Holden Evening Prayer – Advent Hope: Can I Get A Witness?

John 1:6-8, 19-28

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

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.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

If you tuned into worship last week you may be experiencing a bit of déjà vu.  Didn’t we get the story about John the Baptist last week?  Yep, we did.  Same guy.  Similar story.  Different author.  Different preacher too — which I trust is stating the obvious.

Last week the story came from Mark’s gospel. This week the story is from the Gospel of John (side note: not the same John as the character in the story).  Rest assured, your pastors didn’t make this decision in a COVID fog — though I’ll be the first to admit there’s plenty of that going on in my brain these days. The readings are part of what’s called the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle of readings built around the seasons of the Church year and life of Christ and compiled by representatives of a variety of churches. 

Hearing two stories about John the Baptist two weeks in a row is a little like that favorite story that gets told around the dinner table or the campfire.  The details of the story change a little depending on who’s doing the telling. So what might we learn if we pay attention to the differences between these ancient faith stories? How might both versions enlighten our experience of faith? 

You’ll hear a refrain of two questions in the sermon, questions I asked as I lived with the stories these past weeks:  What’s different about each one? And why does it matter?

Last week the story from Mark’s gospel begins with John the Baptist suddenly appearing in the wilderness, like a monolith (the 12-foot-tall silver structures that have been showing up in random locations recently; see sermon, “Advent Hope: A Work In Progress”). 

That’s different from how today’s story begins. John is not the first one on the scene. Jesus is. John’s story begins with Jesus. Back up just a few verses to where the story starts and we encounter a creation poem: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was in the beginning with God…What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.”  Jesus is the Word made flesh; God in human form. That’s the beginning and then John shows up. John is sent from God. His story flows out of and within the story of Jesus. Who John is can’t be separated from the Creator God.

Why does that matter?  Because the same is true for you. Your story is part of a bigger story — one in which life is valued and love wins. In Pastor Kris’ Advent reflection posted on social media earlier this week she pointed out that we may be in isolation but we are not disconnected. We are forever connected to the love of God in Christ Jesus and we are interconnected one with the other as the body of Christ and as part of a shared humanity created in the image of God. 

It’s why our heart breaks when learning or seeing people suffer and struggle; it’s why we’re moved to help, share resources, work for justice and peace and to seek healing for all. John’s story points us to the truth of our connectedness — with God and each other. It’s truth that strengthens faith and assures you that you belong. 

Even though today’s gospel is clear about John’s origin story, his identity is called into question. This is different from last week’s version. In Mark’s gospel there is no question about who John is. By describing what John looks like and how he’s dressed the people know he’s a prophet: “clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, eating locusts and wild honey” seals it. John is in the company of the greats: Isaiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Micah, Obadiah. John is one of God’s prophets sent to call people back to God, to repent of their sins and to prepare for God’s coming. 

Today’s reading doesn’t give details about John’s dress code or dinner preferences. Instead we get questions — from those in authority — the ones with power and status in the religious community. They want to know: who does John think he is? In the spirit of full disclosure John tells them who he is not. “I am NOT the Messiah.” John doesn’t pretend to be anyone other than who God sent him to be. John uses this moment to be clear.  He is not Jesus. He is not Elijah.  He is not a prophet.  They press for an answer: “Then who are you?”  

“I am the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.” John is only “the Voice”.  John is the messenger, not the message. And it is enough.  

Why does that matter? Because, like John, you are enough. You are a child of God. Your value is not determined by accomplishments or things that get listed on a resume. The voice of your inner critic may be well-rehearsed in telling you you’re not good enough, smart enough, worthy enough to be accepted and loved but Jesus speaks truth to those lies. Jesus is God’s radical expression of love for the world. And that includes you. 

John is a messenger, a voice. It may not seem like much but it is exactly who God empowers him to be. He keeps the focus on the message — on the One who is coming.  The One for whom they’ve been waiting.  The One who is the Son of God. John gives witness to the new thing God is doing and points to the truth of God’s presence among them.

This part of today’s story is different from Mark’s version too. The scene doesn’t include John in the wilderness calling people to confess their sin and return to a right relationship with God through a baptism of repentance. John isn’t called the Baptizer. He is a messenger. He points to Jesus. And when he sees him he declares to others:  “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” That is John’s work — necessary because the people fail to see Jesus:  “Among you stands one you do not know,” John says.

Not recognizing Jesus for who he is is a prominent theme throughout John’s gospel. Nicodemus questions him in the middle of the night, the woman at the well wonders who the man is who speaks to her in broad daylight. Religious leaders challenge his authority; the title written above him on the cross was intended to mock him. After the resurrection, Mary thinks he’s the gardener and the disciples think Jesus is a ghost. John’s purpose in writing the gospel is that we may believe in Jesus and, in believing, have life in his name.  “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the One who sent me.  And whoever sees me sees the One who sent me” (John 13:44)

And why does this matter?  Because we fail to see Jesus too and that fact does not keep him from coming. Jesus keeps showing up. Jesus is here whether we recognize him or not. Jesus lives to draw all people into the way of God.

Later this week many of us will gather virtually to give God thanks and praise for the life and witness of our Pastor Emeritus the Rev. Dr. Philip Quanbeck. He was the visitation pastor here for many years including leading our Sunday morning bible study. He was an incredibly gifted teacher, an absolutely delightful human being with a deep faith and a humble spirit. If you didn’t have a chance to know him in this life — I am truly sorry. 

After learning of his death, Pastor Kris and I shared some of our favorite memories of Phil — one of which was his wisdom about the students he taught while a professor at Augsburg College, now Augsburg University. Phil shared that he made a habit of seeing every student who came into class, reminding himself that each one carried stories and circumstances he would never know. It kept him humble and compassionate. It helped him to honor the complexity and mystery of each person present and to lean into the promise that God was at work in every heart whether Phil saw it or not.  “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger” (Isaiah 52:7). How different the world would be if each of us practiced seeing the complexity and mystery of one another. 

Among you stands one you do not know. This is God’s way of showing up — a quiet strength, a gentle humility, a servant heart of God’s only Son.  He can be easy to miss. Jesus knows something about what it’s like to not be seen and why his mission still continues today: to lift up the lowly, the lost, the least continues still today.  

So keep an eye out for him. Know that where there is healing, love, forgiveness, comfort, release and restoration, Christ is present. 

May God bless you with the gift of faith to see him and to tell others when you do, that all might be hopeful for the Savior who comes.