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A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
John 1:6-8,19-28
You may know from your Weekly Reminder and Preview that
our church has two new Advent studies beginning this week, to add to our
preparations. These studies, Jesus' Message and Discovering Jesus, like
the Advent symbols we just looked at, delve deeply into the meaning of the
season. Symbolic decorations and classes, with the group discussion that
this community of faith offers, provide enrichment and growth as we
examine, reflect and share, from our faith perspective.
But then I'm reminded of an anonymous letter that appeared on an adult
class leader's desk early one Monday morning:
"Dear Teacher:
What in heaven's name was going on in your class
yesterday? Land O'Goshen [that's an expression I hadn't heard much, but
my husband tells me his grandmother used it frequently] those folks were
sure a raucous bunch! I could hear their laughter all the way down the
hall and around the corner in the narthex, where I was quietly minding my
own business, enjoying a second cup of coffee, and thinking deep
thoughts. Are you leading a Bible study or emceeing an Evening at the
Improv?
Contrary to rumors circulating about me, I was
not spying on you. My ear ended up pressed against your classroom door
because I lost my balance as I was walking by. However, while in that
uncomfortable position, I did detect several giggles, a host of chuckles,
a few snickers, and what I assume was our resident foghorn, Mr. Swenson,
doing a belly laugh. I suggest you remind your class that this is the
house of God, a most holy and sacred place, and that laughter loud enough
to penetrate concrete blocks is unseemly for mature Christians.
Besides, I never did find out what the joke was;
and frankly, I feel left out. When I asked several of your students what
was going on, they said, "O, nothing unusual. We're just studying the
Gospel of John." You must have been using a new translation or something
because everybody knows the Fourth Gospel is heavy duty stuff and the most
profoundly spiritual one of all. And "nothing unusual"? I can't recall
laughing in a Bible study class for the last twenty-five years-not since
Brother Branham got his tongue twisted reading from Ephesians 6 about
"quenching the fiery darts." I hereby challenge you to show how Bible
study and laughter are compatible.
Also, please indicate where in John's Gospel there are any verses or
accounts even remotely funny. Confident you can do neither, I shall
expect a public apology; and may I assume that your class from this time
forth will behave with proper dignity and solemnity?
Signed, With warm but conditional Christian love,
SAM (a Socially Aware Member) of First Church"
Well, this morning's scripture about John the Baptist happens to be from
the Gospel of John about which this critic writes. We might suggest that
SAM take another look at this Bible. It is actually filled with humor,
and yes, even within the Gospel of John. Just think about how Jesus
raised Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11; the smell had to be really bad
by the time they got to him so that Martha couldn't even breathe normally,
and then, he just bounced right up, with all the burial garments wrapped
tightly around him. It certainly wasn't sad any more; it was comedy!
If Jesus was fully human, as we believe he was, then he certainly laughed
as well as wept and used jokes to help get his points across. I have to
believe that looking at things from the really big picture, we're meant to
laugh more than we ever do, because, with Jesus, difficult situations
would invariably turn out really terrific-that's just what Jesus did to
things! And John's Gospel is full of these situations. I think
Jesus felt so good that he was just bursting with love and pleasure at the
opportunity to give joy to others. You know, there's a whole organization
called the "Fellowship of Merry Christians" that believes and reminds us
of this! Even serious Martin Luther once said, "I would have less
wish to go to heaven if I knew that God would not understand a joke."
And, by the way, the class that felt the criticism in the letter from
"Anonymous," answered back with,
"Dear SAM:
Please bring your coffee cup and your ideas and
join us. We're going to be leaving the door open, since it didn't keep
the noise inside when it was closed. Thanks for lending us an ear. We'd
really love to have the rest of you as well. Shalom, The Adult Bible
Class."
So what about John the Baptist of our scripture? Take a good look at that
picture on our screen. It's a beautiful work of art, a 16th century oil
classic by Franz Fourbus of the Sermon of John the Baptist. John wore
clothes of camels hair and leather and sandals on his feet! And he
snacked on honey and locusts, of all things. He was a pretty strong
character, yet a free spirit, for he had given up everything to travel and
preach his message of repentance and forgiveness, of a coming Messiah and
judgment. Frederick Buechner, in his book Peculiar Treasures, writes,
"John the Baptist didn't fool around. He lived in the wilderness around
the Dead Sea. He subsisted on a starvation diet, and so did his
disciples. He wore clothes that even the rummage sale people wouldn't
have handled. When he preached, it was fire and brimstone every time.
Some people thought he was
Elijah come back from the grave, and some others thought he was the
Messiah, but John would have none of either. "I'm the one yelling himself
blue in the face in the wilderness," he said, quoting Isaiah." John the
Baptist was controversial! Not at all popular with the political
leadership-the Roman authorities--John did things differently. As a
Nazarite, he could not eat grapes and their products, cut his hair, or
touch a dead body. He would baptize followers into "a new life,"
insisting on using a river or spring. As a result, he had an amazing,
close following of those who aimed to be just like him, those who
sincerely believed the message and the way of life that he preached.
That message and way of life was the secret of John the Baptist's amazing
success. He had such an unbelievable passion for his ministry, such
conviction of belief, that his enthusiasm and power carried his ministry
to a tremendous peak. He lived in the wilderness-something that any
person with difficulties in their life could relate to-yet, in the midst
of that seriously challenging place, he led his followers with great joy
to the Messiah, to Jesus the Christ, knowing deeply that this was his
mission in this life, to simply prepare the way. He believed, without a
doubt, that he, John the Baptist, was the messenger, and that Christ was
the reason for the message.
John the Baptist, the radical, was a leader of such sincerity and strength
that, at first, there were those who questioned who the real Messiah
was-was it John or Jesus? But it was because he lived so completely true
to his faith and to his God that people saw him the way they did. He was
a leader of men and a follower of the way that Jesus led, and he brought
so many others with him. Enlightened, led by God, he brought others to
that light. A voice in the wilderness, John developed a close
community with his followers of the way, bringing them to Christ.
That's the message of John the Baptist for us--John in all of his
uniqueness and using his special gifts--to live our faith with such
conviction and strength, such passion and witness, that we are brought
closer in relationship to our Lord! It's that growing relationship with
Jesus Christ and our God-the God that was birthed anew at Christmas time
in revelation to a needy world-that leads us to become the people of faith
who can then, together, reach out to a hurting world in witness to the God
that helps, heals, and cares for His people, loving intensely through the
worst of times and the greatest of sins-that the world might then be
saved. God that would come to us in the form of a child, an infant who
would save the world with the ultimate love that that infant could offer.
That love is offered to a world in darkness that would be illuminated with
the light of faith brought by those who believe and who pass on that
belief with all of their being.
John the Baptist saw the light, and the coming of the Lord. He has a
message for this church, as well as for the world, for we, too, can follow
his example and be the messengers of faith that illuminate the world with
our lives and with our love. As our church community is strengthened, so
is our ability to respond to the world with our love.
John Huffman describes an unforgettable moment with his daughter after he
had been away from home on an overseas mission trip. As his airplane
landed, he could hardly wait to see his wife and children. But he-and all
of the passengers-were detained in customs for two hours. Finally the
officials allowed him to proceed to the packed lobby, where friends and
relatives were waiting anxiously. He writes:
"There was such a press of bodies, I knew I would not be able to pick my
children out until I walked up the ramp, past security, and got out into
the open. But my three-year-old daughter, who had managed to squeeze her
way to the front of the crowd, began screaming at the top of her lungs,
"Daddy! Daddy! That's my daddy!" She literally flew into my arms and
began kissing and hugging me. What a welcome! I have never felt so loved
and acknowledged in my life. It was a wonderful, fulfilling moment that
even today brings a warm and happy feeling."
Friends, that's what John the Baptist experienced with His God, what
reached him through Jesus Christ, and what is offered to all of us. It's
what we must pass on to others, as each of us becomes a Voice in the
Wilderness to a world in need.
Let us pray:
Loving God, may the light of your love shine through us that we might,
in turn, prepare the way for others to receive your love. Amen.
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