Sidney UMC - Third Sunday of Advent - 12/16/18 - Sermon - “Preparing the way of the Lord" The "Hope is Coming" Series - Part 3 of 5)

Sunday 12/16/18 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Preparing the way of the Lord”

                (“Hope is Coming” Series – Part 3 of 5)

Old Testament Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:7-18

          Today, my friends, my brothers and sisters, we continue our journey together towards Christmas, on this our Third Sunday in the Season of Advent. This season where we prepare our hearts and our minds for Christmas, for the coming of Jesus Christ. It’s hard for me to believe that Christmas Eve is just a week from tomorrow! To me, it seems like that time is just flying bye! Am I the only one that feels this way?

          For the past two weeks I have preaching a sermon series on the hope that “is coming” to us in Jesus Christ. This hope that is coming, coming into us, and working through us. In the first week of this series, I talked about the hope of Christ’s birth, the hope of Christ entering into our hearts daily, and the hope of Christ’s triumphant return to earth.

          Last week I talked about the “Messianic Prophecy,” which are all of the predictions made about the coming of Jesus Christ. These predictions made from Old Testament prophets and from the books of the Old Testament give us details and a picture of the savior of the world, of Jesus. In the Old Testament we read for example, that the savior will be born in the City of David, which is Bethlehem. We hear that Wise Men or Magi will visit this child. We hear that this child will be born of a virgin, and etc., and etc.

          One the scriptures from last Sunday that I didn’t preach on was Luke 3:1-6. Interestingly enough, last Sunday there were two readings from the gospel Luke, and I preached on Luke 1:68-79 only. Once again, in Luke 1:68-79, we have John the Baptist’s father Zechariah, signing over his eight day old son. In this song, this scripture, Zechariah is singing about how his son John the Baptist will prepare the way for Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, is Jesus’ cousin, and the man who lives in the wilderness. He wears clothes made from camel’s hair, eats bugs and honey, calls people to repent of their sins, and baptizes them. This is why he is called John the Baptist.

          The second gospel reading from Luke 3:1-6 from last week that I didn’t preach on however, says:

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

(Lk. 3:1-6, NRSV)

          Now a couple things about this gospel reading before I get into our scriptures for this Sunday. First, in keeping in alignment with the fulfilling the “Messianic Prophecy” of Jesus Christ’s birth and return, as well as Jewish culture, Luke is very detail oriented in this gospel reading. He tells you that it was 15-years into Roman Emperor Tiberius’ reign, and he tells you all the people who were in various places of power and authority. He does this, to be very precise.

          The gospel reading then immediately shifts to John the Baptist. Last Sunday, once again, we had the gospel reading from Luke where John the Baptist’s father Zechariah sang over baby John the Baptist. Now as an adult, the scripture says of John the Baptist once again:

“the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk. 3:2b-3, NRSV).

          So John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, is now ready to fulfill his role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. Well, is this part of the “Messianic Prophecy” that I discussed last Sunday? Yes it is. This foretold hundreds of years before Jesus Christ’s birth. Once again Luke 3:1-6 ends with quoting the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah. Once again it says:

“as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’

(Lk. 3:1-6, NRSV)

          So it was necessary that John the Baptist would prepare the hearts and the minds of men and women for the coming of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist would go on of course to Baptize Jesus in the Jordan River, and many Baptist Denominations today use the name “Baptist” as they perform and celebrate baptisms the way that John the Baptist Baptized Jesus.

          So we have the idea that Jesus came, is coming, and will return, and we know that his coming was foretold and predicted hundreds of years before his birth.

I wonder though what it’s like to prepare for someone else? Some of us might be preparing your homes for the coming of Christmas. Anyone here hosting Christmas this year? You need to wrap gifts, get food, clean, and on and on. I don’t know about you, but it is a lot more fun to not be the one who prepares, but rather be the one whom things are prepared for. Most people like to be the eater, but not the cook.

          You see, John the Baptist, that strange man who wore a camel’s hair shirt, lived in the wilderness, and ate bugs and honey, was called to prepare the way for the coming of the savior of the world. It might not seem like it, but “preparing the way” is important, because according to the Old Testament scriptures written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, John the Baptist was required to prepare the way.

          Sure on Christmas you might not feel like some of your family members or kids appreciate all of the work that you have put into Christmas, but remember if you hadn’t prepared, well then it would have never happened would it! Any of you ever feel like that you have made great preparations for Christmas that were just not appreciated?

          Well let’s hear what our gospel reading for this morning, from Luke 3:7-18, once again tells us of John the Baptist. The scripture says once again:

^“John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Lk. 3:7-9, NRSV).

          The gospel once again then says of John the Baptist:

^“And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

(Lk. 3:10-14, NRSV).

          John the Baptist is teaching some of the moral and ethical teachings that Jesus will take even further. The gospel then once again concludes by saying:

^“As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.”

(Lk. 3:15-18, NRSV).

John the Baptist says that the Messiah, Jesus Christ is coming, and when he does he will sort out the wheat and the chaff. Or to put it another way, Jesus will sort out the righteous from the wicked.

On Christmas, we don’t celebrate John the Baptist, we celebrate, praise, and worship Jesus Christ. Yet, preparing the way is important.

In this season of Advent, how are we allowing God to prepare our hearts and our souls for the coming of the savior? How are we actively following God to help to make this a reality? Further, what can we all do to help prepare the way for others?

If we prepare to have family at Christmas, prepare gifts, food, and or etc., these are good things. If God could use me to bring people to Jesus Christ this Advent though, then I would say that this Advent would truly be spectacular. So how are preparing ourselves, and how are we preparing the way for others?

I would like to share a story with you taken from www.maxlucado.com. Rev. Lucado, who is also the author of this year’s Advent Study, “Because of Bethlehem” has a great story about being ready, about being prepared. This story from Rev. Lucado is called “The Cave People”. Here is how it goes:

“Long ago, or maybe not so long ago, there was a tribe in a dark, cold cavern. The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill. Loud and long they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds in the cave were mournful, but the people didn’t know it, for had never known life. But then, one day, they heard a different voice. “I have heard your cries,” it announced. “I have felt your chill and seen your darkness. I have come to help.”

“The cave people grew quiet. They had never heard this voice. Hope sounded strange to their ears. “How can we know you have come to help?”

“Trust me,” he answered. “I have what you need.” The cave people peered through the darkness at the figure of the stranger. He was stacking something, then stooping and stacking more. “What are you doing?” one cried, nervous.

The stranger didn’t answer. “What are you making?” one shouted even louder. Still no response. “Tell us!” demanded a third.” “The visitor stood and spoke in the direction of the voices. “I have what you need.” With that he turned to the pile at his feet and lit it. Wood ignited, flames erupted, and light filled the cavern. The cave people turned away in fear. “Put it out!” they cried. “It hurts to see it.” “Light always hurts before it helps,” he answered. “Step closer. The pain will soon pass.” “Not I,” declared a voice. “Nor I,” agreed a second. “Only a fool would risk exposing his eyes to such light.” The stranger stood next to the fire. “Would you prefer the darkness? Would you prefer the cold? Don’t consult your fears. Take a step of faith.”

For a long time no one spoke. The people hovered in groups covering their eyes. The fire builder stood next to the fire. “It’s warm here,” he invited.

“He’s right,” one from behind him announced. “It’s warmer.” The stranger turned and saw a figure slowly stepping toward the fire. “I can open my eyes now,” she proclaimed. “I can see.” “Come closer,” invited the fire builder.

She did. She stepped into the ring of light. “It’s so warm!” She extended her hands and sighed as her chill began to pass. “Come, everyone! Feel the warmth,” she invited. “Silence, woman!” cried one of the cave dwellers. “Dare you lead us into your folly? Leave us and take your light with you.”

She turned to the stranger. “Why won’t they come?” “They choose the chill, for though it’s cold, it’s what they know. They’d rather be cold than change.” “And live in the dark?” “And live in the dark.” The now-warm woman stood silent. Looking first at the dark, then at the man. “Will you leave the fire?” he asked. She paused, then answered, “I cannot. I cannot bear the cold.” Then she spoke again. “But nor can I bear the thought of my people in darkness.” “You don’t have to,” he responded, reaching into the fire and removing a stick. “Carry this to your people. Tell them the light is here, and the light is warm. Tell them the light is for all who desire it.”

And so she took the small flame and stepped into the shadows.” (https://maxlucado.com/woodcutters-wisdom-and-other-favorite-stories/).

          The woman in this story, received the light and the warmth of Jesus Christ, and then Christ sent her out to prepare her people to receive the same warmth and the same light of Christ that she received. In this season of Advent, we celebrate John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus Christ. We are also invited to prepare our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus Christ. We are also called to be preparers in many way in this season. So how are you carrying the light and the warmth of Christ to others? May we all “Prepare the way of the Lord”. Amen.