Grace and Peace to you from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in
the truth, for His word is truth. Amen
Third Sunday in Advent (2009)
Shall we look for another?
Luke 7:18-28 (ESV)
The
disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, [19] calling two
of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one
who is to come, or shall we look for another?" [20] And when the men had come to him, they
said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who
is to come, or shall we look for another?' "[21] In that hour he healed
many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were
blind he bestowed sight. [22] And he
answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind
receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the
dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. [23] And blessed is the one who is not
offended by me."
[24] When
John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the
wind? [25] What then did you go out to
see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid
clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. [26] What then did you go out to see? A
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [27] This is he of whom it is written,
"
'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who
will prepare your way before you.'
[28] I tell
you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is
least in the
The season of Advent is a
busy time for the church; it is a time of much preaching. However, not all
Advent preaching is good. Unfortunately there are many false prophets and
preachers who go out into the world during this season and preach a message
other than the One who is to come. So how can you tell what is good Advent
preaching? It is simple; a truly God-pleasing Advent sermon points men’s hearts
to Jesus, the One who is coming.
Divine approval of our Lord Jesus as the Christ was apparent
throughout His public ministry as it was demonstrated time and again by His
actions, particularly His miracles. This very theme of the miracles of Christ being
a true witness to His fulfillment of prophecy can be seen in His response to
the disciples of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel Reading. Truth is, as the
reports of Jesus’ miracles spread throughout
John the Baptist was special
because he had been chosen by God to be the forerunner of Christ. The Old
Testament speaks of him in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 as a herald preparing
the highway for the king. Thus, when we speak of Advent preachers, we think
immediately of John the Baptist. John had performed his duty faithfully. He had
preached repentance and faith without fear or favor. Yes, he had even dared to
tell King Herod that he was an adulterer, an open sinner, because he was living
with his brother’s wife. Such honest preaching had offended and angered Herod
and especially his wife Herodias, who had abandoned her real husband to become
a queen. Herod took offense at John’s rebuke and had him cast into prison.
Thus, John was imprisoned because he was a faithful
prophet of God, calling sin what it is; an abomination to God. He was steadfast
and blunt; moreover his stinging remarks did not earn him merit points with the
ruling Sanhedrin or Herod. Truth is, when someone is rebuked because of their
sinfulness, it is not unusual for them to react negatively toward the person
doing the rebuking. In fact, it is more common for the sinful to take offense
and react bitterly toward their accuser than for them to seek forgiveness. This
is in fact what happened when John the Baptist rebuked Herod for living with
his brother’s wife. Herod got mad because his sinfulness had been exposed and
laid in clear view, for all the people see.
However, prison life
couldn’t stop John, he continued to preach. His one great purpose had been to
point men’s hearts to Christ. He had been given the gift of faith to believe
that Jesus was truly the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. To aide him in
his ministry, John had a few faithful disciples, even some who served him while
he lay in prison. But it seems that not all of his disciples fully believed
what John preached about Jesus. Some of them doubted. They saw how poor and
humble Jesus was. Thus, they could hardly believe that this poor rabbi, known
as Jesus could have come from God to be the Ruler and Redeemer of Israel.
It is while John is in Herod’s dungeon that his
disciples bring him reports of Jesus’ remarkable healing powers; especially the
account of raising the widow’s son in the city of
It seems strange for John to ask such a question.
Could John have lost his faith in Jesus? I don’t think so. John the Baptist had
been brought to faith while he was still in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth.
Moreover, when his time came, he obediently went into the desert to lead the
way for Jesus, baptizing and preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He declared, when he was asked if he were the Christ that he was not worthy to
untie the sandal of the One who was coming after him (John 1:27). Yet, so many
Christians, upon learning of this account ask, “Is John’s question contrary to
his profession of faith?” Let us then with the aide of the Holy Spirit listen
to our Lord Jesus as He preached to the people, leading them in the truth.
John tells his disciples, go
and ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"(v.
19). Are You really the Messiah, for whom Israel has been waiting
according to the Old Testament promises, or are You just another prophet who
has come to tell us that we must wait for another?
Now that is good Advent
preaching: To direct everyone to go with all their questions and doubts
directly to Jesus. What better source for the answers to our Spiritual
questions than Jesus Himself? However, Jesus is no longer physically among us
as in the days of John the Baptist. How, then, can men’s hearts be directed to
Him? How can we get our questions answered? There is only one way, turn to His
word. Our Lord Jesus testifies to this truth when He says, “If you abide in My word, you are
My disciples indeed. And you
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
If John the Baptist were living today, he would say to all of us in this Advent
season: “Read your Bible if you really want to celebrate Christmas properly, because
therein you shall see Jesus as He truly is.”
When John’s disciples came
to Jesus and asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"(v.
20), our Lord was busy healing people of their diseases, plagues and
evil spirits. When He was finished, He turned to John’s disciples and said, “Go
and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the
lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the
poor have good news preached to them.
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (vv.22-23).
All the glorious things
which the Messiah was to do, things which seemed impossible for man were now
being done by Jesus. Accordingly, the answer was plain: Was He the One that
should come? Certainly He was; only the most stubborn of fools would deny this
truth because all of Jesus’ works and all His preaching proved it.
Therein lays the test of a
truly God-pleasing Advent preacher today: Does he turn men’s hearts to Jesus? How
about you, do you talk and preach after this manner during this Advent season?
Do you know people who are approaching the festival of Christmas this year
without that firm conviction that the little baby born in a manger in
When the disciples of John
leave, Jesus then takes the opportunity to show those in the crowd who had
heard His discussion with them that John the Baptist has always been a truly
God-pleasing Advent preacher. Jesus asks them; “What did you go out into the
wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (v. 24).
In God’s Kingdom there are many preachers, clergymen
and laymen that are reeds easily shaken by the wind. They speak only that which
pleases men. If they know a man is guilty of sin, they will be careful not to
condemn that sin in his presence in order not to lose his favor. They resort to
political correctness and misplaced tolerance in order to go along to get along
or they take the attitude, let’s agree to disagree. This is not so with John.
He spoke the same whether to the poorest Jewish beggar, the rich Pharisee, or
even proud King Herod. His message was: “Repent, and humble yourself before
God.” Moreover, the contrary winds of human reason could not shake him. He was
no reed to be swayed by the winds of human opinion. He remained firm as a rock,
even if it meant being cast into prison. He would not deny the truth; He would
not displease His Lord.
Jesus continues: “What
then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who
are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts” (v.
25). John, as we all know, did
not seek riches or selfish gain for himself. He did not come in soft clothing
and rich raiment. He came clad in camel’s hair and a leather girdle tied about
him. He served and preached not for riches sake, but because he was sent by God
to lead men to Jesus.
Today we see many preachers
clothed in soft garments preaching a god who will reward their listeners with
economic gain if they but trust in him and give handsomely to the church. They
deny creeds which attest to true faith and instead require deeds that enslave
the believer to the yoke of the Law. However, the reward of our Lord is
eternal life which comes only through repentance and faith.
Jesus asks once more; “What
then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a
prophet” (v. 26). John the Baptist was not a reed shaken in the wind,
nor was he a man in soft, fine clothing, but he was a prophet, even more than a
prophet. In what way? Jesus answers: “Behold, I send my messenger before your
face, who will prepare your way before you” (v. 27). No other prophet
had ever been foretold of by God, only John the Baptist. Isaiah and Malachi both
had prophesied about his coming as the forerunner of Jesus. That made him more
than a prophet. Furthermore, all of the prophets could only say, “Jesus is
coming, believe, and wait.” But John could say, Jesus is here. Believe and come
to Him. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John
1:29). Thus John was the messenger going ahead of Jesus. In every sense
he was a truly God-pleasing Advent preacher, preparing the way of the Lord.
But you and I are living in
the Advent season of 2009 and we have an opportunity to be even greater than
John the Baptist because when John preached, Jesus’ great work of redemption
was just beginning. He had not yet suffered under Pontius Pilate, He had not
died or been buried, He had not risen from the dead. But now He has. Therefore,
we are blessed because we see and live the completed work of the risen Lord. We
know it is finished; the Father’s anger is appeased in the atoning sacrifice of
His Son. Our sins are forgiven, and we are free from Satan, death and hell,
completely and eternally free. Therefore, how much better Advent preachers we
ought to be! How zealously we, both pastors and laity, should direct men’s
hearts to Jesus! In a world where there is so much fear and doubt and unbelief
and worry and care we are called upon to stand firm and not to bend to the
whims of men. Rather, we ought to tell men what John told his disciples: “Don’t
seek elsewhere, go to Jesus, and see for yourself whether He is the true
Messiah, the only Savior of your soul?” Amen.
May the Peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.