Isaiah 40:1-11/1 Corinthians 4:1-5/St Matthew 11:2-11
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Well, what are you waiting for? What have you come here to see? What do you want? And for what are you hoping? You have heard of the works of Christ, how He restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf; how He has made the lame to walk and cleansed the lepers, how He has even raised up the dead. But what has He done for you lately? St John was locked away in prison, waiting, wondering. Where do you find yourself? What are your circumstances?
Beloved, waited upon the Lord. Not in laziness or lethargy; but be strong and let your heart take courage and wait upon the Lord by seeking out His Word and preaching. Gladly hear and learn it. Wait, as St John the baptizer, by confessing His Word, by praying in accordance with His Word in faith, hope, and love.
Wait in patience under the Cross of Christ. Not in grumbling or complaining, neither against the Lord your God, nor against His servants, not against your neighbors. Do not harden your heart against faith and love by grumbling, but persevere in prayer and confession. Speak and sing what is true and right and good. For God has spoken to you by His Son and our Lord continues to sing sweetly to you in His Gospel, even as our Lord Christ does for His dear kinsman, St John.
For I tell you the truth, it is better to be comforted by the Gospel and the promises in your misery, in the midst of sin and death, than to be comfortable in this world that is perishing. You already know the world is impatient. And precisely because it is dying. Its time is short. But you, dear brothers and sisters of our dear Lord Jesus, wait in patience and hope. And rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I will say rejoice.
Watch for Him and wait upon His coming and do not worry. Though you find yourself under His Cross, even as St John did, strengthen your heart by His Word. For He is near. He is a very present help in trouble. The Lord is at hand. Though you may be imprisoned by one means or another, by deafness or muteness or blindness, though you may be lame or feeble, or any of a thousand other symptomatic reminders of the mortality of your fallen flesh, wait patiently upon the Lord. And trust that he will open His hand to satisfy your every need of body and soul, for this life and forever. You may prefer to be wealthy and rich, dressed in fine clothing and living in a royal place, but our Lord has ordained for you to be clothed in His own righteousness, more glorious than Solomon, and prepared a place for you with Himself and His Father in heaven.
For now you do live under the curse of sin and death and all that comes with it. All flesh is grass. But the Lord Jesus Christ has turned that very curse into the blessing of His Cross: for you and for all.
Therefore this desert wilderness in which you find yourself is not a death trap, not really, but a journey of repentance from death to life, from slavery to freedom, from Egypt to Canaan. And the Lord disciplines you here in the wilderness, even as He did His beloved forerunner, because He loves you. You are His dear child. He put to death your flesh by the cross in order to catechize you in His way of life: in the faith, hope and love of Jesus Christ, in His own Cross and Resurrection. He teaches you to hunger and thirst for Him alone. He teaches you patience and faith. He teaches you to wait on Him in hope.
This isn’t like a semester of lectures or a lab. It isn’t like reading a boo, studying your notes, writing a paper or preparing for final exams. It does require listening, experience, and preparation. But you do not and cannot prepare yourself, at on your own at least.
No the Lord prepares you by sending His messenger before His face by preaching a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. It is precisely that preaching, that Baptism, that repentance and forgiveness, which is your preparation for and in Christ. And as this was the work St John was sent to do, so also is it the work that must be done upon him and in him and for him as he sits in prison, awaiting martyrdom. This is what Christ does for John and for you. This is His good and gracious will and gift.
And He does not simply preach and teach it, or merely offer and give it to you. He Himself receives it, undergoes it, suffers and fulfills it for you! The Greatest One makes Himself least in the kingdom of heaven in order that you may be raised up in Him. He stoops to lift you from the pit in His own Cross and Passion.
And so the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence at the hands of sinful men. This is the prophets reward for preaching Christ, the Crucified One. So it was with Daniel and Isaiah, Jonah, Micah, Amos and Ezekiel. So also for St John who comes in the way of Elijah. Indeed he had that great showdown with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel when the Lord God answered His prophet with consuming fire from heaven; but then the flinty-faced prophet fled at the voice of Jezebel. It is no different for St John the Baptist, the Lord’s own forerunner. He points out not only with words, but with his body and life to the Lamb of God. He stood up to Herod, yet he cowers at the whisper of his own conscience, “Is He the One?”
You see, the curse of sin and death has been laid upon childbearing and childbirth, and upon every child born of a woman. It is laid upon you because you are a sinful son or daughter of the first Adam and his wife. It was laid upon John, the greatest born of women.
And it was laid upon the Second Adam, Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, who came in love and willingly submitted Himself to the curse in order to redeem all children of men, to save His people from their sins. Which is to say that Christ the Lord Himself suffered violence, bore every last bit of it in His person: all that you suffer, all that you deserve, but are spared, and all that you inflict upon your neighbors. By His Cross and Passion, through His suffering and death, He not only took upon Himself your sin, but sanctified your suffering so that now it precisely through cross and suffering, death and the grave, you enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As it is written, Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Ac 14:22).
By His death and resurrection you have peace with God. And He sends His stewards with His mysteries to work within His Church, His own beloved Bride, for her benefit; to speak peace to His people, to comfort His dear ones. For here, in Holy Baptism, the Lord gives birth to children of God in His Kingdom through the bloody labor of His Cross and the delivery of His Resurrection from the dead. Whoever is born from that womb is greater even than John. For there you are made partakers of Jesus Christ, given fellowship in His death and resurrection, for your own victory over sin and the grave.
Therefore do not take offense or be scandalized by the Lord’s Cross. Not in its historical fact, but neither in its preaching to you. Nor, in your own life as His disciple. Perhaps the last of these is where it is most heavy and hard to bear. But wait upon the Lord in patience under the Cross, not complaining but rejoicing in His Gospel. Rejoice at all times and in all places, in any and all circumstances, in the sure and certain hope of His Resurrection and yours.
Rejoice in the Lord, for He does set prisoners free.
Rejoice, for He does cleanse lepers and heal the lame; He casts out demons and cures diseases.
Rejoice, for He does feed and clothe, shelter and protect the poor; especially poor, miserable sinners, and He provides for all their needs.
Again I say, Rejoice. For He does raise the dead from the dust of the earth to live forever and ever. Amen.
Rejoice, O people loved by God, for He comes to you here and tends you as His flock. He gathers you in His arms and carries you in His bosom, even as Lazarus reclined upon Abraham. Rejoice and be glad when others revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil falsely against you for the sake of Christ. Rejoice, O pilgrim throng, for here your Coming One is in your very midst, among you, with His Word of comfort, speaking peace to your hearts and minds. Rejoice, for here He welcomes you to the true King’s Palace in perfect Peace and Sabbath rest at His festal board. Rejoice, beloved of the Lord Jesus, eat and drink and rejoice. For He is with you. And all is well.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Well, what are you waiting for? What have you come here to see? What do you want? And for what are you hoping? You have heard of the works of Christ, how He restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf; how He has made the lame to walk and cleansed the lepers, how He has even raised up the dead. But what has He done for you lately? St John was locked away in prison, waiting, wondering. Where do you find yourself? What are your circumstances?
Beloved, waited upon the Lord. Not in laziness or lethargy; but be strong and let your heart take courage and wait upon the Lord by seeking out His Word and preaching. Gladly hear and learn it. Wait, as St John the baptizer, by confessing His Word, by praying in accordance with His Word in faith, hope, and love.
Wait in patience under the Cross of Christ. Not in grumbling or complaining, neither against the Lord your God, nor against His servants, not against your neighbors. Do not harden your heart against faith and love by grumbling, but persevere in prayer and confession. Speak and sing what is true and right and good. For God has spoken to you by His Son and our Lord continues to sing sweetly to you in His Gospel, even as our Lord Christ does for His dear kinsman, St John.
For I tell you the truth, it is better to be comforted by the Gospel and the promises in your misery, in the midst of sin and death, than to be comfortable in this world that is perishing. You already know the world is impatient. And precisely because it is dying. Its time is short. But you, dear brothers and sisters of our dear Lord Jesus, wait in patience and hope. And rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I will say rejoice.
Watch for Him and wait upon His coming and do not worry. Though you find yourself under His Cross, even as St John did, strengthen your heart by His Word. For He is near. He is a very present help in trouble. The Lord is at hand. Though you may be imprisoned by one means or another, by deafness or muteness or blindness, though you may be lame or feeble, or any of a thousand other symptomatic reminders of the mortality of your fallen flesh, wait patiently upon the Lord. And trust that he will open His hand to satisfy your every need of body and soul, for this life and forever. You may prefer to be wealthy and rich, dressed in fine clothing and living in a royal place, but our Lord has ordained for you to be clothed in His own righteousness, more glorious than Solomon, and prepared a place for you with Himself and His Father in heaven.
For now you do live under the curse of sin and death and all that comes with it. All flesh is grass. But the Lord Jesus Christ has turned that very curse into the blessing of His Cross: for you and for all.
Therefore this desert wilderness in which you find yourself is not a death trap, not really, but a journey of repentance from death to life, from slavery to freedom, from Egypt to Canaan. And the Lord disciplines you here in the wilderness, even as He did His beloved forerunner, because He loves you. You are His dear child. He put to death your flesh by the cross in order to catechize you in His way of life: in the faith, hope and love of Jesus Christ, in His own Cross and Resurrection. He teaches you to hunger and thirst for Him alone. He teaches you patience and faith. He teaches you to wait on Him in hope.
This isn’t like a semester of lectures or a lab. It isn’t like reading a boo, studying your notes, writing a paper or preparing for final exams. It does require listening, experience, and preparation. But you do not and cannot prepare yourself, at on your own at least.
No the Lord prepares you by sending His messenger before His face by preaching a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. It is precisely that preaching, that Baptism, that repentance and forgiveness, which is your preparation for and in Christ. And as this was the work St John was sent to do, so also is it the work that must be done upon him and in him and for him as he sits in prison, awaiting martyrdom. This is what Christ does for John and for you. This is His good and gracious will and gift.
And He does not simply preach and teach it, or merely offer and give it to you. He Himself receives it, undergoes it, suffers and fulfills it for you! The Greatest One makes Himself least in the kingdom of heaven in order that you may be raised up in Him. He stoops to lift you from the pit in His own Cross and Passion.
And so the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence at the hands of sinful men. This is the prophets reward for preaching Christ, the Crucified One. So it was with Daniel and Isaiah, Jonah, Micah, Amos and Ezekiel. So also for St John who comes in the way of Elijah. Indeed he had that great showdown with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel when the Lord God answered His prophet with consuming fire from heaven; but then the flinty-faced prophet fled at the voice of Jezebel. It is no different for St John the Baptist, the Lord’s own forerunner. He points out not only with words, but with his body and life to the Lamb of God. He stood up to Herod, yet he cowers at the whisper of his own conscience, “Is He the One?”
You see, the curse of sin and death has been laid upon childbearing and childbirth, and upon every child born of a woman. It is laid upon you because you are a sinful son or daughter of the first Adam and his wife. It was laid upon John, the greatest born of women.
And it was laid upon the Second Adam, Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary, who came in love and willingly submitted Himself to the curse in order to redeem all children of men, to save His people from their sins. Which is to say that Christ the Lord Himself suffered violence, bore every last bit of it in His person: all that you suffer, all that you deserve, but are spared, and all that you inflict upon your neighbors. By His Cross and Passion, through His suffering and death, He not only took upon Himself your sin, but sanctified your suffering so that now it precisely through cross and suffering, death and the grave, you enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As it is written, Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Ac 14:22).
By His death and resurrection you have peace with God. And He sends His stewards with His mysteries to work within His Church, His own beloved Bride, for her benefit; to speak peace to His people, to comfort His dear ones. For here, in Holy Baptism, the Lord gives birth to children of God in His Kingdom through the bloody labor of His Cross and the delivery of His Resurrection from the dead. Whoever is born from that womb is greater even than John. For there you are made partakers of Jesus Christ, given fellowship in His death and resurrection, for your own victory over sin and the grave.
Therefore do not take offense or be scandalized by the Lord’s Cross. Not in its historical fact, but neither in its preaching to you. Nor, in your own life as His disciple. Perhaps the last of these is where it is most heavy and hard to bear. But wait upon the Lord in patience under the Cross, not complaining but rejoicing in His Gospel. Rejoice at all times and in all places, in any and all circumstances, in the sure and certain hope of His Resurrection and yours.
Rejoice in the Lord, for He does set prisoners free.
Rejoice, for He does cleanse lepers and heal the lame; He casts out demons and cures diseases.
Rejoice, for He does feed and clothe, shelter and protect the poor; especially poor, miserable sinners, and He provides for all their needs.
Again I say, Rejoice. For He does raise the dead from the dust of the earth to live forever and ever. Amen.
Rejoice, O people loved by God, for He comes to you here and tends you as His flock. He gathers you in His arms and carries you in His bosom, even as Lazarus reclined upon Abraham. Rejoice and be glad when others revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil falsely against you for the sake of Christ. Rejoice, O pilgrim throng, for here your Coming One is in your very midst, among you, with His Word of comfort, speaking peace to your hearts and minds. Rejoice, for here He welcomes you to the true King’s Palace in perfect Peace and Sabbath rest at His festal board. Rejoice, beloved of the Lord Jesus, eat and drink and rejoice. For He is with you. And all is well.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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