Rev. Bill's Sermons

ISAIAH 40:1-11 MARK 1:1-8“THE GOOD NEWS” ADVENT 2 DECEMBER 4, 2005

We are now well into our celebration of the season of Advent -- and our preparation for the day of Christmas. In Advent we wait -- and prepare for the coming of Christ -- the coming of God -- into our lives -- touching us and changing us with God’s mysterious love -- a love so great that God breaks into our lives in surprising ways -- like a baby in a manger who becomes an adult on a cross -- and invites us into deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and others. In the Church year the season of Advent is a season of expectant hope -- but in what people call “the real world” the weeks before Christmas are filled with hectic, frenzied activity -- trying to get too many things done too quickly. If we are not careful, it can be a depressing season --- not a joyous season. So maybe you’ve come to church hoping for a break from all the frenzy -- activity -- and guilt. Well, if that’s what you’re looking for today – I apologize because what we have before us today may not at first appear to not have a calming effect you may think you need. You want a moment of peace and not worrying about things? Sorry. It not going to happen today. Not yet, anyway. You see -- today we come face to face with John -- a religious fanatic. It’s not much of a break at all, is it? Not much of a calming effect. You may find yourself yearning for some relief -- and instead find yourself face to face with John -- this wild eyed fanatic with a single message: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! Not much relief here! What a sight it must have been -- this John the Baptist dressed in camels hair with a leather belt tied around his waist -- standing on the bank of the Jordan -- The Jordan – that river so important to the Hebrew people -- that river that in the history of the Hebrew people stood for healing as Namman – a Syrian, no less -- washed in it and was healed of his leprosy -- that river that in their history finally brought them to a new home as it parted for them as they entered the Holy Land -- that river whose waters meant healing and home for the Hebrew people. And now on the banks of that river that meant healing and home for the Hebrew people – stands John -- who must have seemed like a fanatic -- the wild eyes -- the unkempt appearance -- the single message -- the label fanatic seemed to fit. Yes -- and the message -- GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! seemed to make him just that much more fanatical. John had no time for beating around the bush or polite conversation. He had one thing on his mind -- declaring that God was coming. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! The urgency in his message must have been compelling. Indeed -- no time for rest -- and no time relaxing. Apparently he attracted a lot of attention. The whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem went to hear him -- and many were baptized in the river Jordan -- that place of healing and home. A compelling prophet with a compelling message! GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! The Hebrew people had prayed for centuries for God to come into their lives in a new way. And now that those still living in the land promised to their ancestors were under Roman domination some prayed for freedom more fervently -- while others were leading open revolts for freedom. Into this volatile mix came this fanatic on the banks for the Jordan with the unkempt appearance and strong message. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! It certainly struck a chord within the people. Many who heard him responded and were baptized in the Jordan -- the message of John made a difference in their lives. They were desperate people -- at the end of their rope -- almost to the point of giving up. Why should God come and change their lives? And fanatical John kept standing on the banks of the Jordan -- that river that stood for healing and home for the people -- and kept shouting: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! And the people kept coming to that man in that place -- and kept listening -- and kept repenting -- and kept being baptized -- and kept having their lives changed -- and kept hoping for God to come and change their lives in a new, real way. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! Now -- we may feel we have an advantage over those who heard the words of John and repented -- and were baptized in the waters of the Jordan -- the waters of healing and home. We may feel we have a distinct advantage. We know what happened next. We know Christ came. God entered the world. The world was changed forever. We may feel this gives us an advantage -- but -- does it? I wonder. At least they let the coming of God make a difference to them. At least they let the coming of God change their lives. At least they made a response to the promises of God to come into their lives and change them. At least they let their lives be changed. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! But -- you know -- God still comes. John’s message is still the same. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! The people who first heard John’s message felt lost and alone. To them -- John’s message was good news – it was life changing news. The time of feeling lost was over. God was coming. Being baptized in that river of healing and home was only an outer sign of an inward feeling of renewed life and hope as they believed in the coming of God -- coming to change their lives and their world. Many people feel lost and desperate today. Many may be yearning for some message of hope. Maybe John’s message is not a message for relaxation from the stress of our lives -- but maybe it is a message of hope for us and for all the world. It can be a message of hope for you. Maybe to you the world seems like shattered dreams. Maybe your marriage -- family -- relationships -- may not be what we had hoped they would be. Maybe your job doesn’t hold the potential you may want for your family or for yourself. Or maybe your retirement years may not be what you had planned on their being. Or maybe your health may be a problem instead of an asset. Or maybe a friend or loved one is sick –- or dying – or maybe has recently died and you are grieving the loss. Or -- maybe you just look at the poverty -- drugs -- disease -- violence -- and tragedy in the world around you and wonder if there is any reason – any reason at all -- for holding out hope for anything better. Or -- maybe just the celebration -- the stress -- the importance placed on the “perfect Christmas” that is impossible to achieve -- is too much for you. Well if that be the case – then I have good news for you today. Listen up – because I am going to tell you something that can be the best news you have ever heard -- And not just those of you who are hurting in one way or another – but all of you – indeed all of us – need to hear this good news – the best news ever. Are you ready to hear it? Here it is: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! Yea – the same words John proclaimed on the banks for the Jordan I proclaim to you today: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY If you feel lost -- lonely -- desperate -- then the message of John is the best news you can hear. GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY For all of us – indeed for all the world – the message of John is the best message of all: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY This message of good news is important - – but not only are the words themselves important - - but the place where John delivered the message -- and baptized – is important. The Jordan -- the river of healing and home for the people of Israel. The words of John – if you act on them and let them change your life – can be words of healing and home for you. Hear the words of John: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY! On this second Sunday in Advent -- as we approach the birth of Christ -- hear this good news again. To all who are weary. To all who feel lost. To all who feel hopeless. Indeed – to all people – The Good News is: GOD IS COMING! REPENT! BE BAPTISED! PREPARE THE WAY The “waters of the Jordan” and the words of John the Baptist are indeed good news. Today – now -- let yourself hear and believe that God is coming into the world -- and let that change your life. Today – now -- let the healing -- cleansing -- waters of the Jordan -- the waters of healing and home -- flood over you -- and let you see what it means that God has come -- and your life -- and the world -- can indeed be changed. Let the good news – the fact that Christ has come -- give you hope -- and change your life -- now and forever. AMEN