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INJ
St Matthew 11:2-10
'The Coming One'
Divine Service
Gaudate, the Third Sunday in Advent | December 16, 2007
Dear Saints,
Advent is really the season of John the Baptist. He is, after all, the preparer, the way-maker and highway builder. Malachi promised that John would come in last week's lesson, and this week as well, and John has also taken up his place in our Gospel text, and will again next Sunday.
John was a peculiar prophet, clothed in camel skin, and he always had strange pulpits, river banks and a jail cell. That is where we find him in this morning's Gospel reading.
The Baptist was thrown in prison for preaching the law to Herod [see 4:12; 14:3], and from his cell he hears of Jesus' works. John, then, still in contact with his disciples, sends them to Jesus asking the central question of the text, and really the central question of all theology, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” [11:3]
But before we get to John's question, we have to take up another question that the text raises, and that is a question regarding the state of John the Baptist. Was John really questioning if Jesus was the right person, or was he simply guiding his disciples to Jesus? Was John having doubts about Jesus, or was He just sending his disciples to learn of Jesus for themselves?
This question comes up because we seem to have a hard time imagining John with questions or doubts. Surely John, the greatest of the prophets, never wavered or questioned the things that he had seen and heard, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove, and the voice of the heavenly Father commending His Son to the world. But John had promised the Messiah's grace as well as His judgment. Jesus, it seems to him, is only come with grace and mercy. Could John really have had this burning question, this doubt that Jesus was the Coming One?
When we turn to the Scriptures we see that it is not strange for the prophets of the word of God to themselves doubt the promises they have been given. Consider, for example, Elijah in the wilderness, who after defeating the prophets of Baal, despises even of his own life, 1 Kings 19:1-10. Or the Psalms that beg to Lord to listen, and turn His face back to us, and to return to His promised kindness.
Not that doubt or despair is even encouraged in the Scriptures, it is always sin. I remember a few years ago working with youth groups, and all the “leadership” training was about teaching the youth to doubt, to question. “It's okay to wonder about your faith, to question things.” But this mushy nonsense it the exact opposite of what the Scriptures teach. Faith is the opposite of doubt, and even more, the enemy of doubt.
But try as we may, doubts and questions and creeping despair will come. We are in the world, made of flesh and in our baptism we are marked with a bull's eye for the devil's flaming darts. Like John the Baptist in prison, doubts and questions will come to us as well, especially when we are sick or in trouble or when death draws near. But, dear Christians, our faith takes up arms against doubt to push it back and fight it off.
This is, in fact, the stunning definition of worship we find in our Lutheran Confessions: “faith fighting against despair.” [Treatise 44]. Did you her that? “Faith fighting against despair.” All of the Lord's dear Christians are locked in this battle, their faith pushing back and fighting against despair of God's promises, despair of His Word, despair of His goodness and His grace and His Gospel.
This is why we pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Remember you catechism, “God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil. The world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.”
So it is that in the midst of his struggles John knows where to look, who to ask for help, John turns to Jesus Himself. Let us learn from John and follow his example; it to Jesus that John looks to for answers and assurance. John's faith was not quenched, but strained. Faith fighting against despair, and that faith rightly looks to Jesus to know, are you the Coming One?
And Jesus, in answering John's question, fills him and us with great comfort and joy. Jesus strengthens John's faith and the faith of his disciples by reporting the miracles He has preformed. These are His witnesses [see John 5:36; 10:25]. But there is more to Jesus' answer than a list of His miraculous accomplishments, for these things are marks of the Messiah that were promised by the prophets.
That is what is behind this name, “The Coming One.” This is a title of the Messiah, the long expected and promised Savior of the world. [see Psalm 40:7; 118:26; Daniel 7:13] When Jesus reports to John all the miracles He has preformed He is quoting the prophets and the promise that the Messiah would come with healing in His wings. Consider Isaiah 35:4-6:
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
[See also: Psalm 22:26; 72:12,13; 146:8; Isaiah 29:18; 42:6,7; 43:8; 61:1-3, 66:2; Zechariah 11:7]
We find in Jesus' answer that comfort comes from the promises of the Scriptures. “Yes,” is Jesus' answer to John's question, “Yes, I am the Promised Coming One.” Jesus settles the questions and doubts of John with the promises of the Holy Scriptures, and so it is with us. Into the midsts of our doubts and fears and despair the Lord sends His word of promise and truth, His Word of Gospel, the forgiveness of all of our sins.
Advent is the season of John, the preparer and way maker. But John, like all his brothers before him, the prophets, directs us to Jesus. John is the greatest of the prophets because he could to with his hand what all the other prophets could only do with their mouth: point to Jesus.
And yet, says Jesus, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. Why? Did you know that John is the only person in the Gospels to die and stay dead? Every other person that we know of who dies while Jesus is still alive is raised from the dead, everyone but John. He is the last and greatest prophet, who like all the prophets before him, did not get to see with his eyes that which he promised and foretold: the death of the Messiah to take away our sins.
But we who have come after have seen this greatest of visions, the eternal Son of God on the cross for us. We know His suffering, His bleeding, and dying, and we know that it was for us and for our salvation. Let us then, together with John the Baptist, put away our fears and doubts, our despair and despondency, or better, let us have these things put away by the Word and work of our Lord Jesus, the Coming One, the One who has come for you. His Word is true, and His Word has cleansed you and made you whole. Amen.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Hope Lutheran Church | Aurora, CO