John 1:6-8, 19-28
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Conversation:
How many have gone for a job interview?
What does the employer ask?
How would it work out if the applicant spent most of his/her time saying what they are not? (I am not a welder, I don’t do well with people, I don’t like cattle etc.)
Sermon: “I am not, but I am.”
“The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
When we are asked… who we are… most of us like to wax eloquent describing our selves. We describe our vocations in great detail. Pastors describe our selves as Lutheran orUnitedChurch pastors… as rural or urban pastors…as pastors working in shared ministry of a specific community. Agricultural producers describe themselves as grain, mixed, or livestock. They may be even more specific defining a particular type of produce like cattle rancher or pure breeder.
We also describe ourselves as male or female… according to our marital status… and whether we are parents or grandparents…which lead us into much more detail about ourselves.
We describe ourselves according to what is important to us…and what interests us. We gush about our hobbies… whether gardening, sewing, or fishing. We describe the radio stations we listen to… the type of music which interests us…whether we do or don’t like sports. In short we have a lot to say when we are asked to describe ourselves.
If we are asked we can do a decent job of describing John. In our picture of him…he wears rough clothing and his hair is mussed up. He eats foods found in the wild. He stands on the bank of the river preaching… sometimes chastising a crowd of people or is standing in the water… baptizing. He seems to have a following of people who are gathered around agreeing with him. His wild appearance and wild talk is found in other Biblical books such as Mark and Matthew. We would have no concrete description of John if we relied only on today’s reading.
In the gospel for today, when John is asked to say something about himself… we are struck by how John describes himself. He is not very good at describing his credentials…it seems that he has no great achievements to crow over… Rather he spends a great deal of time giving unsatisfactory answers… about who he is not. He is not the Messiah. He is not Elijah. He is not Moses. He is not worthy to tie the thongs of the one who is coming after him. If he was giving these answers while sitting across the desk from a potential employer…we could assume the result…and it would not be good. The priests and Levites have nothing to take back to those who have sent them.
Even the narrator does not help us develop a very clear picture of John…by also using descriptions of what he is not … saying he is not the light. In this gospel even when Jesus shows up in the same place as John…he is not baptized by John.
In frustration those who have been sent ask; “If you are not who we are looking and waiting for why are you here and why are you baptizing?” “Why?” That is our question too…why has John the Baptist such a place of honor during this time of Advent. While Baptism is such an important sacrament in the Christian Church…most church bodies have emphasized that John’s baptism was not as complete or as relevant as Christian Baptism. So our question remains; “Why?”
Thankfully there is an answer… And it begins with the difference between John and God… As a mere human John cannot do what God does… he cannot be the light…he cannot save the world and he cannot be the Messiah. While John cannot be God…he has a vital role. While he is not the Messiah nor a prophet …while he is not the light… John’s job is as a witness who testifies. John’s job is simple…but very important… While it is important…its emphasis has very little to do with him. In fact according to his own words John is unworthy for his job. He is God’s messenger…whose sole purpose is to focus people’s attention to where is ought to be centered. Rather than seeking attention for himself…John directs our eyes toward God…encouraging us to look very closely at what God is doing. God is sending the son…the Messiah… God’s light into the world. As witnesses testify in court are sworn to tell the truth…John’s testimony is about the true Son of God… which helps us see God’s love…and through our own eyes… we may come to believe. John is an evangelist who directs and opens our eyes to God.
We also have a role in God’s plan for the world. And our role is very similar to John’s. Similar to John we are not…nor can we be the Messiah… we are not…nor can we be the light. Similar to John we are unworthy for the job God gives us… But though we are unworthy… as people who have witnessed his testimony for us…we are also called to be witnesses. We called to direct people’s attention to God and what God does. We are called to proclaim God’s love in what we say and in what we do. We are called to help the world to believe that the Messiah is sent into the lives of everyone needing it.
So let us be like John…preparing the way of the Lord. During this Christmas season let us see God’s presence in our lives. Let us be witnesses who testify and cry out God’s Good News which is for all people. Let us be messengers speaking God’s love for this world. Thanks be to God. Amen
