Rejoice

Matthew 11:2-15

Third Sunday in Advent

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ amen.  The sermon text for the third Sunday in Advent is the Gospel reading Matthew 11.  Have you ever noticed that almost all sports movies have one thing in common?  It doesn’t matter if the movie is about a pro team or Little League team, football or hockey.  Every sports movie has one scene in common: the pep talk.  When the team is down on the scoreboard and the players are hurting, it always seems as though the coach calls a time out in order to deliver an inspiring pep talk that gives the team the courage and strength to keep playing.  And, as usually the case with sports movies, the underdog wins the game.  Don’t you wish life was like a game in the movies? But as we look at our life in this fallen world, we will discover that we will need something far more significant than a pep talk.  We will need the Word of God.  We will need the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We see that in our Gospel reading for today.  God had called John the Baptist to announce the coming of the Messiah who was Jesus. That is what he did.  John was a great prophet who pointed the people to the coming of the Lord.  But much had happened to John since he started preaching and baptizing people at the river.  You’ll remember John’s message, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God in near”.  This message burned in John’s soul.  John was not afraid to proclaim this message to the religious leaders and royalty alike.  He wasn’t afraid to proclaim it to King Herod himself.  That is why he was in prison.  King Herod seduced and later married his brother’s wife, but first he killed his brother.  The nation was in shock.  John the Baptist confronted the king’s sin and was placed in prison. 

While in prison John realized that his life was in danger.  He understood that his life as a prophet was probably coming to an end and so he sent word to his disciples to ask Jesus this question.  “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”  There is some debate among theologians on why John sent his disciples to Jesus.  Some people think that John after being sent to prison started to have some doubts.  This makes sense.  After John proclaimed the coming of the Lord, he found himself in a prison cell.  He was locked up for doing what God had sent him to do.  There are times in our own life that we have doubts about what God is doing, especially when things seem to be going horribly wrong.  John the Baptist found himself in a disappointing and disheartening predicament. Things were not working out like he had expected.

There are other theologians that don’t think it was John who was falling into doubt, but his disciples were. It is possible that John’s disciples had a certain expectation about the Messiah.  It seems that many people in the first century thought that the Messiah would bring immediate glory to the nation of Israel.  That was not happening with Jesus.  The people did not understand that Jesus would be going to the cross in order to redeem the whole world.  John may have sent his disciples to Jesus in order to strengthen their faith in the Lord.  I suppose it doesn’t matter.  I think that it was John who needed encouragement.  It makes sense that doubt would creep into his mind as he sat in this prison cell.  But regardless of whether it was for John or his disciples, a pep talk was needed. No, more than a pep talk.  What was needed was the Word of God.  What was need was the Lord Jesus Christ.           

John sent some of his disciples to find Jesus and ask him, “Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another”.  Jesus answered them.  “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and deaf hear, and the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them”.  The Old Testament prophets foretold that the Messiah would preach the world of God, heal the sick, and perform miracles.  Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets.  As you well know Jesus did indeed preach the word of God, heal the sick, and perform miracles.  Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.  Jesus fulfilled these prophecies in front of multiple witnesses. Jesus answered John’s question. He told him, yes, I am the Messiah who was promised by God.  Yes, I am the Savior.  Trust in Me.

It is on the third Sunday of Advent when we light the pink candle, often called the rose candle.  It reminds us that the theme for the third Sunday of Advent is joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice.” We also know that we are getting closer to Christmas, a time to rejoice.   But we don’t always rejoice.  For those who have lost loved ones this can be a difficult and lonely time of year.  In a world that glorifies materialism, those who are struggling financially may find it to be most disappointing.  Many people have health concerns.  There are those that have to deal with pain in their joints, cancer and other problems that affect the health of a person. There are those that get worn out by their work.  There are those who experience pressure this time of year.  Every person living on this earth has faced disappointment and loss, including us.  As we get closer to Christmas, we understand that we are entering the season of joy but for many this is the time of the year to be blue.    

There are times in our life when we need a pep talk.  No, we need more than a pep talk.   What we need is the same thing that John the Baptist and his disciples needed.  We need Jesus Christ to speak to us.  We need to hear the words of our Lord.

Jesus gives us more than a pep talk because He is the one who gives us life.  It is the Lord who gives us faith and hope.  Jesus gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf.  He healed the sick and preached the Word of God to demonstrate to us that He is indeed the Messiah.  He did those things to show all of us that He is our Savior. Jesus came to the world to show God’s love, compassion and mercy by His death and resurrection.  Our Lord’s death and resurrection does far more than give us a little shot in the arm.  Our Lord’s sinless life and sacrificial love gives us forgiveness, life and salvation. Jesus came to the earth to turn a broken world into a restored world.  He came to change disappointment into joy.  He came to turn death into life. 

John the Baptist did great work in His life.  He told others about Christ.  John the Baptist also faced many trials and tribulations but he remained faithful to the Lord.  Jesus gave him strength to continue.  John did eventually die.  He was killed by King Herod.  But the Lord graciously brought Him to heaven to live in eternal peace and joy.  Christ promises to do the same for us. 

When things are not going well it would be nice to receive a little pep talk just like we see in the movies. Jesus Christ gives us something far better than a pep talk.  He gives us God’s grace.  His words strengthen our faith and give us hope. He promises to remain with us through thick and thin.  He promises to visibly return again to bring us to the heavenly realm.  Pep talks can give us a short term boost.  The words and actions of Christ last forever.  True joy is found in the Lord.  Amen.