Advent 3

Scripture Lessons

Zephaniah 3:14-20             Shout, O daughter of Zion.

Psalm 85                               “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him.”

Philippians 4:4-7                  Rejoice always! The Lord is near.

Luke 7:18-35                         “I send My messenger before Your face.”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our gospel lesson today focuses on Christology. That is to say, that whatever else we may gain from this passage, the thing which is of primary importance is the answer to the question, “who is Jesus?”

John the Baptizer was in prison and sent two of his disciples to Jesus with a question, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Some theologians and most of the Church fathers seem to take umbrage with the notion that John the Baptizer had any doubts. They have posited interpretations of this passage that would shift the blame to his disciples (they are the ones who really asked the question, or John was asking simply for their benefit). I find John’s question to be simple, forthright, and honest. After all, John certainly was familiar with passages like we read from Zephaniah. “Rejoice and exult with all your heart…..The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save….I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.” As you’ve heard me say many times before, prophecy often presents the immediate future, the short term, the long term, and the longer term and it doesn’t usually separate them. God’s timing means that some elements of a particular prophecy can be fulfilled while others remain. But John was imprisoned. Didn’t the Messiah come to fulfill these prophecies? If so, shouldn’t he come as a conquering King? Indeed, Jesus Christ will come as a conquering King when He returns to judge the living and the dead. However, in the meantime, the Christ must suffer and die. Recall that Acts provides the history of the early Church and we see that the apostle Paul testified before King Agrippa and the Roman Governor Festus, “²² To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: ²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22-23. The cross is a stumbling block and a rock of offense (Romans 9:33). The idea that God would take upon Himself human flesh and suffer and die was inconceivable.

Getting back to John the Baptizer, is it unforgivable that he would enquire of Jesus whether or not He was the one to come? Certainly not. That’s not just my opinion, that is evident from the fact that Jesus received John’s question and provided a response to him. Remember this when you have doubts. Don’t misunderstand me. Doubting Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that He won for you is sinful. Doubting God’s word, “did God really say that?”, is sinful. Doubting God’s love for you is sinful. In fact, even in the midst of the most excruciatingly painful circumstances, doubts of God’s love for you are sin. They reflect your sinful nature which connects God’s approval with good circumstances. Quid pro quo. I do for God, He does for me. When tragedy strikes, you ask “why God!?” Nobody on earth can answer that question, so you must take it to God your heavenly Father. He will not smite you for doubting. No my friends, He will embrace you for entrusting your doubts to Him. He will receive your questioning heart just as Jesus received John’s question. He does not want you to doubt, but He doesn’t want you to pretend either. In this case John’s doubt also reveals faith. If he had no faith he wouldn’t bother asking Jesus the question in the first place. In a way, it is like saying, “I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Now let’s look at how Jesus responded. The question is whether or not Jesus is the one who is to come. In other words, is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah? Is Jesus the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? Jesus answered the question by pointing the disciples (and John) back to the scriptures. “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” The prophets had long foretold the coming of the Messiah.  The last of the prophets, John was the greatest prophet because he not only prophesied the future coming but heralded the arrival. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

John wanted to know, “are you indeed the one.” And Jesus answered Him by pointing him to the fulfillment of the prophetic word, the scriptures. It’s like Jesus was saying, “trust the works seen, which fulfill the prophetic word and don’t fret about the works you expect but don’t see yet.” Jesus will come again in power and glory, as we confess in the creed. But for now, He has come with the power of humility, suffering and dying on the cross for your sins.

Jesus affirmed that He was indeed the Messiah. He commended John, “among those born of women [i.e. born with original sin] none is greater than John.” And yet John is less than the least in the kingdom of God. How can that be? Well, to be in the kingdom of God means to be forgiven all of your sins, it means to be born from above. All those who are born from above have the righteousness of Christ which is true righteousness.

In response, those who had received the promise of God had been baptized by John and declared God to be justified in the way in which God saved. But others rejected God’s means of salvation. Apparently, God’s redemptive plan didn’t meet their approval. Thus, they rejected John’s baptism and rejected Jesus. Jesus said they are like children complaining that you won’t play the game by their rules. Petulant children. Both John and Jesus have come to fulfill God’s plan and purpose. They were faithful to fulfill God’s true ministry. But the Pharisees and others rejected the very idea that God would forgive sins in this way.

On this Third Sunday in Advent, hear the good news and believe! The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and you poor miserable sinners have the good news preached to you…Jesus is indeed the Christ, and in Him your sins have been put away and you are clothed with His perfect righteousness! Thanks be to God!

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.