Interrupted assumptions

Ever have assumptions that just don’t work out? You just knew something would go a certain way but it just didn’t happen. And you really didn’t understand why.

I think that was the way John the baptizer felt when his assumptions about Messiah’s advent didn’t happen quite the way he thought. He had prophesied with boldness because he just knew the advent of Messiah would bring judgment and change. I guess he figured whatever trouble he got himself into in the short term would not last long as Messiah would quickly vindicate him.

So when Pharisees and Sadducees came out from Jerusalem to have a look-see he called them a “brood of snakes” and claimed they would soon be judged by coming the Messiah.

John also was bold and to the point with Herod, who divorced his wife to marry his brother’s ex-wife. John publicly criticized the king for this blatant act of adultery and obvious violation of Torah. That landed John in Herod’s prison, with no hope for release but for the assumption that Messiah would vindicate him. John had been pretty direct with his criticisms and his fate was predictable.

But Jesus interrupted John’s assumption by doing things much differently. Instead of running off the Romans, judging unfruitful priests, and dealing with Herod’s adultery he went about the countryside doing amazing things for people. Stories got back to John that Jesus had recently healed a paralytic, dried up a woman’s perpetual bleeding, and raised a dead little girl back to life. John also heard that Jesus restored sight to a blind man and restored hearing and speech back to one who was deaf. Then he sent the disciples on a mission to do more of the same.

As John in Herod’s prison heard about all this he no doubt thought, “But what about me? Isn’t he going to do anything for me?” He sent a couple of his own disciples to ask Jesus the question, “Are you the coming one, or do we look for another?”

Jesus responded that in a way seems to me quite rude. “Go tell John the things you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk. Lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear and speak. The dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

Then, as he sent John’s men away, Jesus added, “Oh, and blessed is he who is not offended because of me.”

It was as if Jesus said, “John need not be offended or lose his faith because I did not come to spring him from jail.” John’s assumptions, judgment for Herod and vindication for himself, were interrupted. It was not going to happen as John had assumed. He would have to deal with it. Jesus had other things to do. John would have to practice what he had preached: John must decrease, Jesus must increase.

Jesus then turned to the assembled crowd to address their assumptions. “What did you go to the wilderness to see? A reed bending in the wind? A man in fine clothes? A prophet? You saw more than a prophet. You saw the one Malachi wrote would prepare the way for Messiah. There has been no one greater than John.”

Jesus went on to say that John introduced the kingdom which comes with a force few recognize. The kingdom, Jesus said, interrupts our assumptions about how things should be. That is why repentance is required to enter it. You must learn to think differently. You must also learn to live differently.

That is also why some people resist it so strongly. Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, their assumptions are too dear to them to repent.

I am convinced the Church is the embassy of Jesus’ kingdom. Like any embassy, we are here to reflect the culture, values, and laws or our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s new way of living must become ours. We learn that through committed and accountable discipleship, and we live that by portraying the Good News through worship and witness. Worship reenacts the story, and witness tells it in appropriate ways.

Here is a synopsis of the Good News we tell: God created us in his image and likeness, with the ability to choose. We, however, abused our choices by disobeying God’s command. We plunged the world into corruption and darkness. John the baptizer was the last and greatest of a long line of prophets sent to foretell the advent of Messiah who would interrupt our darkened assumptions and bring God’s kingdom to earth. Messiah came through Jesus Christ, who healed the sick and raised the dead, showing us the grace of the kingdom. He went on to die on our behalf to atone for our bad choices. Now, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are restored to relationship with God and enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to represent God’s kingdom through the ministry of the church.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP)

3 Advent A 2013