Third Sunday of Advent (16 Dec. 2018)

Be Prepared!

And the disciples of John told him all these things, and John summoned to himself two of his disciples he sent them to the Lord saying “Are you the one who is coming or are we to look for a different one?”  When the men had come to Him they said “John the Baptist sent us to you saying ‘Are you the one who is coming or are we to look for a different one?’”  In that hour He had healed many with diseases and torments and evil spirits, and many blind He granted the ability to see.  And He answered them saying “Go yourselves, tell John the things you saw and heard, the blind regain sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead roused, the poor have the good news preached for them, and blessed is the one who shall not offended by me.”  When the messengers of John had gone He began to speak to the crowds concerning John “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  What, then, did you go out to see?  A man dressed in soft robes?  Behold, the ones in fine clothing and exist in luxury in the palaces.  What, then, did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, indeed, I say to you, and greater than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it has been written 'Behold I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  I say to you, no one born of women is greater than John.  But the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  Luke 7:18-28

The third week of Advent is traditionally focused on joy.  Hence the rosy colored vestments.  But John really isn't the typical "rainbows and sunshine" preacher.  Especially right now.

The last prophet, sent to prepare the hearts that had strayed from God, was in prison.  And not like prisons today, or even prisons back in the 1800s.  Like, a prison that makes the Bastille look like a Sandals resort.

So is it understandable that John asks is Jesus is really the Messiah?  This is the guy who, while still in the womb, was jumping in excitement knowing that he was in the same room as the Savior.  And he had no fear speaking truth to power.  So why ask this now?  Why not when Christ was at the river, being baptized?

But John's question is understandable.  He knows that the end, for him, is soon, and he wants to know that he hasn't been wrong.

Paul had somewhat similar circumstances.  He was in prison, multiple times.  Yet, as he wrote to the church in Philippi, he expressed that, no matter what, he was content.  This is because of his assurance and hope in Christ.  Not that John did not have hope, but it wasn't as clear before Christ's death and resurrection.  That and Paul wasn't quite under the same threat of death (at that time).

Which, in many ways, is for our benefit and joy.  We can look back and be certain that Christ has died for us.  And for that, we celebrate and wait for His return.

Second Sunday of Advent (9 Dec. 2018)

Hear ye!  Hear ye!

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, at the time of the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came upon John son of Zachariah in the wilderness.  And he went into the whole surrounding region of the Jordan announcing a baptism of repentance for the purpose of the forgiveness of sins.  Just as it is written in the book of The Words of Isaiah the Prophet "A voice crying in the wilderness 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'  Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill made low, and the crooked will become straight and the rough roads be smooth and all flesh will see the salvation of God."  He began saying to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him “You brood of vipers who warned you all to flee from the future wrath?  Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance.  And do not begin to say to yourselves: we have Abraham for a father.  For I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise children of Abraham.  And even now the axe is already laid at the root of the tree thus every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  And asking him the crowds said: “What shall we do?”  And he answered them saying “The one who has two tunics shall share he who has not, and the one who has shall do likewise.”  And tax collectors came to him as well to be baptized and said to him “Teacher, what must we do?”  And he said to them “Collect no more than you are ordered to.”  And some soldiers were questioning him saying “What shall we do?” and he said to them “Do not take money by force or by false charges but be satisfied with your salary.”  [As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”  So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.]  Luke 3:1-14 (15-20, ESV) 

It is always interesting having a Gospel text that isn't about Christ.  Except, that, it is.

The last and greatest prophet, John, had a mission from God: prepare the way of the Lord.  The Jews probably thought that the phraseology literally meant that a road had to be made ready for the messiah to arrive and reclaim the throne of David.

But that was not the duty of the prophet.  The prophet's job had always been to call the people back to God, and His statutes.  And so John prepared.  He taught the people that they needed to be contrite.  Which is true, but not because it would bring about the Messiah.  The Messiah was coming regardless.

That does not mean John rightly teaching the Law was wrong.  The Law is to be taught to sinners who are secure in their sin.  That's why he calls them "kids of snakes" and says that Abraham isn't their father.  He doesn't mean anything genealogical.  Because being children of Abraham has nothing to do with genetics, bloodline, familiar relations, or ethnicity.  A child of Abraham is a believer in the promise.  Even the stones, the "dumb rock" Gentiles, could (and would) be raised up by God to be the true Israel.

When those who had been shown their sin by the Law asked John what they must do, we best not that they do not ask "what must we do to earn salvation."  No, they want to know what they should do to stop breaking God's law.  "Be generous.  Don't steal.  Don't resort to violence to get what you want."

With all of this fire and feistiness, John was not the expected messiah, by a long shot.  And he said so.  He knew the Messiah, having met Him while still in the womb.  John was merely teaching the Law and doing simple washings, much as the priests had done stop-gap sacrifices.  But the Christ, He baptizes through water and His Word, by which we receive the Holy Spirit that is the Fire of God.

And so John stands there on the banks of the Jordan river, the last great herald of the King before His return.  John represents the true exodus from slavery and wilderness, pointing to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by His death and resurrection.

(Since my Greek Readings class only translated the 1-14, I elected to use the ESV for the remainder.)

First Sunday of Advent (2 Dec. 2018)

Welcome To The New World

And when He [Jesus] said these things He went on ahead going up into Jerusalem.  And as it happened when He approached near Bethpage and Bethany toward the mountain called “Olive Orchard” He send two disciples saying "Go into the opposite village near there as you are entering you will find a colt tied upon which no one has ever sat, and after untying it and bring it.  And if anyone were to ask you 'Why are you untying it,' you will answer that it's Lord has need of it."  The ones who were sent went away and found it just as He told them.  While they were untying the colt its owners said to them "Why are you untying the colt?"  They said "It's Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks upon the colt, and placed Jesus on it.  As He was traveling they began spreading out their cloaks on the road.  Now already as He drew near the descent of the Mountain of Olives the whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice praising God with a great voice for all the miracles which they saw, saying  "Blessed is He, the king, who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest."  And some of the Pharisees, because of the crowd, said to Him "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."  And He answered "I say to you, that if these should be silent the stones will cry out."
Luke 19:28-40

"You have been weighed...  You have been measured...  And you absolutely... Have been found wanting."  This line, from the movie "A Knight's Tale," is based on Daniel 5:27, and it is quite the fitting echo for the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday of the Church year.

But the reading is from the last Sunday of Christ's life before his death on the Cross.  Here the Church awaits the birth of the Messiah, yet we are celebrating His triumphant ride to His execution.  Does this make any sense?  It does.

In the tenth chapter of Ezekiel, the prophet sees the Glory of God leave the temple, but declares that the Lord will return from the east.  And so from the mountains east of Zion comes riding, humble and with peace in His wake, the King.  A great crowd parades Him onward, shouting praises and accolades.  It is a majestic and exciting thing to see.  The Messiah come to Jerusalem.

But not all are pleased with the sight.  The false teachers, the Pharisees, who worship the traditions and law, call Jesus to task, asking that He scold and silence His followers.  They are upset that the "rabble" is seeking a changed world.

But unfortunately for them, the world has already been changed.  And even if Christ had any inclination to have the crowd be quiet, all of creation, from the very dirt that humanity was first molded from, would should the praises of God.  And thus the Pharisees have no excuse to deny the Christ His throne.  And yet, we know they try.  But their reward has already been determined.  They were found to be lacking in that all important detail: faith in the Messiah.  A faith that even the stones, the Gentiles raised up as true children of Abraham, had been given that faith.

The Friday after this triumphant entry ends with Christ dying on the Cross.  But on the next Sunday, He rises again, the firstborn from the dead.  Much like is anticipated birth, which was heralded throughout all time, this marks a new, restored, world.

And so we make ready, not only for the upcoming holiday season commemorating His birth, nor even for His conquering yet meek march into the city, but for His victorious and final return.

(Please note, that with the new year comes a few changes.  Unlike the previous year, I am not posting the entire pericope for any given Sunday.  I mostly only post the Gospel lesson, which I will be translating myself, instead of using the ESV.  This isn't because translations like the ESV, NIV, KJV, etc, are bad, but because I have a class were we are translating the Gospel lesson for each week.  Also, the previous year was the One-Year Series.  Since I am translating the Three-Year, I will be using those lessons.  Any deviation from this will be noted.)