The Messenger (Luke 3:1-6)

Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC...

The Messenger (Luke 3:1-6)

 

Aliens visit Earth.

Earth began preparations to receive them.

All of the top government and religious leaders assembled to greet the new visitors from another world. When it was the Pope's turn, he asked: "Do you know about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?"

"You mean JC?", responds the alien. "Yeah, we know him! He's the greatest, isn't he? He swings by every year to make sure that we are doing ok".

Stunned, the pope questions: "He visits every year?! It's been over two millennia and we're still waiting for his SECOND coming!"

The alien sees that the pope is upset and starts trying to rationalize. "Maybe he likes our chocolate better than yours?"

The pope retorts "Chocolates? What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything?"

The alien says "Well, when he first visited our planet, we gave him a huge box of chocolates! Why? What did you guys do?"

 

Michael York portraying John the Baptist
in the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

We’re 2 weeks away from Christmas. Have you got all your shopping done? All the decorations up and your Christmas trees glowing? Does your house smell of scented candles and sugar cookies. The sights and smells of Christmas are what I loved best about the season growing up. I loved all the glowing, colored lights and ornaments on the tree. We’d even drive around town looking at Christmas light displays at various homes. I love the smell of cinnamon, cedar, and perfumed candles.

We prepare our homes for the celebration of Jesus’ birth, the first coming of Christ. John the Baptist calls out to Israel to prepare for the visitation of God. “Make straight the highway of our God!”

John was born to a priestly couple who had been barren for most of their married lives. God had not given them any children. Elizabeth was heartbroken, as barrenness was a source of shame. In the Jewish mind, a barren woman potentially meant God’s curse upon the family. They or their ancestors must have offended God.

The Law of Moses promises blessings for covenant faithfulness.

The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Dt 28:4)

But Moses warned of curses for disobedience to God’s law.

The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Hannah was a barren woman. The bible said her husband, Elkanah had a second wife, Peninnah. She was cruel to Hannah, taunting her because she could not produce children. Hannah wept bitterly before the Lord, begging that God would open her womb and take away her disgrace. In silent prayer, with only her mouth moving, she poured out her anguish before God.

The old priest, Eli, thought Hannah was drunk and scolded her, but she defended herself explaining that she was a woman under great stress. Eli blessed her and God had mercy on Hannah. God opened Hannah’s womb, and she bore a son, Samuel. He became the prophet who anointed kings Saul and David.

Elizabeth, too, felt disgrace in her infertility. Luke tells us that Elizabeth was herself a descendant of Aaron. She was raised in a priestly family in a village set aside for priests. She and her husband, Zechariah, are described as righteous, following all the commands of God blamelessly. So it’s not because they were disobedient that they had no children. God just hadn’t blessed them with offspring.

The archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah when he was burning incense in the temple, a ritual symbolizing the prayers of the people coming before the Lord. Gabriel announced that Elizabeth was to become pregnant and bear a son and they were to name the boy John. Zechariah couldn’t believe it, for they both were long past the age for bearing children. “How can we have children when we are so old?” Zechariah asked. The angel was offended at the old priest’s disbelief. He wanted proof, so the angel gave him a sign. Zechariah was stricken mute right then and there. He would not be able to speak until all the angel had proclaimed about John came to pass.

When Elizabeth became pregnant, she rejoiced.

“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Lk 1:25)

The archangel Gabriel told Zechariah that John was a special child. John was never to drink wine or strong drink. Instead, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even in the womb!

Gabriel said of John, he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Lk 1:16-17)

These words are taken from the prophecy of Malachi.

See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse. (Mal 4:5-6)

Ever since Elijah, the great prophet of Israel, was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot, the people have hoped for his return from heaven. The Lord says that He will send His messenger, the longed-for messenger of the covenant.

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap… (Mal 3:2) He will purify the priesthood so that they offer right sacrifices.

John the Baptist even dresses like Elijah with camel’s hide and a belt. And like Elijah, John lived in the desert eating locust and honey. (Mat 3:4)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, John called Israel to repent and prepare for the Lord. As a sign of their change of heart, the people were baptized in the Jordan River. He warned them to act in accordance with their repentance. Share clothing with those who have none. Tax collectors came to him to be baptized. Many tax collectors grew rich, exacting whatever they wanted from their neighbors. John urged them to collect no more than what is required. He urged soldiers to never abuse their power by extortion, but rather be contented with their pay. What does repentance look like? It is, as the prophet Micah said, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8) 

This is how we prepare the way for the Lord’s arrival. We make a straight and level path in our hearts and lives. We roll out the red carpet for Jesus by living the way God calls us to live, openhandedly toward the poor and kindly toward the foreigner living among us. It is to teach hope in God’s kingdom, to care for the sick, and to liberate lives.

John came to Israel at a time when Rome occupied the nation. Their brutal oppression caused great suffering. The people longed for a hopeful sign that God had not forgotten them. Elizabeth learned that God can bring about the impossible. An age of wonders was coming, for John preached that one was coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Christ will purify human hearts with God’s own righteousness.

As you prepare for Christmas, think about how you can prepare your heart to receive Christ Jesus. What barriers in your heart and life need to be removed so that the Lord has no stumbling block before him. What are the hills and valleys that need to be smoothed out, the ups and downs in your heart.

I think of the hills in my heart as aspirations that have nothing to do with Jesus and His kingdom. And I think of the valleys as depressive, cynical, and bitter thoughts that harden my heart and turn my love cold.

Advent is a time of preparation for the arrival of the Messiah. It is a time to prepare our hearts. Just as we clean house to prepare for company, prepare the way of the Lord. Clear the highway into your heart. Make it a smooth level path for His love to arrive in you.

Happy holy waiting!