Gaudete 2009

GAUDETE

Third Sunday in Advent

13 December Anno + Domini 2009

"The 'Greatest One' Doubts?”

Matt. 11:2-11 (Is. 40:1-11; 1 Cor. 4:1-5)

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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

What is going on with St. John the Baptist here?  That's the question.  Is he experiencing a crisis of faith?  Is he beginning to doubt?  Has his imprisonment in Herod's dungeon caused him to waver?  Not at all!  John doesn't ask this question for himself, but for the sake of his disciples.  John knows full well that Jesus is the One.  He knew that already in his mother's womb, and he spent his entire ministry preparing the way for Jesus.  And, when Jesus came to the Jordan that fateful day to be baptized by John, which initiated His public ministry, John spent the rest of his ministry pointing others to Jesus, proclaiming Him to be "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”  Oh no, dear friends, St. John the Baptist is not doubting here.  He knows Jesus is the One. 

But, his disciples, they didn't know.  They had their doubts.  They had their questions.  And, even though their teacher had told them time and time again that Jesus was the Promised Messiah, that He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, they still doubted.  Jesus wasn't fitting into their own pre-conceived Messianic mold.  There was something special about Him, to be sure, for He performed miracles and taught with authority.  But, when would He bring judgment?  When would He lead the expected rebellion and defeat their enemies?  When would He free them from Roman captivity?  And, why had he allowed John to be imprisoned?  Why didn't He come and rescue him?  Could it be that He was just another teacher?  Another prophet sent by God to prepare the way for the real Messiah to come? 

These are the same disciples who came to St. John earlier on saying, "Rabbi, He [Jesus] who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him” (John 3:26).  In other words, "Shouldn't you do something about this, Rabbi?  You're the one who is supposed to be baptizing, not Him.  If this keeps up, everyone will follow Him and no one will follow you.”  To which St. John replied, "Good!  I told you that I was not the Christ, but have been sent before Him to prepare His way.  He must increase, while I must decrease.” 

Later on, these same disciples of St. John go to Jesus and question Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Matt. 9:14)  To which our Lord replies, "How can they fast when they have the Bridegroom with them?  When the Bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast.” 

Do you get the picture?  These disciples of St. John the Baptist simply didn't get it.  They were heading down the wrong path.  They were more like the Pharisees than like Jesus' disciples.  In their mind, John's ways were better than Jesus' ways; John's preaching was better than Jesus' preaching; John's practices were better than Jesus' practices.  They failed to see the connection between their Rabbi and Jesus, their Rabbi's Rabbi, even though their Rabbi had taught them the connection many times over.

And so now they come to St. John while he's sitting on death row in Herod's prison.  They report to him the things Jesus is doing and saying in a way that shows forth their doubts.  They're still not getting it.  What is St. John to do?  He loves these men.  He has baptized them and they have been loyal to him every step of the way.  How can he get them to see the truth?  He's tried the direct approach many times.  He's told them he is not the Christ, the Messiah, and that Jesus is, but it has not gotten through.  And then it comes to him.  Rather than taking the direct approach once again, he plays a little game with them.  He pretends to share their doubts.  He sends them to Jesus with the belief that they are going on his account.  "You may be right.  Maybe Jesus isn't the One.  Please go and ask Him for my benefit if He is the One or if we are to expect another.” 

Here we get a glimpse of what a masterful and loving teacher St. John the Baptist was, and still is, for he is willing to play the doubter for the sake of his disciples.  And Jesus is more than willing to play along.  When John's disciples arrive and ask Jesus the question, He knows exactly what is going on.  "Go and tell John (wink, wink) 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 the good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 

Jesus always provides the perfect answer.  His answer here is custom made for disciples of a prophet, for here Jesus confirms His identity by pointing them to prophecies He is fulfilling as the Promised Messiah.  What Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Malachi, Amos, and all the prophets, including the last of the prophets, St. John the Baptist himself, had prophesied, Jesus is fulfilling.  And, because Jesus knows full well that John has sent his disciples not for his, but for their benefit, He adds that last statement:  "Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me,” for He knows that they have been offended by Him, that He has not lived up to their distorted Messianic expectations.

We're not told whether or not Jesus' words got through to John's disciples.  We're simply told that they went back to John with Jesus' answer.  I imagine that when they told John what Jesus had said, he continued to play along, saying something like, "Ah yes, now my doubts are quenched.  Jesus is the One.  There will be no other.  Follow Him.  Trust Him.  As for me, I can die at peace.” 

Dear friends in Christ, give the prophet the honor he deserves.  St. John the Baptist is the "greatest among those born of women” because of his life-long focus and desire, because of his single-minded zeal, which prevented him from waffling and enabled him to preach the truth without fear.  And even though he was just a man born of a woman and infected with Adam's curse like every other human being, he deserves to be placed on a pedestal above us, for who among us has been as zealous for the Lord as he?  Truth be told, we are not like St. John the Baptist.  It's okay to admit that, even for us Lutherans who often cringe at the mention of honoring the saints who have gone before us. 

After all, it is our Lord Himself who says about St. John that he is the greatest born of women”; it is our Lord Himself who pays St. John the highest honor.  There was a crowd which overheard the exchange between Him and St. John's disciples.  No doubt many in the crowd began to question John's faithfulness.  Why would he be sending his disciples to ask Jesus on his behalf whether or not He was the One?  Is St. John losing it?  Is he experiencing a crisis of faith in that prison cell?  Jesus answers with a resounding, "NO!  John is no reed shaken by the wind!  He is the chosen messenger who has faithfully prepared My way.  He is a prophet, and more, for among those born of women, there is no one greater!”  

And yet, still, as great as St. John the Baptist was, and is, as zealous as he was for the truth of God's Word, as faithful as he was till the end, offering his head to the axe-man, the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

Here, my friends, is the Gospel, the Good News, which assures us that even though we have not lived lives comparable to St. John the Baptist and other saints who have gone before us, even though we have been less like St. John and more like his doubting disciples, wavering in our faith, questioning in our hearts whether or not Jesus is the One, wondering all too often if living the Christian life is really worth the trouble it often brings - even though we have been plagued by our sins - we have the sure and certain guarantee of forgiveness, life, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, that when our struggle in this vale of tears is finished and we are brought home to Paradise, our perfection there will be much greater than the best lives lived by God's saints on earth. 

And so it is that we continue to listen to St. John the Baptist's voice today, for his prophetic ministry continues.  We, like his disciples, have our doubts and fears.  We have our own ideas of how things should go and often find ourselves questioning whether or not Jesus' Way is best, whether or not His Church is the way, whether or not His means of grace are enough.  So, St. John the Baptist plays the doubter for us as well.  He says, "Go and ask Jesus for my benefit if He is the One,” for he knows that we need reassurance and comfort, that it is not enough for us to hear that Jesus is the One once, twice, or even a hundred times.  We need to hear it our whole lives long. 

And so we do, for our Lord is always quick to answer us with His Word of comfort and grace.  He doesn't mind the question at all.  He invites it time and time again, for He longs to say to us poor, miserable sinners, "Yes, I am the One.  I am the One you need, for I have absorbed your blindness, that you may see with eyes of faith.  I have taken your infirmity upon Myself, that you may walk in righteousness and purity.  I have gathered all the leprosy of your sin into My Body, that you may be forgiven and healed.  I have been made deaf, that your ears may be opened and filled with My Word.  I have suffered your death and have been raised up for your salvation, that you may never taste eternal death, but live forever in the Paradise of My Kingdom.  Oh yes, dear child, I am the One you need.  Soon, I will remove all your burdens.  Soon, I will bring you to be where I am.  Then, your faith will be perfect, free from sin and doubt.  In the meantime, I give you My Word, and, more than that, I give you Myself.  Come to My Table and feast on My Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins, for here I pour My kingdom of heaven inside of you, that you may be strengthened for the journey which lay ahead, until that day I call you home.”  

Are you a sinner?  Have you had your doubts?  Has life in this dead and dying world made you dreary?  Then, heed the call of St. John the Baptist, whose voice sounds forth as clearly today as it did nearly two thousand years ago:  "Repent!  And, behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - who takes away your sin.  Come, receive Him.  And, depart in peace.”  In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name.  Amen.

Now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting.  Amen.