“Pointing to Christ”
“Pointing to Christ”
Mark 1.1-8
Mark 1.1-8
In the name of the Living God and the Christ who is coming soon. Amen.
What a strange sight this is for us: the crazed prophet, John, bellowing out from the wilderness, scantily dressed, having a diet which even the bravest granola-wilderness hikers wouldn’t touch. But even stranger for our world is his message: he speaks of “repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Repentance: making an about face, turning from evil ways, changing one’s heart, redirecting your life, your loves, your thoughts, your disposition. It is difficult enough for our world to understand the concept of “sin”—the word has almost become laughable in modern media—but then the idea that you would actually turn away from something, rather than embrace it or indulge it—a very strange message indeed.
But we in the church always begin Advent with John. And it always feels a bit strange entering this season of great hope and yet there stands, in front of us, John the Baptist. Sometimes I feel like I can’t get to the baby Jesus unless I get through John. Here we are, with the advent wreath lit, the Christmas tree is upright, the nativity scene before us, a great concert awaiting us this afternoon, and we still have to deal with, crazy ol’ John, bellowing out from beyond the Jordan, “Repent!” It’s not a very popular message. I’m guessing you probably won’t be able to find a John the Baptist bobble head, or Christmas ornament anywhere.
As strange as this all is to us, the person and message of John the Baptist would have been perfectly understandable to the Jews of the first century. The character of John draws upon two important images from the Old Testament. The first is from Elijah—this is where he gets his strange clothes and unsettling diet. Elijah was the great prophet who ministered during a time apostasy for the people of the Northern Kingdom, Israel. He’s most famous for calling down fire from heaven to consume the prophets of Baal—a dramatic account I can still picture with freight from my CPH Sunday School Days!
But even more importantly, by the time of Christ, Elijah was thought to be the prophet who would return just before the reign of the Messiah. So, John, in a sense, stands as the new Elijah, preparing the people for the imminent coming of Christ.
The second Old Testament image John the Baptist uses is drawn from the prophets Isaiah and Micah. Remember that the people of Israel would be taken off to captivity in Babylon. They would be enslaved there for 70 years because of their sin—the forsaking of their covenant God, and their cruelty to their fellow human beings. But both Isaiah and Micah would prophesy God’s redemption of Israel. He would come and free them from their captivity. They would hear the voice of the messenger calling from the wilderness—prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him, for He will come to save you!
So, John the Baptist along the banks of the Jordan is preparing the people for the coming of Christ in these two ways: as a voice calling for repentance, like Elijah who warned the people of what their apostasy would bring; and as a herald in the wilderness, proclaiming that the salvation of God is at hand.
So far the biblical history lesson. Here’s the point: as Advent people, we have to get through John to get to the manger. This does mean, in the first place, repentance: making an about face in our life, turning from the many things which distract us from God, by the power of the Holy Spirit removing every false god enthroned in our hearts. Crazy John is serious about this; so is the Lord; so are we. Repentance is not just a concept, or some dead words we mutter through, but the real hard work of digging into the soil of our hearts and pulling up the roots of sin. You’ll remember Martin Luther’s famous 95 Thesis. Does anyone know what the first one is? “The whole of the Christian life is a life of repentance.”
But getting through John to get to the manger also means something else. It also means anticipation, hope, longing. Crazy John is here; but baby Jesus is coming soon. God’s salvation is at hand. It’s imminent. Just around the corner, so hang on in hope.
So, I gave you a biblical history lesson. Now an art history lesson. Admittedly, I don’t know much art history (probably half this congregation knows more art history than me—even though I love ecclesiastical art). I do have a cheaters trick to teach you for next time you go through the medieval section at the Art Institute. Remember this, and you can impress your friends and confound your enemies! If you find a guy painted with an elongated, sometimes bony finger, it’s John the Baptist. Just look for the long finger, because John’s job is always to point to Christ. Even in some of the depictions of his Martyrdom (remember when he’s beheaded at the command of Herod?) you’ll see this long, pointy finger still remains.
You know we sing John’s word’s every Sunday: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world…” right when we’re about to receive Christ in communion. This is, I think, the simplest way to think of John’s message. He points us to Jesus. He points us first in a preparation of repentance. Before the coming of the King, we get our house in order. We take time to re-examine our priorities, to turn away from those things which distract us, and to lay at the Jordan our sins.
But secondly John points us to Jesus in a preparation of anticipation. He, the last of the Old Testament Prophets, reminds us of that something greater which is to come: “After me will come one more powerful than I…” John points us forward to Jesus, who will come to save his people, bring them joy and forgiveness and peace and eternal life.
Come soon Lord Jesus. Amen.