[This message was given at Irondequoit Presbyertian Church on 12/8/24, the second Sunday of Advent, based on Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 3:1-6. It was not recorded.]
Who is the most widely known Presbyterian minister of the last 50 years? In 1997, the Daytime Emmys gave him a lifetime achievement award. It was star-studded gathering at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. When his name was announced, the crowd was on its feet applauding this amazing man, Fred Rogers, as the band played the familiar tune of “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood….” Mr. Rogers thanked them and then reminded them that their lives had been shaped and influenced by others. He introduced 10 seconds of silence for everyone there to think of those people. The cameras caught people dabbing their cheeks as they couldn’t hold back tears. Let me rephrase the question Mr. Rogers asked them. Who are some, perhaps one or two, that influenced and shaped your life for following Jesus? I’ll give you ten seconds of silence…. You just named a John the Baptist (or two) in your faith journey.
We don’t get to Jesus without John the Baptist, the forerunner, the preparer of the way of the Lord. We don’t get to John the Baptist without Zechariah and Elizabeth, his loving parents. We find them in the opening of Luke’s gospel. By the way, without Luke’s account we would never have Christmas pageants. Because of Luke’s careful reporting we have Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary’s song of praise, called the Magnificat, the journey to Bethlehem, the angelic chorus, the shepherds, the inn with no room available for them, and the manger. Before the cosmic spotlight is on Jesus, it is on John. Before the cosmic spotlight is on John, it is on Zechariah and Elizabeth.
We know this about them: they are old. Very old. Far too old for welcoming a baby. Zechariah is a priest, serving at the temple in Jerusalem. They are righteous and devout. And they are living with disappointment: a baby had never been given them. For Elizabeth, that is a bitter pill according to the expectations of that time. One day old Zach is serving in the holy place and an angel appears to him with an alarming message. Old Lizzie is going to have a baby. Being a man of sound mind, he cannot quite believe this. The angel didn’t retract the message; the angel simply silenced old Zach for at least nine months. That is messing with Zach’s work. Priests, like pastors today, needed to say prayers aloud and needed to tell the people of the word and ways of God.
Elizabeth conceives and then goes into a five-month seclusion. Old Zach loses his voice and old Lizzie disappears. What must people have been thinking? Is this the stuff of a Hallmark Christmas movie or an episode of Law and Order? Elizabeth finally returns—now obviously pregnant; I wonder what the faithful are saying about that!—and gives birth to that baby. The temple congregation rejoices—except those questioning how this could happen with such old folks—and assumes the baby will be name Zechariah Jr. But no, says Lizzie, the baby will be called John—meaning God is gracious. They ask Zach. He takes his iPad and writes, His name is John. And just then his voice returns. Let it be noted that his voice returns when he admits that his wife was right!
Then, as people do in great musicals, Zach breaks into song. And probably some dance too. That song is our first reading today. About half of it is about Jesus, not yet on the scene; and half is about John, who is about to make his debut. About Jesus, Zach says that he will be a mighty savior, the long promised one, our messiah. About John, he says that he will prepare the way of the Lord. He will call us to account before God. Hear those words he speaks to his son:
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)
And now John is grown and doing his public ministry. Luke reminds us of the power holders of the time: “Tiberius Caesar, the emperor, Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, Herod ruler of Galilee…” There is a power trio. Luke adds two more: “During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.” (Luke 3:1-2)Political leaders and religious leaders often like to cozy up to one another. And it is always toxic. Let the Church beware of any temptations to political power. The Church always loses when it curries favor from the government. Beware political leaders that promise to protect the Church.
The word of the Lord is not sent to Tiberius, the Caesar, or to Pontius Pilate, the governor, or to Herod, the ruler, or to Annas and Caiaphas, the high priests. No, no, no, no, no. “The word of God comes to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” John, who is politically powerless, is favored by the Most High. Having received the Word of the Lord, John becomes thunder in the wilderness.
John fears no one but God. He helps me to be more like that. I was a pastor of one congregation for 38 years. I know the politics of pastoring, of trying to keep the entire flock together. I know what it is like to want so much to be liked by everyone in the congregation. It can’t be done for very long. Though John was never a pastor of a local congregation, he makes me a better pastor by his singleness of heart. By his desire to do the will of God no matter what. By his passion to point everyone to Jesus. By his persevering work in preparing the way for the Lord.
We don’t know Jesus without John and people like him. There is a theory called six degrees of separation that goes something like this. I can connect with anyone on earth by identifying a chain of six or fewer people. I am blessed to have a connection with Jesus that came to me through John, and then people like my mother. What is your chain of connection like?
I asked you in the beginning of this message to identify some people whose influence pointed you to Jesus and helped shape your faith. Now I have a question and a charge for us. The question: For whom are we being like John the Baptist, pointing them to Jesus?
The charge: If in that exercise you thought of any one still living, thank them. Send a note, or make a call, or send an email or text and thank them.
We are all indebted to all the John the Baptists for pointing us to Jesus. His father, old Zach, spoke God’s word to him: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” John heard and heeded the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sailing toward Wisdom 