Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Sermon
People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
We are restless people. We are not contented satisfied people. We continually desire something better. Whether we are rich or poor…whether we are controlled by others or are completely free… whether we are at war or not at war…we find it very difficult to feel true peace. So we struggle all of our lives looking for that ever elusive peace and contentment.
During the last year people in Arab countries have been expressing their discontent with their leaders…and their desire for a new peace. Citizens from country after country have gathered in their parks and squares to express their disapproval with their leaders. Then in the summer more people from European countries ofGreece,Portugal,Spain, andItalyalso started expressing their discontent. Even inBritain, theUnited States,France, and at home here inCanadadiscontent is also becoming very real.
Through all the demonstrations…it seems evident that people are all unhappy and dissatisfied with the way things are. In some countries they have thrown out one leader only to discover that things are not better and may becoming worse. Their people are still being imprisoned …tortured …and dying. In some countries the struggle seems to be escalating with no sign of and ending. In our country protestors have been evicted from parks and squares. While people are expressing discontent it also seems evident that the protestors have no real vision or single united idea. Unsure of what it will be…protestors just want change… They talk about democracy… but in democratic countries discussion centers around how democracy is not working for the 99%.
In today’s gospel there is also a gathering of people… Not in city square …but they are gathering on the banks of theJordan… because they have heard about a new dynamic voice crying out in the wilderness. They are leaving the city. They are coming out into the wilderness, away from the comforts of home….to place where food, expensive clothing, and shelter are out of place… and where only wild foods are available.
They come to hear a charismatic wild man, John, who is preaching about God. This wild man’s message and reputation has raised their expectations. In the manner of the Old Testament Hebrew prophets…John calls on the people, to repent, to turn away from their sinful ways…and change the old systems that oppress. John attracts so many people to make the pilgrimage out to the wilderness to hear him.
They are convinced that John is special and has been chosen by God. When they see him and hear this man speak… They believe that he is a prophet or the long awaited Messiah… are moved to repent… and then to be baptized or ritually washed in the River Jordan. When they confess their sin, and are baptized…they believe God will bring them freedom and peace which they yearn for.
We have modern politicians…who see themselves as modern Messiahs… They promise prosperity, peace, and contentment in our land… They promise that our country will set the example for human rights in the world. But regardless of who it is and who they represent…no political leader is able to deliver on their promises.
Today, in the wilderness the people are gathering ready to follow a new voice… They would anoint John a new leader even though he makes no promises. They enthusiastically want to follow him… and would anoint him the Messiah. But John-a humble man- protests… because he is not the Messiah. John emphasizes, “I am only the messenger sent ahead. I am only a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.’”
Even though the people are ready to follow him… John points them in the direction of the true Messiah. Even though he has the power to attract a large following…John says the one who is following will have much more power; so much so that he will not even be worthy to be his servant. John’s vocation is to prepare the way… so when God’s anointed one comes the people will be ready… to see and accept the real Messiah. His message prepares people’s hearts to look for the promised Messiah….It prepares the seed bed, so when the seed is sown that it will take root and grow. It widens, levels, and straightens the road of the Lord…. John comes proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin and to point the way to God’s chosen anointed Son.
This baptism of repentance sounds very much like our weekly act of confession…in which we confess that again for another week…we have sinned against God in thought word and deed…we have not loved God with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors…we have once again have failed to do God’s will…and we ask for God’s forgiveness. Without fail… because of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love… we receive the entire forgiveness for all our sins. God does not hold back on any sins…in God’s eyes all sins are forgiven without reserve.
Very often this act of confession and forgiveness is placed at the very beginning of our church service. As completely forgiven people…we are able to respond to God’s faithful and steadfast love… Our eyes are opened…Our ears are opened…And our hearts are opened…to accept and embrace God’s love and desire for us. We see God’s love differently…We hear God’s story differently…And we are able to open our hearts more completely to God’s love for us.
As Christians we have similar roles… to John’s in God’s advent story. We are called to show people God’s road… straight and wide … As Christians we are called to help them to examine themselves… giving them the opportunity to change from walking away from God…to instead turn around and walk toward God. To those who do make that walk to God…we are called to announce God’s entire forgiveness for all people…
This role is difficult… because we are sinners… and find it hard to forgive, as God forgives… We also find it difficult to assure them about God’s forgiveness. Fortunately God understands… how our human nature. And God sends the anointed one…God’s very own Son…as the undeniable proof of God’s faithful and steadfast love for us. Jesus the Son of God is the ONE…the One who saves us. We are not worthy to untie the thongs of his sandals, because he is the Son of God. We are unworthy and unfit to do the duty of a simple servant… to care for the feet of our Lord and Savior.
But the strangest thing about the Messiah…and God’s Good News is that we are not his servants…and are not expected to be… Instead Jesus, Son of God, becomes our servant…who cares for us and about us… He takes our sins from us and carries it to the cross… where he drops them off… forgiving us and giving us new life.
In return for our forgiveness and new life, let us be like John the Baptist pointing the way to Jesus the Messiah. Let us level the road way to Jesus…and to God where they may find also salvation…and be baptized by the Holy Spirit. And let us all live in peace. Thanks be to our God. Amen
