Preached to the saints at Trinity Lutheran Church of Layton, Utah.
Dear people of the God who is coming--indeed is already here,
Among you stands one you know--Jesus the Christ, the very Son and Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
If you would like to hear this sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for Rorate Coeli, the Fourth Sunday in Advent, click on the MP3 link provided above.
The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, "Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord." The sermon begins at the 2:23 mark.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Rev. Kurt Hering, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church
Layton, Utah
Here is the preaching manuscript.
TEXT: 22So [priests and Levites from Jerusalem] said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. John 1:22-28
Dear people of the God who is coming, indeed who is already here,
Among you stands One you know—Jesus the Christ, the very Son and Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In fact that is what John the Baptizer proclaims in the verses immediately following our Gospel text:
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' John 1:29-30
It seems rather odd that we spend so much time on hearing about John the Baptizer at this time of year doesn't it? It seems like we're getting ready for Christmas in every other facet of life except for in the readings we hear at church during Advent.
But John the Baptizer is "the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" And that is precisely what we need at this time of year—and always. You see, John is the prototype for all pastors and preachers in that he points to the Christ who is the living Word of God that has taken on flesh to dwell among His people [John 1:14]. So John answers the question as to his purpose by saying, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know."
This very preaching about Christ is that which is to continue in the church until the Second visible Advent, i.e. coming, of Christ at the end of the world. Jesus says so Himself just before He ascends into heaven and out of sight:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-21
Do you hear that? This Jesus conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; who rose again from the dead on the third day and 40 days later ascended into heaven is "with you always, to the end of the age" in the baptizing and teaching of everything commanded by Christ, the living Word of God—in other words, in the proclamation and pouring out of the forgiveness of sins in Baptism, preaching, Confession & Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. Among you in these things stands One you know, Jesus the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—and of you.
In our text today, John the Baptizer was speaking to the hardened hearts of unbelievers, so he said, "among you stands one you do not know." These men are the same ones to whom Jesus would later say, ""You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also. . . . If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. . . .If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." John 8:19, 42-44, 46-47
Luther says about these self righteous teachers of the Law: "They listen all right. But they stand and look at John just like a cow looks at a new gate . . . as though they had not heard a single word he was saying. Thus they stand there and with hearing ears they do not hear."
Neither John nor the Christ to whom he points them measure up to what they think the Messiah should be. They expect a conquering champion come to fight for them against all those other evil folks. They expect to be commended for their superior lifestyles and spectacular preaching of the Law to the people so that they will become more like them.
But the same is true today isn't it? Who wants a Jesus who, though we can't see Him is indeed here in the water of Baptism, in the preaching of the Word, in the forgiving of sins, in bread and wine? And all that from the hands and mouths of men no more pleasing to the eye or splendid in status than John the Baptizer—that wearer of camel hair and eater of locusts. Such things just don't fill the pews to the rafters like the preachers that would have you believe there is no glory like the glory you can have today if you only have enough faith and let your light shine among men.
Luther says, and we must understand it holds true for us also: "The same situation prevails today, when we teach that to attain the life to come, people have to know the teachings of Christ and confess the [2nd] article [of the Creed], I believe in Jesus Christ."
And this does not mean to simply use His name as we please or add it onto any old prayer and desire of our hearts. It means to believe that He is the one who not only was born on Christmas day as the baby of Mary, but the One who suffered and died for you; the one who rose and ascended for you; the One who will come again for you to raise your flesh; and even the One who comes today for you here in the preaching of the Word and in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Because these are among all the things He has commanded us, aren't they? And so they are the very things in and through which he promises to be with us always, to the very end of time and this world.
So once again to quote Pastor Luther as he follows in the footsteps of John the Baptizer, "We see this everywhere among the smart professionals. . . . They would be happy to have a Christ . . . according to their liking. Yes, but what the Lord God has in mind is this: Man, you ought to accept Christ just as God sends him, no it as you want him to be. . . . If you will receive John with his testimony, then you will have Christ at your door; therefore receive John and His witness."
And so once again you here today from this pulpit an echo of John, as well as Paul who preached "nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" [1 Corinthians 2:2]:
"Among you stands one you know." And more importantly, among you stands the One who knows you, sinner--the One who came on Christmas Day as a lowly infant; the One who will come again on the Last Day in all His glory; the One who always was coming even before the foundations of the world as the eternal Son of God; and always is coming even today in all the things He has commanded and given to forgive you all your sins and give you eternal life—in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Insofar as this sermon is a true proclamation of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, it belongs to Him and His Church. Therefore its use is free to all who deem it worthy and beneficial.
Send Rev. Kurt Hering an email.
Welcome
