Sermon December 16, 2012        John Baptizes with Repentance Jesus with the Holy Spirit and Fire

Scriptures

Old Testament  Zephaniah 3:14-20

The popular notion of the “day of the Lord” (1:14) provides the context for Zephaniahs message just as it does for Amos.  Anticipating their own exaltation and their enemies’ humiliation on this day, God’s people developed a false sense of security that engendered ambivalence toward God (1:12). 

Today people have a false sense of security thinking all is well when we are on the verge of the Notable Day of the Lord to come. There is war all over the world, many are jobless, some are homeless, the economy looks bleak what will the year 2013 bring?

Addressing the pride that underlies this misconception, the prophet portrays this day of God’s visitation as one in which the people/’s conduct will circle back upon them.  Those who have trusted in themselves will have nowhere to turn but themselves, while those who have depended upon the Lord will find refuge in God.

The concluding hymn celebrates the mutual love, joy and fellowship between God and people as Jerusalem sings to the Lord, and the Lord sings over the people (3: 14-20).

Responsive Reading. Isaiah 12:2-6  UMH 847

Isaiah 12 , a prophetic song in six verses, burst with joy and promises God’s presence.  Its joyful message fits well the traditional theme of the Third Sunday of Advent.  Joy is commonly the theme for the Third  Sunday of Advent. 

Clearly there is joy in this beautiful passage that ends the first section of Isaiah, joy now known, as well as joy anticipated, for the ways in which God redeems and restores God’s people.

In the church world there is grace  and salvation is always in tension with the world of meritocracy and privilege.  The clash between these two worlds is reflected in this lesson from Isaiah.

Isaiah 12 looks forward to the day when God’s anger over the people’s turning away from the TORAH is turned into a word of comfort.

Thus Isaiah 12 not only anticipates a day when Jerusalem will be destroyed and the people taken into exile; it also anticipates homecoming.  Salvation as homecoming is noteworthy because it is a Gift.  In Isaiah’s view, the people may have done nothing to deserve the gift.

When Goid gave of Godself in Christ, we humans even exploited the gift of incarnation.

Even though we use the language of suffering for the crucifixion of Christ, The resurrection is a witness to the fact that for God, to give is to gain, because the Christ event empowers us to see the win-win world of the gift-giving God who frees us from the win-lose world based in meritocracy that never satisfies, or in privilege that is always abused.

Epistle- Philippians 4: 4-7

On this third Sunday of Advent the pink candle symbolizes joy. The lectionary offers one of the most encouraging passages  in all of Paul’s epistles….

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord always…..

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.

During Advent attention is needed to the distinction between the material happiness that the commercial world promises and the abiding joy of Christian faith that cannot be bought at the mall but can sustain us, regardless of what ever may come forth.

Gospel  Reading ( Please Stand if Able) Luke 3:7-18

The passage opens with : O generaton of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

And the people asked.

What should we do?

John gave them specifics. Give away one of your coats. Share your meat. To the publicans he said: Exact no more than that which is appointed you.  To the Soldiers he said: Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages.

They continued to question and wonder if He (John) were the Christ or not.

What should we do?

John said: I Baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming: I am not worthy to untie the throng of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost  and with Fire.

Have you heard John preach? I have. I grew up under this type of preaching and at all revivals from evangelist. John’s message never included the good news of the grace of God.  John prepared the way but did not live to blend his ministry with that of Jesus. My first sermon on the radio was a message like John’s back in 1977. I have grown in grace through the years.

He never did get to hear Jesus say, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).  Jesus was baptized by John, but Jesus did not use the method and mood and emphasis that characterized John’s message.

Jesus calls hears to repentance and to lives that bear “good fruit,” but his message was dominated by love.

When John was imprisoned he like most humans began to question the situation. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus  “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Jesus said: Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense in me.”                           

The teachings of Jesus opened up a whole new and enlightened understanding of the nature of God.  It is difficult for those of us who have inherited two thousand years of theological explanation of the Incarnation to realize what an incredibly joyful surprise it must have been to the first disciples of Jesus to hear him say, “He who has seen me has seen the father”.

In Christ Jesus, we have the wonderful insight that not only is Jesus like God, but God is like Jesus and always has been. It is clear that whatever John did or did not understand, he prepared the way for the one who gave us that insight.  John had a special role in God’s drama of bringing salvation to all humankind.

Prayer

Amighty God, who came to us long ago in the birth of Jesus Christ, be born in us anew today by the power of your Holy Spirit. We offer our lives as home to you and ask for grace and strength to live as your faithful, joyful children always. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.