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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
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Third Sunday in Advent – (B) John 1:6-8, 19-28 December 14, 2008 As the youngest child in the family, I used to have an important responsibility at my house—I didn’t think it was that important at the time, but after pondering John the Baptist this week, I’ve come to see that maybe it was more important than I realized. I mean, every single family has someone who does this specific task, so it must be important. In fact, everyone household needs someone in this specific role. I’ve since noticed my brother’s children are often given the same responsibility… It’s not that big of a deal perhaps, but it’s absolutely imperative. Without it…, no one would be satisfied. Allow me to set the scene: It’s Thanksgiving, or it’s Christmas Day. It doesn’t matter which of these festive occasions– it could be any day when someone has gone to all the effort of preparing a big meal… The feast day. The food has been cooking for some time now in the kitchen. Everyone has been smelling it four hours. Stomachs have begun to grumble and mouths have begun to water (Some have stayed near by, while others have gone away to other parts of the house trying to keep themselves occupied). It’s making us hungry, but… for good things to come, sometimes life requires patience. We’ve learned this from experience. We’ve learned that the reward of the home-cooked meal is well – worth – the wait! And finally…, after all the preparations are made: The table set, perhaps candles lit, food brought to the table, every detail expertly accounted for… This is when my “important role” would come into play. This is when my mother would finally say to me, “Josh, go tell everyone to come to the table… ‘It’s ready.’ Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is what John the Baptist was all about! When asked if he was the Messiah, he said, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?...Are you the Prophet?” “No, no, I’m none of this?” “Then, who are you? Let us have the answer… What do you say about yourself?” And to this, John replied, “I am the voice crying out in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.” He likens (or identifies) himself with a voice, nothing more (from the Prophetic writing of Isaiah)…, a voice crying out about good news… right before it happens. “Repent. That is, stop what you are doing… for something great is about to happen! I baptize with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Do you see the parallel here? This is what John the Baptist is about. He was one sent by God to say, “Go make sure everyone washes their hands and comes to the table.” As a child, in the same way (you could say) I was just the voice telling people to repent. That is, stop what you are doing! Stop watching television. Stop playing in the basement. Stop reading the paper. Now is the time. Wash your hands with water, for (if you come) you are about to be filled with good things! Who am I?! I’m not the maker of the meal. I’m not the one who satisfies you. I am just the voice of one crying out—your time of waiting is about to end. Brothers and sisters, John’s role is like this. It’s not much really, but it’s absolutely important. And, in a way, we are called (as Christians) to be like John the Baptist. We proclaim good news about the power of Jesus Christ. We baptize with water (and announce the promise… of God’s activity—of God’s way of baptizing with the Holy Spirit to change our lives). But the work of the Spirit / the work of God / the work of Jesus Christ comes (in effect) after or beyond us. And so again, Christians, we-like John—are not worthy before this one Jesus Christ, who really does have the power to save. We have been anointed and sent to bring good news: “Broken hearts shall be bound up,” “prisoners shall be released,” “peace shall be known.” Jesus Christ has the actual power of God to make these things happen. This is what we are sent ~ sent out to tell everyone! We have been given a proclamation: Some of us preach and others proclaim with our living—that God loves us and will take care of us. It’s not a big thing really, but it is absolutely a vital and important responsibility. In his Large Catechism, listen to how Martin Luther describes it. Neither you nor I could ever know anything about Christ, or believe in him and receive him as Lord, unless these were offered to us and bestowed on our hearts through the preaching of the gospel by the Holy Spirit. The work is finished and complete (or as I said, “dinner is ready”) Christ has acquired and won the treasure for us by his sufferings, death, and resurrection, etc. But if the work remained hidden so that no one knew of it, it would have been all in vain, all lost (the food would have gotten cold and eventually spoiled). In order that this treasure might not remain buried but be put to use and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to be published and proclaimed, in which he has given the Holy Spirit to offer and apply to us this treasure, this redemption. Therefore being made holy is nothing else than bringing us to the Lord Christ to receive this blessing, to which we could not have come by ourselves. A simple faith statement: Without Jesus Christ, my life would be a mess. He has brought forgiveness into my life and an alien love (or an un-Josh-like love) into my heart. Everything good about my life, I owe to him. His is the feast—the table set—which truly satisfies the human heart. I owe it to him – and to those of his church, who urged me to come to the table. For I was told along the way that Jesus could save and change my life. So, I do owe a debt of gratitude to the John the Baptists of the world, those who don’t do much else, other than say, “there’s something special if you come, so stop what your doing, wash up, and taste, see that the Lord is Good.” This Jesus, who came into the world. This Jesus who we experience at the communion table. This Jesus who we hope against hope-will make all things new. He will change your life. So come now. Come today. It’s ready. -------------------- Pastor Joshua Magyar 418 W. Main St. Sidney, MT 59270
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