Today is Advent 3.

The theme for this week is Jesus is our jubilee.

• In our call to worship psalm, David rejoices that our Helper is the One who created heaven and the earth.  He is the one who heals the blind, lifts the helpless, and watches over those society often looks on as “less than.”
• The prophet Isaiah gives a description of the kingdom of heaven — where “everlasting joy” occurs.
• James tells believers to be patient because Jesus is coming, “the coming of the Lord is near.”
• Matthew tells of John the Baptist wondering if Jesus was the One who is to come. And Jesus gives him several reasons to rejoice.

SERMON

Jesus is Our Jubilee

Matthew 11:2–11  NRSVUE

It’s not hard to be filled with joy when everything is going our way.  When the bills are paid, there is food in the pantry, the kids are healthy, the job is secure, the house is in good order, and friends are around, it’s easy to rejoice and be glad.  It’s more difficult when times are tough.

John the Baptist was going through a tough time.  His ministry had effectively ceased; his mission seemed at an end.  He was imprisoned in the palace of Machaerus, a fortress on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea.  This fortress was also used as a citadel by Herod Antipas.  John was imprisoned there because he had criticized Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias, the wife of his brother.

Prison for John was not like the prisons of today.  His prison conditions, as described in the New Testament and by historian Flavius Josephus, were likely harsh, involving confinement and isolation.  While the specifics are not detailed in the Gospels, the imprisonment was clearly a form of restraint, likely in a cell with limited light and comfort.

He went from the wilderness with lots of followers to a dark dungeon, with only a guard. He evidently had disciples who were allowed to visit him, but you can imagine the toll that darkness and loneliness can take on a person. And you can imagine his desire for answers about whether or not his mission was complete.

Let’s read the text, and see how it fits in with the Advent theme of joy.

Matthew 11:2–11  NRSVUE

² And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he ^[a]sent two of his disciples ³ and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ⁵ The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

⁷ As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written:

¹¹ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  

John the Baptist was clear about the role God had given him as the messenger; he had been proclaiming the coming Messiah to all who would hear his words. He had been leading people to repentance — to changing the way they thought about God and about the kingdom of heaven. He preached with complete abandon, sharing his “repent and be ready” message to all within earshot. He faced much social and religious alienation, but he did not let that deter him from his message or his mission.

At one point, while he was baptizing people, Jesus came to be baptized. John referred to him as the Lamb of God and shared what he experienced during Jesus’ baptism. We read from Matthew’s account:

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:16–17  NRSVUE

Soon afterwards, Jesus started performing miracles as he moved from town to town. He gathered followers through his preaching and healing and astonished the crowds. All the while, John continued to fulfill his mission, telling people to repent and pointing them to Jesus.

We know in John 3 that he made it clear what his role was.

You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him. …He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3:28, 30  NRSVUE

Many of John’s own disciples left him to follow Jesus. As the crowds around him got smaller, he remained zealous in his faith and unmovable in his convictions. Then he was imprisoned.

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”  Matthew 11:2–3 NRSVUE

This is a good question with a lot in it. “Are you the Messiah? Is my mission finished? Is my ministry fulfilled? Do we need to keep looking and waiting?” Perhaps there were other underlying questions: “If you are the one who performs miracles, why are the Romans still in charge? Why haven’t all the prisoners been freed?”

Many of us might ask the same questions.  Notice Jesus’ response.

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”  Matthew 11:4–6 NRSVUE

Jesus didn’t seem put out about this question.  He understands our doubts and fears.  He understands what darkness and isolation do to us.  He encourages us to ask.  He wants us to bring our doubts to him, to share our fears, to ask questions. Notice that he responds to John’s question in the same way he would respond to ours.

1. 1. Remember what you know about me.  Remember the answered prayers, the miracles, the inspiration, the many times I’ve been there for you, the times I’ve lifted you up.  Remember all you’ve learned about who I am, who I am in you, who I am in others.
   2. Trust me.  Don’t take offense that I haven’t answered your prayer in the way you want. Trust my will because in me there is life, truth, resurrection, hope, peace, joy, and love.

Jesus’ answer to John likely filled him with peace and joy. He had done what he was asked to do. He had prepared the way for the Messiah. He had decreased so that Jesus could increase. Did that make prison less miserable? Probably not, but it likely made it more tolerable. His questions (his prayers) had been answered. And he heard the words that he was blessed for not taking offense.

Then Jesus continues:

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”  Matthew 11:7–11  NRSVUE

As great as John the Baptist was, citizens of God’s kingdom are even greater. We are citizens of his kingdom! These are words of affirmation, words of confirmation, words of hope, words of peace, and words of joy.

Advent 3 reminds us of who Jesus is and what he was doing. He was and is the Messiah.

• He is the one who gives the blind their sight — physically, spiritually, mentally.
• He is the one who heals, again, both literally and spiritually.  Jesus heals people with disabilities and those sick with skin diseases, and much more, but he also heals us mentally and spiritually.  I believe many of us look forward to that day when we stand before Jesus completely healed.  Can we even imagine what that might be like?
• He is the one who gives hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind — again, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
• He is the one who raises the dead, who destroyed death, and who promised that all who have died will be raised.
• He is the one who brings good news — you are forgiven; you are included; you are adopted; you are chosen; you are loved.

Advent reminds us Jesus came to usher in his kingdom, is living in us and giving us a taste of that kingdom and will return to bring his kingdom in fulness.

This week, spend time rejoicing. Ask God to remind you of the many reasons to count it all joy. Follow the words of the apostle Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 NRSVUE

Small Group Discussion Questions