Sermon
15th December 2019 – 3rd Sunday in Advent
Text:
Matthew 11:2-11 – Jesus is the one we are waiting for;
In
the lead up to an election we hear lots of promises about what this leader will
do for us if we elect them.
And
more often than not when the elected party forms Government we will hear
reasons why they can’t immediately fulfil their promises.
One
previous Prime Minister from some years ago made a distinction between promises
and core promises to explain why some things were not achieved that were
promised.
In
our Gospel reading today we see again John the Baptist – a very different John
the Baptist from last week.
Remember
last week with his brazen tongue calling the religious leaders a brood of
vipers?
He
was filled with courage because he was preparing the way for the one who would
come with fire – the one so important that John wasn’t even able to carry his
sandals.
John
was so confident of having Jesus in his corner that he dared to condemn Herod
because Herod married his own brother’s wife.
Unfortunately
for John he spoke harshly to the wrong person and ended up in prison.
And
now John is starting to wonder about this Jesus fellow whom he thought was the
Messiah and who had his back.
From
his prison he sends some of his disciples to get some clarification –
He
sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?
Why
would John ask that?
He
was so confident – this is the one I was telling you about.
This
is the one – and because he is the one – I must decrease so that he can
increase.
What
made John begin to wonder if Jesus was in fact “the one”?
It’s
because John had based his understanding of Jesus on his own predicament rather
that what Jesus had promised to do.
He
missed the core promise of Jesus even though he knew what that core promise
was.
John
saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world!
That’s
it – that’s the core promise of Jesus and continues to be the core promise –
the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The
angel revealed that to Joseph when he was instructed what to name him - Mary
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he
will save his people from their sins.”
John
missed that because he was judging Jesus on his own predicament.
The
people missed that because they had in their mind what the Messiah promised by
God would look like – and Jesus looked nothing like that.
Born
in a barn – in a feeding trough – not in a palace
Born
to an unwed, unfaithful mother – not to a Queen.
Eating
with sinners – not the elite.
Consorting
with questionable women – not condemning them
Riding
into town on a donkey – not a royal chariot.
No
wonder they cried out – away with him – crucify him – we don’t want him as our
king.
We
want Caesar as our King- he might not treat us nicely but at least he LOOKS
like a King.
Jesus
didn’t seem to be fulfilling “their” promises.
And
therein lies the problem.
They
had perceived what this Messiah would do.
And
when he didn’t do what they expected him to do – like John the Baptist – they
began to doubt Jesus and began to expect someone else.
What
is Jesus promise to you?
What
do you believe Jesus has promised you – these can be 2 very different things.
In
your Baptism Jesus made specific promises.
Firstly
he promised – I am with you always till the end of the age.
He
also promised – whoever believes and is baptised will be saved.
Very
specific – very definite – I AM with you
- you WILL be saved.
Things
Jesus didn’t promise that we sometimes presume are –
If
you believe in me everything in this life is going to be rosy.
If
you believe in me you will never get sick – and if you do and have enough faith
you will be healed.
If
you believe in me you will be successful financially.
If
you believe in me your family will never go through any difficult times.
Jesus
promises are not about this life but about the life to come in heaven.
And
that’s why John the Baptist declared Jesus to be – the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world.
In
Holy Communion Jesus makes specific promises to you:
This
IS my body given FOR you.
This
IS my blood given FOR you for THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS.
The
entire promise of Jesus is eternal life in heaven.
For
God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son so that whoever
believed in him will NOT perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.
It
is like a legal contract that binds God to his promise.
And
anything outside of that is hearsay and inadmissible.
So
when John asks – should we seek someone else – the answer is NO.
Because
no one else can fulfil the promise made by Jesus.
No
one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
It
is sad when we see what some people go through in life.
But
it is even sadder when we see a person abandon their faith in God because
somewhere they have heard that a loving God would not allow us to suffer.
Suffering
is not a sign of God’s lack of love.
Assuring
us of our sins being forgiven and assuring us of eternal life is God’s promise
and sign of love.
It
is really tough sometimes in life but God wants us to trust in his love as we
journey to our eternal home where all will be revealed – where all suffering
and death will come to an end.
James,
in our 2nd reading encourages us - Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the
coming of the Lord.
St
Paul also encourages us to be patient until Jesus’ promises are fulfilled – in
Colossians 3 he says; your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ,
who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The
Kingdom of Heaven is what Jesus has promised us.
And
what God promises he cannot revoke.
And
the Kingdom of Heaven will answer all our questions that we have here now in
regards to suffering as St Paul says - I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Jesus
says similar when he says about John – chosen by God to prepare the way for
Christ – highly exalted by God – and yet Jesus says - among those born of women
no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom
of heaven is greater than he.
That’s
how great Heaven is that awaits and we are asked to be patient and trust God’s
promise.
Jesus
is the one we can trust.
He
is the one we are looking for and we are not to seek someone else.
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