Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Philippians 4:4-7; St John 1:19-28
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
He has been looming in the background since the First Sunday in Advent. Already there in the Proper Preface: “whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; and calling sinners to repentance, that they might escape the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory.”
He was prophesied in the Old Testament reading for the Second Sunday in Advent: Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Jesus said that is a reference to St John in just after last Sunday’s Gospel text.
And last Sunday we were introduced to this man, the greatest born of women and more than a prophet, who at that time was imprisoned for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Today he is front and center: St John the Baptizer, the Advent prophet. There is a bit of divine irony here since it is the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Christmas is but two days away, and St John who said, Christ must increase, but I must decrease, is the main man today. Or is he?
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” Well, technically he says, Ἑγω ουκ ειμι ο χριστος “I not am the Christ.” Not, “Εγω ειμι ουκ; I am not the Christ.” Rather, “Ἑγω ουκ ειμι; I not am the Christ.” Its a bit Yoda-esque, but it serves a purpose.
Εγω ειμι is the Divine Name. I AM. It is the Name given by our Lord God from the burning bush to Moses. It is YHWH. Jesus not only says this name several times in St John’s Gospel, but He applies it to Himself. I am the Bread of Life, I am the Light of the World, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the Door of the Sheep, I am the Resurrection and the Life, before Abraham was I am. Εγω ειμι. Every time. I AM.
But St John won’t say it. He wouldn’t be blaspheming the Second Commandment, but still he won’t say it. He not is the Christ.
And though this is not the question the apostles of the Jews asked, this was most certainly the query they were sent to discern. But St John is not the Christ, the coming Son of David (Mt 22:42). He is not Elijah (Mal 4:5). He is not the Prophet like Moses (Dt 18:15). The Pharisees think he is one of these, according to their own interpretations, but St John denies all of them.
St John denying and Christ Jesus affirming that he is not Elijah are at odds. If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Mt 11:14-15). The Pharisees don’t have ears to hear. They imagined Elijah reborn, or, since he never died an earthly death, reappearing in a literal since. But St John properly says he is not.
St John is also the prophet of the Most High who goes before the Lord to prepare His way. But he’s not The Prophet, at least not like they mean. Nor like the Old Testament lesson means. He just keeps confessing that he is not any of the things which the Pharisees seek.
Confession, in every sense, is agreement with the Truth. St John confesses that he not is the Christ; because, in Truth, only Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When we confess that we are “poor, miserable sinners,” we are agreeing with the truth which God says about us, about our fallen flesh, about our sinful condition. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer 17:9). Our of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person (Mt 15:19-20a). None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks after God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. (Rm 3:11-12).
This is why the tax collectors and sinners, the prostitutes and degenerates all line up along the Jordan River to be baptized by St John. He preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He makes ready the way of the coming Lord Jesus who is already among them. In confessing our sins, we take our place among them. We stand on that gravely shore, on the edge of the wilderness of our nativity, St John calling us back to the Jordan, back to Joshua, to Yeshua, who led his Israel over the river into the Promised Land. This is Christ Jesus, the very Lamb of God who bears away the sins of the world.
And this is what St John is all about! He’s not interested in philosophical discussions or haggling over the Jews false interpretation of the Torah. He’s blunt and he’s direct. He won’t talk about himself. He only wants to talk about one thing. JESUS. He there to draw all attention to Jesus. This is why he is the Advent prophet, not only today, but always.
And this is why the sacred art of both the ancient Church and the Church of the Lutheran Reformation always depicted the Baptizer as they did. Consider Grunewald’s famous Isenheim Altarpiece. A gigantic, life-size triptych with our crucified Lord at the center, the banner over His crucifix extending beyond the frame of the painting, as if the work cannot even contain the full meaning of this event. And where is the Baptizer? Off to the side, out of the center, a lamb at his feet, Scriptures open in one hand, and a long, boney finger extended toward the crucified Christ.
Or the Cranach piece on your bulletin today. It is busy and rich in foreground, midground, and background with Biblical themes and narratives. If a picture paints a thousand words, this one is preaching an tome. Moses and Israel in tents, the angels announcing the nativity to the shepherds, death and hades chasing men into their graves, Satan tread underfoot, and more! But what is at the center, dominating the whole scene? Our Lord Jesus Christ, high and lifted up, stretched out upon the Cross, blood streaming from His de-sandled feet, His side rent by the spear, blood baptizing the artist, Lucas Cranach himself. Luther to one side of him, pointing at the Scriptures, and who is the other man? Why, it is St John, pointing to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And all eyes are on Jesus.
This is what this guy does. This is who he is. He won’t talk about himself. He just keeps pointing to Jesus. But the Jews are persistent. Who are you? What do you say about yourself?
Me? Why, I’m just the Voice. The Voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Remarkable. He is singularly focused on Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the Messiah who is coming into the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Bridegroom and the Head, the great I AM, the Word made flesh. This is St John’s concern. His confession. This consumes him.
What about you? Who are you? What do you say when the contingency from the world comes asking?
I’m not talking about post-modern, ideologies of self-identification. That’s nonsense. I shall tell you dear Christian, for God Himself has borne testimony, He has not denied you, but confessed, “You are mine.”
The Jews were persistent. Who are You? What do You say about Yourself? There and then, in the Sanhedrin, Jesus the Christ confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, I AM the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven (Mk 14:62).
For He was raised up as a Prophet like Moses, but greater. The Word of the Lord is in His mouth and He has spoken all that His Father commanded Him.
Beloved, He stands among you as One you know and you are known by Him. He has baptized you into Himself. You stand there with Cranach, the blood of Christ spilling down upon you, inscribing His Name upon you, the Divine Name, by which He calls you. Through the Jordan of your Holy Baptism you where cleansed in the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; your sin. This is your confession and testimony. This is who you are. You share in the death of Christ Jesus and so shall share in His resurrection.
The sins which weigh you down are lifted by His righteous right hand in His grace and mercy. For He has come and helps you by His might.
It is not like at Horeb with the thunder and lighting and thick darkness when the Lord God terrified the congregation of Israel. Rather, He whose sandal strap St John was unworthy to untie, Himself stoops low to unbind you from your sins and set you free. He comes to serve you.
He is among you as One who know. Behold, the Lord is at hand. He is in your midst by the reading and preaching of His Word, here in this Bethany, Bet-hini, this House of Figs, with the sweetness of His Gospel which forgives all your sins, grants you clean conscience, and bestows a lasting peace; a peace which the world cannot give.
He is at hand in the Holy Absolution, the testimony of the Blessed Holy Trinity that your sins are forgiven before the Father in heaven for the sake of Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord, by His Holy Spirit. For the Pastor stands as the Baptizer, as a voice, which is as the very voice of Christ Jesus Himself. Who are we to say such things? Certainly no one in ourselves, but men who are called by Christ and placed by Him into His Office of the Holy Gospel for your sake. The pastor is but an unworthy servant.
And behold, the Lord is at hand in the Holy Supper, the Bread and the Wine, the very Body and Blood of Christ Jesus which is held before your eyes as you sing in confession with St John, Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And then, this selfsame Body and Blood is placed into your mangered hand and into your mouth to be received in faith for the full and free forgiveness of all of your sins. You know Him, beloved. He is stands among you in His Divine Service. Everything about this place points to Him. Listen to Him. Rejoice in Him. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
He has been looming in the background since the First Sunday in Advent. Already there in the Proper Preface: “whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; and calling sinners to repentance, that they might escape the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory.”
He was prophesied in the Old Testament reading for the Second Sunday in Advent: Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Jesus said that is a reference to St John in just after last Sunday’s Gospel text.
And last Sunday we were introduced to this man, the greatest born of women and more than a prophet, who at that time was imprisoned for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Today he is front and center: St John the Baptizer, the Advent prophet. There is a bit of divine irony here since it is the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Christmas is but two days away, and St John who said, Christ must increase, but I must decrease, is the main man today. Or is he?
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” Well, technically he says, Ἑγω ουκ ειμι ο χριστος “I not am the Christ.” Not, “Εγω ειμι ουκ; I am not the Christ.” Rather, “Ἑγω ουκ ειμι; I not am the Christ.” Its a bit Yoda-esque, but it serves a purpose.
Εγω ειμι is the Divine Name. I AM. It is the Name given by our Lord God from the burning bush to Moses. It is YHWH. Jesus not only says this name several times in St John’s Gospel, but He applies it to Himself. I am the Bread of Life, I am the Light of the World, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the Door of the Sheep, I am the Resurrection and the Life, before Abraham was I am. Εγω ειμι. Every time. I AM.
But St John won’t say it. He wouldn’t be blaspheming the Second Commandment, but still he won’t say it. He not is the Christ.
And though this is not the question the apostles of the Jews asked, this was most certainly the query they were sent to discern. But St John is not the Christ, the coming Son of David (Mt 22:42). He is not Elijah (Mal 4:5). He is not the Prophet like Moses (Dt 18:15). The Pharisees think he is one of these, according to their own interpretations, but St John denies all of them.
St John denying and Christ Jesus affirming that he is not Elijah are at odds. If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Mt 11:14-15). The Pharisees don’t have ears to hear. They imagined Elijah reborn, or, since he never died an earthly death, reappearing in a literal since. But St John properly says he is not.
St John is also the prophet of the Most High who goes before the Lord to prepare His way. But he’s not The Prophet, at least not like they mean. Nor like the Old Testament lesson means. He just keeps confessing that he is not any of the things which the Pharisees seek.
Confession, in every sense, is agreement with the Truth. St John confesses that he not is the Christ; because, in Truth, only Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When we confess that we are “poor, miserable sinners,” we are agreeing with the truth which God says about us, about our fallen flesh, about our sinful condition. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer 17:9). Our of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person (Mt 15:19-20a). None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks after God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. (Rm 3:11-12).
This is why the tax collectors and sinners, the prostitutes and degenerates all line up along the Jordan River to be baptized by St John. He preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He makes ready the way of the coming Lord Jesus who is already among them. In confessing our sins, we take our place among them. We stand on that gravely shore, on the edge of the wilderness of our nativity, St John calling us back to the Jordan, back to Joshua, to Yeshua, who led his Israel over the river into the Promised Land. This is Christ Jesus, the very Lamb of God who bears away the sins of the world.
And this is what St John is all about! He’s not interested in philosophical discussions or haggling over the Jews false interpretation of the Torah. He’s blunt and he’s direct. He won’t talk about himself. He only wants to talk about one thing. JESUS. He there to draw all attention to Jesus. This is why he is the Advent prophet, not only today, but always.
And this is why the sacred art of both the ancient Church and the Church of the Lutheran Reformation always depicted the Baptizer as they did. Consider Grunewald’s famous Isenheim Altarpiece. A gigantic, life-size triptych with our crucified Lord at the center, the banner over His crucifix extending beyond the frame of the painting, as if the work cannot even contain the full meaning of this event. And where is the Baptizer? Off to the side, out of the center, a lamb at his feet, Scriptures open in one hand, and a long, boney finger extended toward the crucified Christ.
Or the Cranach piece on your bulletin today. It is busy and rich in foreground, midground, and background with Biblical themes and narratives. If a picture paints a thousand words, this one is preaching an tome. Moses and Israel in tents, the angels announcing the nativity to the shepherds, death and hades chasing men into their graves, Satan tread underfoot, and more! But what is at the center, dominating the whole scene? Our Lord Jesus Christ, high and lifted up, stretched out upon the Cross, blood streaming from His de-sandled feet, His side rent by the spear, blood baptizing the artist, Lucas Cranach himself. Luther to one side of him, pointing at the Scriptures, and who is the other man? Why, it is St John, pointing to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And all eyes are on Jesus.
This is what this guy does. This is who he is. He won’t talk about himself. He just keeps pointing to Jesus. But the Jews are persistent. Who are you? What do you say about yourself?
Me? Why, I’m just the Voice. The Voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Remarkable. He is singularly focused on Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the Messiah who is coming into the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Bridegroom and the Head, the great I AM, the Word made flesh. This is St John’s concern. His confession. This consumes him.
What about you? Who are you? What do you say when the contingency from the world comes asking?
I’m not talking about post-modern, ideologies of self-identification. That’s nonsense. I shall tell you dear Christian, for God Himself has borne testimony, He has not denied you, but confessed, “You are mine.”
The Jews were persistent. Who are You? What do You say about Yourself? There and then, in the Sanhedrin, Jesus the Christ confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, I AM the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven (Mk 14:62).
For He was raised up as a Prophet like Moses, but greater. The Word of the Lord is in His mouth and He has spoken all that His Father commanded Him.
Beloved, He stands among you as One you know and you are known by Him. He has baptized you into Himself. You stand there with Cranach, the blood of Christ spilling down upon you, inscribing His Name upon you, the Divine Name, by which He calls you. Through the Jordan of your Holy Baptism you where cleansed in the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; your sin. This is your confession and testimony. This is who you are. You share in the death of Christ Jesus and so shall share in His resurrection.
The sins which weigh you down are lifted by His righteous right hand in His grace and mercy. For He has come and helps you by His might.
It is not like at Horeb with the thunder and lighting and thick darkness when the Lord God terrified the congregation of Israel. Rather, He whose sandal strap St John was unworthy to untie, Himself stoops low to unbind you from your sins and set you free. He comes to serve you.
He is among you as One who know. Behold, the Lord is at hand. He is in your midst by the reading and preaching of His Word, here in this Bethany, Bet-hini, this House of Figs, with the sweetness of His Gospel which forgives all your sins, grants you clean conscience, and bestows a lasting peace; a peace which the world cannot give.
He is at hand in the Holy Absolution, the testimony of the Blessed Holy Trinity that your sins are forgiven before the Father in heaven for the sake of Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord, by His Holy Spirit. For the Pastor stands as the Baptizer, as a voice, which is as the very voice of Christ Jesus Himself. Who are we to say such things? Certainly no one in ourselves, but men who are called by Christ and placed by Him into His Office of the Holy Gospel for your sake. The pastor is but an unworthy servant.
And behold, the Lord is at hand in the Holy Supper, the Bread and the Wine, the very Body and Blood of Christ Jesus which is held before your eyes as you sing in confession with St John, Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And then, this selfsame Body and Blood is placed into your mangered hand and into your mouth to be received in faith for the full and free forgiveness of all of your sins. You know Him, beloved. He is stands among you in His Divine Service. Everything about this place points to Him. Listen to Him. Rejoice in Him. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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