Deuteronomy 18:15-19/Philippians 4:4-7/St John 1:19-28
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The Forerunner lived in the wilderness since his adolescence. He was clothed with the garments of humility - coarse camel’s hair and a leather belt; the attire of a prophet. He fasted and prayed. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey; in this it reflected the content of his preaching: the stern proclamation of the Lord’s damning Law, the all-consuming plague of His wrath against sin, and the sweet word of His forgiving Gospel, the drippings of mercy from the Word of the Lord.
And this is the testimony of John; that is to say, this is the marturia of St John; this is his martyrdom on. He was put to death on account of his confession of the Christ. It is no small matter that these things took place in Bethany, which means, “house of suffering; house of sorrow.”
For John stands there on Jordan’s banks, an ensign in the desert, announcing the Advent of the Prophet like Moses. He calls Israel back across the Jordan, back to the wilderness, the location of their sojourn. For this is the land of their sorrow. The land of their longing for a home, for a king; longing for redemption. They could not bear to hear the Word of the Lord their God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, as the congregation of Israel was gathered to receive the Ten Commandments.
Rather Moses spoke to them. And he prophesied to them of the One who is to come; the Prophet like him from among Israel. Now the Voice cries out to them in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.
This is why the delegation comes from Jerusalem. They assume John to be the Prophet. And so they ask, Who are you? And John homologesen, he confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, Ego ouk eimi o Xpistos. I not am the Christ. The word order is important. He did not say, “I am not the Christ.” He said, “I not am the Christ.” He would not even utter the syllables of the Divine Name; he would not take them on his lips in confession of who is he, and who he is not.
Even Moses would speak of himself at times. For by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote, Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth (Nu 12:3). But not John. He, the greatest born of woman, says little to nothing of himself. His testimony is not a self-reflective, egotistical biography of what he has done. His testimony, his martyrdom, is all about Christ. I not am. He is.
He is not the Prophet; though Christ will indeed call him a prophet, greater than a prophet (Mt 11:9). He is not Elijah; though again, Christ will say that if you are willing to accept it, John is Elijah who is to come (Mt 11:14); the one prophesied by Malachi.
But John will not say this of himself. He will not draw attention to himself. He is the Voice, crying in the wilderness; heralding the Coming One. He casts all attention, points all eyes to Christ. He is the best man, decreasing so that the Bridegroom, our Lord Christ, may increase. Dr Luther Luther called him a finger; he points to Christ. Hence all the great Medieval Christ art has St John pointing his elongated, bony finger at the One who stand among them; the One who will baptize with the Spirit.
And the Church, her pastors and people, may learn something from St John, the wild ascetic standing in the desert. For the question put to the Voice, Who are you? What do you say about yourself? Is the question asked of you today. For the Church stands here, an ensign, a Voice, crying out in the wilderness of sin and death; baptizing people for repentance and faith. Does she point to herself? Do her pastors preach themselves? Their accomplishments and strategies? Do her people testify of their own deeds and merits?
St Mary, Mother of our Lord, sang, My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Lk 1:46). She was the handmaid of the Lord.
This is the posture and vocation of the Church. She is the handmaid of the Lord; the Voice crying out, preparing hearts and minds for the Christ; magnifying Him. For we do not point men to themselves, nor to us. Your testimony, your confession, is of the One who stands in your midst, even Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For He is the Prophet like Moses, who indeed spoke with Moses at Mt Horeb. He bears the Name of the Lord and speaks His Word; for He is Himself the Word of the Lord standing among the people.
He is the Elisha to John’s Elijah; for He receives the double portion of the Spirit. He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt 3:11).
The Voice was unworthy to loose His sandal. But Christ shall remove His own sandal, in obedience to the Father, so that He may place His heel squarely on the head of the Serpent.
For He is the I AM. He is YHWH in the flesh. He alone can confess, He will not deny, but confess, “Ego eimi o Xpistos. I am the Christ. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the Vine. I am the Light of the world. I am the Bread of Life. I am the Good Shepherd, I lay down My life for the sheep.” And, I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die (Jn 11:25-26).
In this, dear Christians, you rejoice. For He who came as a prophet like Moses, has, in fact, lead you like Joshua, from the wilderness, across the Jordan, into the Promised Land. For He has taken you from slavery and bondage, from your sojourn and wandering, and brought you across the Jordan of His baptism, for the forgiveness of all your sins, and brought you here, to the new Jerusalem of His Church.
In this you rejoice - your baptism into the death and resurrection of your Lord Jesus Christ. For this is your martyrdom, your watery grave in which you died with Christ Jesus. And raised to life again the good confession has been put into your mouth: “I not am the Christ. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, in whose Name I have life.” Therefore do not deny, but confess.
For in this you boast, even as St Paul says, Far be it from me to boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. As for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God (Gal 6:14, 16). This is the testimony, the confession and martyrdom of St John the Baptist. This is the testimony, the Voice and proclamation of the Church; her cry to the world in the wilderness of sin and death. And this is your testimony, your confession, and, according to His good and gracious will, your persecution and martyrdom.
If that shall be your Christmas present, dear ones, so be it. Do not fear the delegation of the world that comes to interrogate you. Confess, and do not deny, but confess. Confess your Christ whom St John and the Church proclaim. You know Him. You are His; His Christ-ian for you were taken out of Christ. Your heart and mind belong to Him. Rejoice that He has has come. Rejoice that He has joined Himself to your suffering and need. Rejoice that He has made you His own.
And do not be anxious, the Lord is at hand - as near as His Body and Blood given and shed for your for the forgiveness of your sins, for the strengthening of your body and soul; for the endurance of faith. Behold the Baptist’s finger pointing you to the Christ, your Messiah for you, here in the wilderness. Come up to meet Him. Eat and drink. Believe and live.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The Forerunner lived in the wilderness since his adolescence. He was clothed with the garments of humility - coarse camel’s hair and a leather belt; the attire of a prophet. He fasted and prayed. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey; in this it reflected the content of his preaching: the stern proclamation of the Lord’s damning Law, the all-consuming plague of His wrath against sin, and the sweet word of His forgiving Gospel, the drippings of mercy from the Word of the Lord.
And this is the testimony of John; that is to say, this is the marturia of St John; this is his martyrdom on. He was put to death on account of his confession of the Christ. It is no small matter that these things took place in Bethany, which means, “house of suffering; house of sorrow.”
For John stands there on Jordan’s banks, an ensign in the desert, announcing the Advent of the Prophet like Moses. He calls Israel back across the Jordan, back to the wilderness, the location of their sojourn. For this is the land of their sorrow. The land of their longing for a home, for a king; longing for redemption. They could not bear to hear the Word of the Lord their God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, as the congregation of Israel was gathered to receive the Ten Commandments.
Rather Moses spoke to them. And he prophesied to them of the One who is to come; the Prophet like him from among Israel. Now the Voice cries out to them in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.
This is why the delegation comes from Jerusalem. They assume John to be the Prophet. And so they ask, Who are you? And John homologesen, he confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, Ego ouk eimi o Xpistos. I not am the Christ. The word order is important. He did not say, “I am not the Christ.” He said, “I not am the Christ.” He would not even utter the syllables of the Divine Name; he would not take them on his lips in confession of who is he, and who he is not.
Even Moses would speak of himself at times. For by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote, Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth (Nu 12:3). But not John. He, the greatest born of woman, says little to nothing of himself. His testimony is not a self-reflective, egotistical biography of what he has done. His testimony, his martyrdom, is all about Christ. I not am. He is.
He is not the Prophet; though Christ will indeed call him a prophet, greater than a prophet (Mt 11:9). He is not Elijah; though again, Christ will say that if you are willing to accept it, John is Elijah who is to come (Mt 11:14); the one prophesied by Malachi.
But John will not say this of himself. He will not draw attention to himself. He is the Voice, crying in the wilderness; heralding the Coming One. He casts all attention, points all eyes to Christ. He is the best man, decreasing so that the Bridegroom, our Lord Christ, may increase. Dr Luther Luther called him a finger; he points to Christ. Hence all the great Medieval Christ art has St John pointing his elongated, bony finger at the One who stand among them; the One who will baptize with the Spirit.
And the Church, her pastors and people, may learn something from St John, the wild ascetic standing in the desert. For the question put to the Voice, Who are you? What do you say about yourself? Is the question asked of you today. For the Church stands here, an ensign, a Voice, crying out in the wilderness of sin and death; baptizing people for repentance and faith. Does she point to herself? Do her pastors preach themselves? Their accomplishments and strategies? Do her people testify of their own deeds and merits?
St Mary, Mother of our Lord, sang, My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Lk 1:46). She was the handmaid of the Lord.
This is the posture and vocation of the Church. She is the handmaid of the Lord; the Voice crying out, preparing hearts and minds for the Christ; magnifying Him. For we do not point men to themselves, nor to us. Your testimony, your confession, is of the One who stands in your midst, even Jesus Christ, our Lord.
For He is the Prophet like Moses, who indeed spoke with Moses at Mt Horeb. He bears the Name of the Lord and speaks His Word; for He is Himself the Word of the Lord standing among the people.
He is the Elisha to John’s Elijah; for He receives the double portion of the Spirit. He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt 3:11).
The Voice was unworthy to loose His sandal. But Christ shall remove His own sandal, in obedience to the Father, so that He may place His heel squarely on the head of the Serpent.
For He is the I AM. He is YHWH in the flesh. He alone can confess, He will not deny, but confess, “Ego eimi o Xpistos. I am the Christ. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the Vine. I am the Light of the world. I am the Bread of Life. I am the Good Shepherd, I lay down My life for the sheep.” And, I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die (Jn 11:25-26).
In this, dear Christians, you rejoice. For He who came as a prophet like Moses, has, in fact, lead you like Joshua, from the wilderness, across the Jordan, into the Promised Land. For He has taken you from slavery and bondage, from your sojourn and wandering, and brought you across the Jordan of His baptism, for the forgiveness of all your sins, and brought you here, to the new Jerusalem of His Church.
In this you rejoice - your baptism into the death and resurrection of your Lord Jesus Christ. For this is your martyrdom, your watery grave in which you died with Christ Jesus. And raised to life again the good confession has been put into your mouth: “I not am the Christ. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, in whose Name I have life.” Therefore do not deny, but confess.
For in this you boast, even as St Paul says, Far be it from me to boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. As for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God (Gal 6:14, 16). This is the testimony, the confession and martyrdom of St John the Baptist. This is the testimony, the Voice and proclamation of the Church; her cry to the world in the wilderness of sin and death. And this is your testimony, your confession, and, according to His good and gracious will, your persecution and martyrdom.
If that shall be your Christmas present, dear ones, so be it. Do not fear the delegation of the world that comes to interrogate you. Confess, and do not deny, but confess. Confess your Christ whom St John and the Church proclaim. You know Him. You are His; His Christ-ian for you were taken out of Christ. Your heart and mind belong to Him. Rejoice that He has has come. Rejoice that He has joined Himself to your suffering and need. Rejoice that He has made you His own.
And do not be anxious, the Lord is at hand - as near as His Body and Blood given and shed for your for the forgiveness of your sins, for the strengthening of your body and soul; for the endurance of faith. Behold the Baptist’s finger pointing you to the Christ, your Messiah for you, here in the wilderness. Come up to meet Him. Eat and drink. Believe and live.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
RSS Feed