December 7, 2003 at St Mark Church in Norman, OK
Baruch 5: 1-9 + Philippians 1: 4-6, + Luke 3: 1-3
This week and next we shall hear of this one called: “The Baptist.” With great precision, Luke puts him into history – into time: Tiberius in his fifteenth year, Pilate is in Judea, Herod is in Galilee. It is Roman time. Annas and Caiaphas are High Priests.
It is also Jewish time. What Luke reveals is real. It happens in time. It is a matter of history. It is not a matter of the future. The spirit of anticipation in this season is not about what God is going to do. It has already happened. The spirit of anticipation in this season is about what we are going to do because of what has happened.
As we begin again in this season to tell the story of our God, and refresh our memories of that God’s presence and action in our lives, Luke suggests that this man John is a good model of faith. His life passes before us like a play in three acts.
In the first, he steps onto the stage of life from the desert where in trial and danger he has prepared himself and clarified is mission. He is strange and wild. He says the same thing over and over: “Prepare the way of the Lord……. Prepare the way of the Lord…..Prepare the way of the Lord.” And his image of this Lord is wilder than he is. It is an image of wrath and punishment. It is an image that probably reflects more of the expectations of the time and these people oppressed by the Romans than the truth. The fact that people seemed to rally around would suggest they liked the idea, the image of wrath. And as is often the case, it was probably the “wish” of the people –
that God would “give it to them” – those oppressors, those enemies. Of course, not to us – but to them……. they think. John keeps saying: Here he comes! Get ready. It’s going to be scary! And who comes? Jesus. It’s as though he suggests “Ivan the terrible” is coming, and a gentleman with a tennis racket walks on.Curtain. End of scene one.
John gets over his surprise and goes on with his business: Baptism. Folks are coming from everywhere to escape the coming wrath. Just in case it does happen. Out of the crowd steps Jesus. John says: “What are you doing here? You should baptize me.” Jesus says: “Let’s do it your way.” Curtain, end of scene two.
John is in prison wondering about what got him there and why. He knows he did everything he was supposed to do, and did it well. But this Jesus; he doesn’t seem to get it right, so, John sends his friends to clear up the matter. Jesus sends them back filled with sadness that he can’t be what John wants him to be, and sad that the ways of God seem strange to this man of God. True to his own vision, Jesus tells them to report what they have seen – touching deeply in their memories prophetic words and images they know very well about the blind, the deaf, and the poor.
And then he calls after them and adds: “Blessed is the man who is not scandalized by my behavior.” (Don’t lose faith and give up because I do not do it your way.)
In the final scene, Jesus turns to those around him revealing the depth of his own emotions and says: You think he’s not a prophet? I tell you, John is the greatest man who ever lived. And yet, the least member of my kingdom is greater.”
And the people turn to one another and almost think aloud: “It is a strange kingdom where the least member is greater than the greatest prophet who ever lived. It is a strange God who exalts the humble and serves the servant. It is almost enough to make one humble and make one a servant. The lights go down, and it’s the end of scene three.
The spirit of anticipation in this season is not about what God is going to do.
It has already happened. The spirit of anticipation in this season is about what we are going to do because of what has happened.