Advent 3
15
December 2013
Matthew
11:2-15
Well, let’s just have a miserable Christmas! Ever
heard that? Ever said those words? Ever pondered those thoughts? Truth be told,
there are many these days who are thinking this very thing. To them this will
be a dismal, gloomy, depressing Christmas. It really does stink to be them. And they have John the Baptizer to join them
in their misery.
Consider John’s circumstances. Jesus compares him to
the great seer of old the prophet Elijah. “And
if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” Elijah
that great man of God; after standing down the prophets of Baal found himself
on the run. There was a bounty on his head. Wicked queen Jezebel wanted him
dead. This was not an idle threat. She had the power to do it. You didn’t want
to cross that woman! She was pure evil!
Elijah was the only one left. Only he was faithful. Or,
so he thought. The Lord had to remind him that there were still seven thousand
reserved for Himself who had not bowed their knee to Baal. Elijah, that mighty
man for God had his moments of doubt. He knew what was like to live in fear.
John could
relate to Elijah’s sufferings. He finds himself in prison. He was there because
he dared to speak the truth. He had faithfully proclaimed Jesus to be the Coming
One. Filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth; he leapt for joy when he was
in the presence of Jesus, when Mary’s word reached his ear. He was consistent. He had called both young and old, rich and
poor, the weak, the powerful…to repentance.
What got
him into trouble is that fact, he would not back down from the rich and
powerful King Herod. It could have been easy to remain preaching at the banks
of the Jordan. But he confronted the king in his court in Jerusalem. What goes
on behind closed doors is usually nobody’s business. However, John made it his
business. He called Herod out because of the open affair Herod was having with Herodias
the wife of his brother Phillip. That’s right! Herod was having an open affair
with his sister-in-law!
This
confrontation had landed him in prison. It would not go well with John. There
would be no release. There would be no miracle. There would be no divine
intervention this time. He would die a horrible death.
Circumstances
as they are cause some to question. “Are
you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” We are
living outside of Eden. “From the days of
John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to
violence, and violent people have been raiding it.” There is suffering.
There is persecution. There is violence.
During
this time of the year, there are people who do not share the joy or the
merriment of the season. Something
troubles them. Memories of broken relationships, missed opportunities, the
expectation for a better life that just hasn’t happened.
Because of
these or other events, their hearts are broken. They too are imprisoned. Their
hopes have been dashed by the circumstances of life. Who is this Messiah? Who
is this Jesus? Who speaks to me in the prison of my own life? Can He speak to
my situation? Or do I look for another?
This Jesus
is the one who broke the darkness of our world to enter time and space. He came
into this world to take on flesh, to bear your sin, to take on your pains, and
sorrows, to bear your sin in His own body. He is the Savior that you need. You
need not look for another. He came to be your Savior, friend and brother.
Life
sometimes is not fair. Sometimes the deck is stacked against you. Sometimes
easy breaks don’t come your way. Yet
your Lord knows all too well your needs. He has the sufficiency to supply them.
He looks beyond the circumstances of your life to offer the peace no one else
can offer.
Many are the trials I face Lord. Protect me and guide
me through them all! Many are the temptations before me Lord. Give me courage
to overcome them. Many are the sorrows and afflictions before me Lord. Give me
a merciful heart to help and silence of love where I cannot. Lord, prepare for me a heart steadfast in
love; a soul filled with loving kindness and a spirit of right judgment in
every circumstance.
Lord, let at
last Thine angels come, To Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home, That I may die
un-fearing; And in its narrow chamber keep My body safe in peaceful sleep Until
Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me. That these mine eyes with joy
may see, O Son of God, thy glorious face, My Savior and my fount of grace. Lord
Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise thee
without end.[1]
[1]
Lutheran Service Book, Lord, The I love with All My Heart stanza 3; © 2006
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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