Finding Faith ... in knowing we have a hand in making way for Christ's return

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Oct. 23, 2021, I was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and installed as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. I also served the same church for four years from October 2017 to October 2021 a synodically authorized minister. The journey together these past four years has been an amazing one, full of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Dec. 10, 2023.

This week's scriptures: Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,’”

4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The message:

This morning … I am wondering what it might be like to think of ourselves in terms of being a little John the Baptizer like. 

No, I’m not talking the whole get up … the camel’s hair clothing and eating locusts and honey, and such.

Rather I’m wondering about what it might look like for us to play a similar role in using this Advent season to help usher in the coming of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

Because that is the thread that runs through all of our scriptures today. … One: God’s promises as the Good news, and two: that we wait for God's return in the form of his son during this Advent season. That’s what ties all four readings together. … Just listen …

In our first reading, Isaiah reassures the Israelites that God will bring them comfort, despite all of the trials his chosen people have endured from generation to generation. 

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

The Good News, right … the gospel. Because that is what gospel means.

And who will bring this Good News, according to the prophet Isaiah? … A voice who cries out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

So, that is the Old Testament text. … And then of course there is our gospel today, from Mark, who introduces WHO that voice in the wilderness is … and it is John the Baptizer.

“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

And he preached that “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

See how neatly those two verses tie together? … The Old Testament reading foreshadowing the gospel reading, right?

And sandwiched in the middle are the Psalm and Second reading from 2 Peter. … The Psalm that again assures us of God’s promises, and 2 Peter, which is another warning to prepare for God’s eventual return.

In the Psalm: “You have been gracious to your land, O Lord; you have restored the good fortune of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of your people and blotted out all their sins.”

And from 2 Peter: “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God …”

You see how neatly all of today’s scriptures tie together this theme of celebrating God’s promises while awaiting his return in the form of the son of God?

Now I’ll be the first to admit that the lectionary writers baffle me with their scripture pairings a fair amount. … But today, yeah I think they got it right.

And so, with all of that context, I am wondering again … what it might be like to think of ourselves in terms of being a little John the Baptizer like. … You didn’t think I’d forget to circle back to that, did you?

You see, John, as well, was living in a period that could similarly be called a period of Advent … just as the time period in which we are currently living is.

John, too, was waiting for the Isaiah scripture to be fulfilled, for the son of God to return. … Being out in the wilderness, baptizing the believers, was what he was doing while he awaited God’s return in the form of the son. 

John says it himself: The one who is more powerful then I is coming after me …” … And we know the rest of the story: That is exactly what happens, and John ends up also baptizing Jesus, which serves as a beginning to Jesus’ early ministry. 

You see, in this text, John also was waiting for the return of the son of God, just as we are doing this Advent season. … John too was living in a similar time of expectantly waiting.

Because that is what Advent is …. a time of preparation for Christ's  eventual return.

So, I think today that the $64,000 question is … just exactly how are we supposed to be spending this time in preparation of Christ’s return. … And John does us the favor of filling in the blanks … making it quite clear.

Look at our scripture: “He appeared proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

And, as the description on the front of our bulletin today explains: “John calls people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely record their lives so that nothing gets in the way of the Lord’s coming.

Faith Family … I can’t presume to know how each of us sitting here today hears those words. … Because each of us enters into this sanctuary today in a different season of our lives.

Reordering our lives to some might mean redefining our relationship with work and the amount of time we spend helping others.

For some, this might mean redefining our wealth and what we use to support others. … And still for others, it may mean a redefining of one’s relationships, either enhancing some or mending others.

The list of what needs reexamining and reordering in each of our lives will be varied and unique. But what John is hailing us to do … in this season of Advent … in this time of waiting expectantly for our messiah to return … IS to examine how we are living out in faith.

Now, I’m aware that it may feel like a difficult time to examine and reimagine how it is that we living out our lives in faith, right?

After all, if you’re a parent or grandparent during this time of year … you know the added expectations that are heaped onto your plate.

Let alone our everyday work expectations, church events, social calendars that fill up. … It’s a lot. … If you’re anything like our family, I’m sure that you are gassed come the end of the week too.

So what’s that you say, John? … You want me to pull back and reexamine my life now? … Like right now? … Uhhh, I’m kind of busy. Could we revisit this in January? … I’m sure that my life will be slower then.

And there is John to tell us: No, not when it’s convenient for you. … But now.

Now is when you need to consider how it is that you are helping to usher in the age of Christ’s return.

Right now. … Repent, clear the decks, and completely reorder your life so that nothing gets in the way of the Lord’s coming.

Now Faith Family … this is a full disclosure here: Prior to preparing this week’s sermon, I’d never given any thought to John’s admonition that my own personal reexamination of my life is important to the coming of the Lord.

Had anyone else thought of that? … I mean sure, I’d heard this scripture before like each of you, but did this little directive ever hit home for you before?

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way … The voice of one crying out in the wilderness” ….Yeah, OK, so we know that ends up being John … Go it … let’s read on …

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight … Huh, Ok … but wait … did the words in Isaiah just tell ME to make his paths straight?

Umm, you mean that I … I have some culpability in this matter? … That I am also responsible for ensuring that this heavenly kingdom is ready for Christ’s return?

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” … Now how does that verse hit you? … Does it settle on you with a little more weight than ever before?

Well, I'll tell you what? … As I thought about Isaiah’s words this week … my very first inclination was that … Uhh, I didn’t sign up for that.

Right? … No one ever explained to me that I was somehow responsible for helping create an earthly kingdom fit for Christ’s return.

Well, thanks a lot, Isaiah! … Anyone else thinking that as well, right about now? … What do you mean that I need to get my house in order before God returns? … Well now, how does that change the Advent season for you, Faith Family?

Now it’s not just about Christmas fun -- the presents and festive lights and family get-togethers -- anymore, ist?

John, do you mean that during this period of Advent I’m supposed to be doing some heavy lifting?

That NOW is the time for me to examine whether I’m living into my life of faith.

And, Faith Family, the answer is unequivocally … yes. … Afterall, historically that is exactly what Advent was for. … A time of preparation … not in anticipation of the cute, little baby Jesus being born … but rather, in expectation of the son of God returning to usher in the new age of the heavenly kingdom right here on earth.

And it turns out that we are obliged to play a part in that return … John like John the baptizer did … whether we feel up to the task … or not. … That just is the expectation of living in sacrifice to God.

Faith Family … I don’t know what that means for each of us. … The examination and reordering of our lives will be different for each of us. … But please know that, yes, you are culpable for helping Christ return, and that is really what this season of Advent is about. 

And that is the Good News for this Second Sunday in Advent, Dec. 10, 2023. Amen.