines, is an officer who is calling upon them to be brave and do their duty.  That is the picture behind the word encouragement. 

Endurance and encouragement are the spiritual resources that we need when it comes to our life together in the congregation—especially when there are disagreements. 

We are bound to one another by a common confession and faith-- but that doesn’t mean we are always going to agree with one another about every little thing.  There are going to be difficulties and disagreements that weigh down upon us like a barbell that we have to hold up.  We need to be encouraged to love one another and bear their burdens.

Endurance and encouragement are going to be needed so long as we are in this world and Paul says that we can count on God giving them to us.  They are spiritual gifts that come through hearing his Word so that we can grow in Christ-likeness and live in harmony with one another.  The Bible says:

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus…

            The scriptures which give endurance and encouragement come from the God of endurance and encouragement.  The God who inspired the words of Scripture is the same God who empowers our life so that we can live in harmony with one another.

The word that Paul uses there for harmony means like-minded—in other words: we think about things the same way.  But isn’t that that the very problem so many congregation have with one another—that the members don’t see things the same way? 

That is why Paul adds those important words:  in accord with Christ Jesus.  In other words, it is not so much that we think about things the same way among ourselves-- but we make sure that we are thinking about things the same way as Jesus Christ.

The true measure of Christian harmony is not just that we get along with one another—there are plenty of congregations and church bodies that get along with one another because they have abandoned the standard of the Bible and no ones cares.  In those places, their unity and harmony is an offense against God. 

What does matter is that our harmony as a congregation comes from being united by Jesus Christ—his word and will having the final say in all that we say and do. 

Where he has NOT spoken, then it is his love that is to be evident in our lives as each of us endeavors to put others ahead of ourselves—willingly laying aside our personal preferences for the good of our brothers and sisters.  The Bible says that we are to live in harmony with one another so that: together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

When there is division and discord among Christians what the world hears is not a united voice of praise to God or a common witness to the goodness of Jesus Christ--but what they hear instead are the complaints of one Christian against one another.  Griping and complaining does not serve to glorify God or extend the saving mission of Christ. 

Instead, we should follow the example of Jesus Christ and treat our fellow Christians as Christ treats them.  The Bible says:  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  And so the question is:  how did Christ welcome us?  Just as we were—spots and wrinkles and blemishes.

He reached out to the woman caught in adultery- and ate dinner with Zacchaeus- and made a place for disciples who would fail him in his hour of need.

Our congregation becomes Christ-like when there is a place in our midst for people who don’t look like us or sound like us—people who have different experiences or perspectives from ours—people from a different place in society. 

If Christ has welcomed them into God’s family by faith- we are to welcome them and make a place for them in our congregation.  This is why Christ came to earth—not only to reconcile us to God-- but to reconcile us to one another.  The Bible says that:

Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

When Adam and Eve sinned it not only wrecked their relationship with God-- it wrecked their relationship with one another-- and not only for them-- but for all their descendants down to the folks sitting in these pews this evening.  But Christ came to reconcile all people to himself and all people to one another. 

That reconciliation was a promise that God made first to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and then renewed again and again with his ancient people Israel.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—Moses and David and the prophets-- all knew this promise of reconciliation-- and in the fullness of time God kept his promise and sent his Son who was born of the Jews to save the world.

God’s faithfulness was proved beyond any doubt in his gift of a Son whom the Bible says become a servant of the circumcised—that is the Jews. 

Just think of the graciousness of God in that statement!  The people who abandoned the Lord—the people who in large measure stopped looking for the Messiah—were given the gift of a Savior who would bring them back to God by his sacrifice on the cross—forgiving their sins and giving them life by his resurrection.  And not only for them-- but for the world.  The Bible says that Jesus also came:

in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."  And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."  And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him."  And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope." 

            God the Father sent his Son into the world to show his faithfulness to his covenant promise to his covenant people, the Jews.  But from the very beginning, God intended to save all people. 

The messiah would come from the Jews but he would be for the world.  He was sent so that we too might glorify God—so that we too can rejoice in God’s salvation—so that we too can know his wise rule and live with him forever.

What are our their petty differences compared to our unity in the Lord who always had in mind the desire and purpose and plan to save us and unite us into one body of his Son Jesus Christ?  What are our disagreements compared to the unity we have as fellow believers in Christ?!

The encouragement and endurance we receive from God through his Word is the power we need to get past differences that don’t matter and turn our eyes of faith to the future and the eternal life we will one day share with one another.  The Bible says:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

            Just as the God of endurance and encouragement gives endurance and encouragement to his people-- so does this same God of hope give hope to his people.  We don’t have to wonder or worry about what the future holds for us or for our congregation because the joy and peace we have right now as God’s children-- will also be ours in the future.

            The same Holy Spirit who has brought us to faith and made us a part of Christ’s body in this place will continue his work among us, drawing us ever closer to one another so that we may, with one voice, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Listen to the Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness!

Matthew 3:1-12 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” 

We think of preaching as what happens in this pulpit but the word that we translate as “preach” had a special meaning for the people of the ancient world.  It described the work of a herald, a member of the royal court, whose duty it was to go before the King when he took a journey and announce his arrival and make sure that all was prepared and ready in each every place to receive the royal guest.

That was the task of John the Baptist–the herald of the Messiah–the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah who would announce the much anticipated arrival of the Savior of the world–the one whose duty it was to prepare the way for Jesus in human hearts–not by mere cosmetic changes to the outside-- but by changing human hearts through the preaching of the Word.

When Isaiah spoke of the work of this herald who would prepare the way for the king he said that: “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, and the rugged places a plain.”

John’s call to repent means that the mountains of pride and self-reliance in our lives will have to brought low–that we recognize that in God’s sight and according to the measure of his holy law that we are sinners who deserve only his condemnation.

To repent means that the low, valleys places of doubt and despair and cynicism and faithlessness that fill our hearts will have to be lifted up–that these attitudes that destroy hope in ourselves and those around us will have to be confessed as what they are: a lack of faith in the goodness and power of God.

To repent means that the rough places of selfishness and impatience and anger will have to be smoothed out by selflessness, patience, and gentleness. 

To repent means to stop going in the crooked, sinful direction that we find ourselves in so often in our lives and to go in a new direction–towards God.  This is not our natural inclination.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they ran away from God.  They knew God was righteous and holy and powerful and they knew that they were disobedient and sinful and naked and so were afraid of God.   Sin still does the same thing.

Sin makes us forget the most important thing of all about God–that he is loving and merciful and forgiving—that he wants to be reconciled to sinners.  In gracious love, God sought out Adam and Eve, removed the pitiful, insufficient coverings they had made for themselves, and covered their shame through a bloody sacrifice of his own making so that their life with him could be restored.

What God did for Adam and Eve all the way back in the Garden of Eden was a promise of what was to come for all of us.  Sin would be atoned for.  Death would give way to life.  God himself was coming to save us.  Preparation was required.  Repentance was needed.

The false piety and frail good works that we use to hide our sin has to be removed through repentance–and that’s frightening–it make us feel naked before God and ashamed of our sins all over again.  But God calls us to repentance, not to shame us, but to cover our sin with the blood of Jesus who laid down his life for us on the cross.

When John saw Jesus he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”  He knew that the kingdom of God was near and he took to heart his own message to repent and believe and his life was different because of it.  The Bible says that:  “John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

These details are not just interesting food and fashion notes from the first century A.D.  They show the radical, life-changing implications of the arrival of our King.  Food and clothing and all the other earthly things that we focus our attention on, and live our lives for, have to take on a different, lesser place in our lives.

John’s life -and lifestyle- was dramatically different than those around him, foreshadowing the words of the Messiah who said: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

The kingdom of heaven and its King is unlike anything or anyone that has come before.  The values and priorities of the world are turned upside down and spiritual things take precedence over material things–eternal things over the things of this dying world.  And so every aspect of John’s life was changed–even simple things like food and clothing were changed-as a reflection of his changed heart.  So it must be for us. Our lives as Christians are to be demonstrably different than the world around us because of our faith in Jesus.

But then as now, there were many more people who were satisfied with the status quo in the kingdom of this world- than there were those who would enter the kingdom of heaven through repentance and faith.  The Bible says that:

When John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham

We don’t know what the reaction of the crowd was to these words but it must have been dramatic.  Later on in Jesus’ ministry, when the people heard that if there was any chance for them to enter the Kingdom of heaven their righteousness would have to exceed that of the Pharisees, they were amazed and wondered if anyone could be saved—but John calls them a brood of vipers because their lives and teaching were deadly poison.

These spiritual leaders of the Jews were supposed to be teachers of God’s people who would pass on to each generation the truth about God revealed to Abraham: that salvation would be by God’s grace alone–through faith alone–in the Messiah alone.  But because the leaders had forgotten that Good News–so had many of God’s people, who were lost in sin and unbelief.

The religion of John’s day it was nothing more than a system of laws for the Pharisees and dead traditionalism for the Sadducees–none of it sufficient for salvation–all of it a deception as old as the serpent’s lie in the Garden of Eden–that we can have a life with God on our own terms, based on who we are and what we do.

John’s words are just as true today as they were there on the banks of the Jordan River that day.  It is not enough to come from a long line of Lutheran Christians–it is not enough that your family was one of the founding members of this congregation-it is not enough that you are an important person in this place–it is not enough that your parents or spouse are devout believers.  If you are to be saved, you must repent of your sins and believe in Jesus.

Saving faith is not just a matter of words that we say-- or religious acts that we engage in–it is a new way of thinking and believing that turns into a new way of living so that we show forth in our lives what we say that we believe in our hearts, bearing the fruits of repentance in what we say and do.

Today is the day for us to listen to John’s Advent message and repent of our sin and trust in the Lamb of God who takes away our sins.  Time is short.  The king is coming.  Judgment is at hand.  John said that: 

Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

            These are frightening images to be sure.  We are reminded of the shortness of time–that God’s judgment is closer now than it has ever been.  We hear of the terrible consequences of failing to heed his warning–that the unrepentant and unproductive will be burned with unquenchable fire.  We learn that a true and living faith must be a fruitful faith—that without those fruits our faith is a pious lie we tell ourselves.  We must take this warning from John seriously.

But we are also reminded of the wonderful promise that God will gather to himself that which is his—that the day of judgment and the fires of hell are nothing for us to fear for the one who is mightier than John has forgiven our sin by his death on the cross and made us God’s children in Holy Baptism. 

The Good News for us today is that we have been baptized with water and the fire of the Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  We have died and been raised with Christ so that we can walk in newness of life, turning from sin and showing Christ’s life in our own life.  We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to bear good fruit by serving God and our neighbor.  We can welcome our king and come into his presence without fear or worry because we are his people.    

Today we come to the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood totally undeserving of so great a gift.  Like John the Baptist, we are not worthy to carry the Lord’s sandals.  And yet our  king comes to us in a way that we can receive him and become a part of his life --and his life, become a part of ours.  And so, heeding John’s Advent message to repent of our sins and believe in Jesus, we come to the Sacrament of the Altar in sorrow over ours sins and sincere trust in our Savior-- and in true humility receive our Advent King.  Amen.