Sermon - Advent 2

Second Sunday in Advent - Year A

Matthew 3:1-12

 

Confess Now - Hope for Forgiveness

 

 

The story of John the Baptist figures very heavily in the story of Jesus’ birth.  It is impossible to get through the Christmas story without mentioning this fiery country preacher.  In the four short weeks of Advent (the season in which we prepare for the birth of Jesus) two Sundays are given over to John.  This week we hear a short section of his preaching; next week we will learn of his attempts to determine whether or not Jesus is truly the Messiah.

 

John is very important in the story of Jesus’ birth.  He is the messenger who comes before Jesus in order to prepare his way.  He is the herald who announces that the Son of Man is coming.  He is the first act of the one-two punch which stirs the Judean countryside and causes alarm among the civil authorities.

 

And yet, there is something very different about the message of John and the message of Jesus.  They are interrelated, but they are not the same.  Jesus came to remove our sins.  John’s role was to make us aware of just how sinful we can be.

 

I want to be very careful, from the outset, to point out the reason for discussing this difference between John and Jesus.  It is important to note the difference so that we can dispel the false notions which would have us believe that we are left to wallow in our sin.  Too often, in our good southern churches, we have heard a continuation of the preaching of John the Baptist.  What we Christians ought to be hearing is the message of Jesus. 

 

John convicts us of our sin; Jesus proclaims our forgiveness. 

 

That is the prime reason for pointing out the differences.  Another reason is that the message of Jesus only makes sense after we have heard and understood what it is that John is trying to say to us.

 

When John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, the message he proclaimed was a call to repentance.  He came in order to help the people of Jerusalem and Judea realize the depth of their sin. 

 

The scriptures contain very little of his actual sermons, what we get are a smattering of phrases and comments.  But these are enough for us to realize that John's message was not a pleasant one.  He came with a word of warning, a word of judgment, a call to account­ability.  John, through his preaching, delivered a message, a notice, that Jerusalem and all of Judea must acknowl­edge their sin and returned to God.

 

The word that is used by John is "repent."  The baptism he offers is a “baptism of repentance”.  To repent is to turn around.  It is to go in the opposite direction from the direction our current course would take us.  To repent is to take matters into our own hands and do the right thing.  To repent is to change our actions and hope that this change in our lives will be sufficiently pleasing to God.

 

To repent is to do something about our sin.  It is a treatment for sin.  But it is not a cure. 

 

When they come to hear John, he encourages them to believe that if they make this confession - and - if they re-dedicate themselves to God then they may have reason to hope.  But he cannot offer guarantees.  He tells them to live a better life and then hope - hope that God will be merciful.  Repentance is confession.  But it is a confession without absolution; it an admission of guilt with no positive assurance that our sin has been forgiven.

 

This is what John came to do.  He came, to preside over a liturgy in which those who were remorseful for their sins would commit themselves to do better.  He called them to repentance.  Repentance is our action, our reaction to the realization of our sin.  Repentance amounts to confessing our sins and then leaving before any word of forgiveness is spoken.

 

There is only once, on the Christian Liturgical Calendar that we call for repentance without very quickly following that up with an announcement of forgiveness.  Only at the Ash Wednesday service do we confess our sins and leave without receiving any assurance of God’s forgiveness. 

 

It was always Ash Wednesday for those who came out to hear John.  He asked them to examine their sin.  He invited them to confess and promise to do better.  He does not – because he cannot - offer a word of absolu­tion.  John did not speak of forgiveness.  He only speaks a warning. 

 

This is what has changed - now that the story of John and Jesus is complete.  What has changed is that we are made fully aware of God’s desire to bridge the gap created by sin.  We have learned what God will do in order that we might have that assurance of forgiveness.   

 

Think, or look, back to The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness with which we began this morning’s service.  You will see that the whole liturgy is predicated on the ending.  We begin this "confes­sion" with an acknowledgment of God's willingness to forgive and cleanse us.  We recite the acknowledgment of our sins with the foreknowledge that absolution will soon follow.  How willingly would we confess our sins if we were unsure of God's response?  If we did not KNOW that forgiveness is freely offered, would we so honestly speak of our fault, our own fault, our own most grievous fault?

 

Perhaps it is true, that before Jesus could come - John had to prepare the way.  Maybe it is essential that before the arrival of the one who forgives us of our sins, heals us of our wounds, and liberates us from our fear of death, before that one can come we must reconsider our life and see the need for a Messiah.  If we, like the Pharisees and Sadducees, see no need for God's Anointed One, why should he bother coming?

 

Our lives are busied, these days, with the buying of gifts and the preparations for celebrations.  We shop till we drop so that everyone will be impressed with our skill in selecting just the right gift.  We make sure to get the Christmas letter in the mail on time so that others might benefit from our wishes for well-being and happiness.  So much of what we do and think during this time of year focuses on our abundance and thus our ability to give to others.  We approach Christmas from a position of strength.  Seldom in this season do we stop to consider our weakness, our limitations.  And yet, unless there is something lacking in our lives what difference does it make if Jesus comes or not?

 

What has changed, since Jesus came, is that we are assured that the Messiah will satisfy our longings and heal our wounds.  What has remained the same is our need for a Savior, for someone who will prevent us from destroying ourselves.

 

I will not make the mistake of promising you that God is going to come and make everything right for you and your family.  There will continue to be hardship and disappointment even among God’s faithful followers.  But I do have the witness of scripture which tells me that it is God's intention to be the healer of our every ill.  The story makes it clear - God's grace comes to those who act on faith; those who offer them­selves to God. 

 

The call of John the Baptist was a call to repentance.  During this time of year, we are invited to look carefully and consider the paths we have taken for our­selves.  But it is important to remember that the true measure of our strength does not lie in our ability to do, but is discovered in our willingness to listen.                  

 

Amen.