How do we prepare the way of the Lord?
If we go back in time, or even now, John the Baptist is a strange bird. He is strange enough that people come out of the city to see him. He is clothed in camel’s hair with a belt around his waist. He eats bugs. (Locusts--eew) People might go to the wilderness now to hear that kind of preacher; or rather, to see that kind of creature. How many people went just to get a look at somebody who dressed like a caveman (okay that’s not from the text, but that’s the picture in my head)?
What is John the Baptist’s answer to ‘how do we prepare the way of the Lord?’ Repent of the sins we have committed, confess and be baptized. For us, as it must have been for people in John’s time, “repentence and confession means facing the truth about ourselves. Repentence can mean changing the direction of our lives (or turning over a new leaf)…so the good news (of being forgiven) can often sound like bad news, at least at first”(Copenhaver 47). It sounds like tough work for all people---then or now. Look inward, examine yourself and then confess and be baptized in front of everyone.
We spend a lot of time busy and maybe the world would have it that way this time of year especially. Everybody has something to do to get ready. My mom said that when I was little I always got sick around Christmas—I picked up on all the excitement and anxiety. Now in my family decorating takes days and weeks…one box a day at our house. Our Nativity scene won’t have the baby Jesus in it until Dec. 24th. As I was studying for this sermon I started thinking, wow, the only thing that really belongs in the Nativity this week is the cow (which in Bethlehem at the time may not have been accurate either: maybe a goat and some chickens would be in the stable).
The way the church gets ready for Christmas is entirely different. We talk about the anticipation of Christ’s birth---about God bringing salvation to the world through God’s son….and Advent is amazing. There is a yearning for God—we sing the Advent songs that await the coming of Jesus and the coming again of Jesus. We look inward to prepare the way. We want the gift of God’s salvation. No wrapping required.
We focus on confession and renewal of baptism partly through John the Baptist’s story each year. When I looked up the Greek of this Mark text, the portion that Mark quotes from Isaiah (which is really from Malachi 3, but that’s another story) says “see, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way of the Lord” and in the Greek the word for ‘messenger of God’ is used. I was surprised by that, because I would have expected the word ‘prophet.’ When I think about it though, John the Baptist had a messenger’s mission. He delivers the message about repenting of sins and finding forgiveness.
And so why do we prepare for the coming of Christ each year? Is this important? Should we just make fifty days of Christmas like we do with Easter celebrations instead of twelve days of Christmas? Why get ready for a baby who was born over 2000 years ago?
The answer is in our other readings—it is eschatological answer. I know that’s a five cent word—but as one of my professors says, don’t worry if you don’t know what the word eschatological means, it’s not the end of the world. As Christians we look forward to the second coming—in fact that has been part of the focus of our lectionary for a number of weeks. He even tells people about Jesus baptizing with the Holy Spirit instead of water. Jesus is the bestower of the Holy Spirit—because he is the kingdom of God come near to us. We are not just preparing to remember the baby Jesus as the coming of the Christ, the Annointed One. We are also working on our own confession and setting our sights on what is just out of sight—what we cannot quite understand but trust in the mystery. That Jesus is not a baby anymore—we know that truth. And while we could get caught up in the new baby cuteness for a while, what we are celebrating is the incarnation—our God who becomes a man and walks with us.
However, back to our Mark text, which leads us to the side of the Jordan river—what must those people listening to John have thought—a strange hairy beast of a man mentioning ‘holy spirit’, what is that? We can answer from hindsight, but at that point, where did John the Baptist get that knowledge? The Holy Spirit and Pentecost where people are baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit does not happen until after the Resurrection. So Mark gives John the Baptist the words to speak that will hint that there is something amazing happening in the desert river. Mark knows the end before he announces the beginning of the good news. People are being washed—forgiven of their sins in anticipation of salvation. The hope of salvation. That is worth preparing for and continuing to be prepared. Keeping that anticipation and hope fresh for the future generations is important. These are key principles in our beliefs. Prepare the way of the Lord. Anticipate his arrival. Now and forever. Amen.
Side note: Please pray for my mom in NM--she was taken to the ER on Saturday and scans found mass on liver and pancreas--she is having a procedure for a stint today. My heart is with her--and my sisters and brothers and dad living out there who get to hold her hand. Thank you.
Cited:
Copenhaver, Martin. “Homiletical Perspective on Mark 1:1-8.” Preaching the Revised
Common Lectionary: Feasting on the Word Year B, Volume 1. Louisville,
Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011: 47-49.
Hands together and fingers crossed for your mom, and you and yours.
ReplyDeletePrayers for your mom.
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