December 14/15, 2013+
St. Matthew 11:2-10
The Rev. BT Ball
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”
`When things don’t go well, it is then that the questions come. Is Jesus the one? When there is hardship, suffering, death – is He the one, should you look for another? Should you be looking for someone else? Well who else could there possibly be? John for all his preaching ended up in prison and then with his head on a platter. So he won’t do. There are plenty of prophets out there – but the shine comes off of them pretty quickly. Around for a while, powerful sermons, but eventually scandal or some other foolishness brings them down. Should you turn to yourself and your own devices? Pull yourself up, be all you can be? Subscribe to Self magazine, read self-help books? Be self-sufficient. Self is the problem to begin with, remember the hardship, the trouble, much that is self-imposed. No one makes you drink too much. No one forces you to click to the websites that degrade you and your marriage. No one compels you to speak in harsh words. No one is making you horde all your money, but yourself. And certainly no one is keeping you from hearing the Word of God. Sin is the problem, and that is deep in the self. It is the fallen nature of all children of Adam. It is the sin-sick self that is the source of trouble, yours and others. It is why they hurt you, it is why you hurt them. It is really the source of all the trouble, a rebellious self; that was in Adam, for in him we are all one. In him we all die. It is the sinful self that is source of sickness and disease, of hardship and suffering and even the just reward of death.
And so what struggling disciples need is not self help, but the help that only Jesus can provide. What is needed is the works of Christ and to hear of them. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers and cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And there are more. John prepared the way, he pointed to the comfort that is given by them – the self-sacrifice of Jesus. The sinless Lamb of God gives himself into the hands of sinful men, who mock and beat and spit and scourge and crucify him. These are the works of Christ. A spotless perfect death, a glorious resurrection from the dead, a triumphant return to his Father’s right hand, the sending of the Holy Spirit; all this for you and for your salvation from sin and death and from the self. All this to create a new and right spirit within you by the forgiveness of your sins.
It is the work of Christ that you are to see above all is the forgiveness of your sins. This is what John lead the way in preaching, it was promised of him at his birth by his father Zechariah, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” St. Luke 1:76-79 The way in which your God wants you know His salvation is in the forgiveness of your sins. This was purchased and won for you by the Son of God who came for you, to have you for Himself, His dear one – to guide you to the way of peace. That way is the way of Jesus, his suffering and death for you, his life for you. There is no one else to go looking for. There is no need to look within your heart for make things right, or for self-esteem, or self-sufficiency. All of that comes from Christ, who has made you His own, redeemed you by His blood, and by His spirit, sanctifies and keeps you in the one true faith. So you are not a reed swaying in the wind. When the hardship, the trouble, the heartache, the sadness, the grief and even the guilt come, what you have are the works of Christ, and his Words, and His promises, His Body, His Blood, His death, His life. Himself. He is the one, who has come to bring comfort to His people. Peace be with you, says your God. There is no one else to go looking for.
Amen.
