Sunday, December 16, 2007
Advent 3A
Matthew 11:2-11
THE ONE WHO IS TO COME
“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
This was an astounding question from the mouth of John the Baptist, whose mother Elizabeth was a close relative of Mary the mother of Jesus, who had grown up around Jesus, who had been sent to prepare the way for Jesus, who had baptized him, and who had identified him as one whose sandals John was not worthy to carry. If John the Baptist did not know whether Jesus was the one who is to come, then who would know?
We tend to assume that those who lived with Jesus, walked with him, ate with him, listened to him, and experienced his healing power have always had an advantage on us. They knew him personally. They saw him in the flesh. We can understand why jealous religious leaders and fearful political leaders would have doubted that he was the Messiah. But surely John the Baptist and Jesus’ closest followers and friends would have recognized him. Yet here is John in prison asking the question, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
Many have speculated on why John asks this question. The most likely explanation is that John had different expectations of what the coming of the kingdom of God would look like. John anticipated that the arrival of the kingdom would result in decisive judgment against sinners. He envisioned God’s harshest judgment for presumptuous religious leaders. Consider the words he addresses to them when they come to be baptized: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” John expected the Messiah to come and set things right. The Messiah will “clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
If Jesus is the one who is to come, shouldn’t things be improving? If Jesus is the one who is to come, why is John stuck in prison, enduring persecution and facing possible martyrdom? If Jesus is the one who is to come, why do presumptuous religious leaders and oppressive political leaders seem to have the upper hand? If Jesus is the one who is to come, how long do we have to wait for things to be set right?
John dedicated himself to preparing the way for the one who is to come. He was fearless and courageous in proclaiming: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” He staked his life and ministry on the truth that Jesus is the one who is to come. Has he sacrificed his life for a pretender? Has his prophetic ministry been in vain?
Our gospel text gives no indication that Jesus was offended by the question. Given the messianic expectations of John, the question is not surprising. When John disciples deliver this question to Jesus, Jesus answers them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them.” John, well-schooled in the words of the prophet of Isaiah, would have understood Jesus to be telling him: “I am fulfilling what Isaiah prophesied.”
In our first lesson
Isaiah prophecies: “Then the eyes of
the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame
shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.” In Isaiah 29:18-19 the prophet announces:
“On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a scroll, and out of the gloom and darkness the eyes of
the blind shall see. The meek
shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult in
the Holy One of
Jesus’ response to John indicates that he was sent first and foremost to invite human beings to live in the world of God’s grace, not to hammer them with divine judgment, even if they deserve such judgment.
Notice that Jesus does not rebuke John. He invites him to take to heart the good news that God’s grace is at work in and through the ministry of Jesus. That is the sure sign that Jesus is the one who is to come. “And blessed is anyone,” says Jesus, “who takes no offense at me.” Those who accept the invitation into the world of God’s gracious activity are blessed. Those who take offense at Jesus bring God’s judgment upon themselves.
John’s question to Jesus from prison is as timely today as it was then: “Jesus, are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Like John we too may be struggling with some doubts. If Jesus is the one who is to come, why have things not significantly improved? If Jesus is the one who is to come, why do human beings keep destroying one another? If Jesus is the one who is to come, why are human beings doing such a poor job of caring for the creation? If Jesus is the one who is to come, why are so many people suffering from a variety of illnesses and conditions? If Jesus is the one who is to come, why do evil and injustice so often seem to be winning the day? If you yourself or a loved one are struggling with a serious illness or injustice, it may be especially difficult to recognize Jesus as the one who is to come.
How does Jesus respond to us? Precisely as he responded to John—by issuing an invitation to live in the world of God’s grace. We have the message of grace communicated through the testimony of scripture. We have the message of grace conveyed through the means of grace—that is, through Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. We have the signs of grace manifested in those who act with compassion in the name of Jesus.
So many are mobilizing to help the victims of the recent storm rebuild their lives. We at St. Andrew will be part of that effort. This effort is a powerful sign of God’s gracious activity at work in our world. The kingdom of God has come near. Jesus is alive among us. Often it takes a crisis to open our eyes and ears to the presence of God’s grace. Helping the storm victims will be another “Faith Share” project. It is one way of living out our faith in Jesus in the world of God’s grace. We are helping people in need and bearing witness that we believe Jesus is the one who is to come.
Building a bridge for school children in Liberia, providing Thanksgiving meals for people who are hungry, giving Christmas gifts to children and families in need—these are all signs that God’s grace is at work among us. They are signs that we have accepted Jesus’ invitation to live in the world of God’s grace.
On my return flight from the American Academy of Religion in San Diego, the man next to me asked me why I was reading a book about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s ethics. I told him I was a pastor who also did some teaching on Bonhoeffer. I assumed he was a religion professor. He told me, however, that he was a retired engineer who was a member of the Biblical Archaeology Society. He asked me what church I was the pastor of. I told him, and then I asked him what church he belonged to. “I belonged to a Methodist church in my childhood, but now I am an atheist.” He pressed me on why I believed in God. He made it clear that in his view there was no solid scientific evidence for God. I also sensed that he was put off by judgmental and violent Christians. In fact, many horrible acts of violence have been perpetrated in history in the name of Jesus. Such acts do not give a faithful witness to Jesus as the one who is to come.
There was no way to prove the existence of God to him based on scientific evidence. I appreciated his honest candor about where he stood in relation to God, but I told him I just cannot get away from Jesus. I believe Jesus reveals what is real in our lives. In effect, I told him that I believe Jesus is the one who is to come. That is based on the testimony of scripture. That is based on my experience of grace in the life of the church. And that is based on the signs of grace in our daily lives. We hear and see these signs of grace, but we do so through the ears and eyes of faith. Apart from faith no amount of scientific investigation is going to reveal God’s grace to us or convince us that Jesus is the one who is to come. When we accept Jesus’ invitation to live in the world of God’s grace our words and deeds become an invitation for others to enter into this world. Blessed are those who take no offense at Jesus but accept his gracious invitation.
In Jesus’ name, AMEN.