Second Sunday in Advent: "Prepared by John for Jesus"

+ 2^nd Sunday in Advent – December 8, 2019 +

Series A: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Beautiful Savior Lutheran

Milton, WA

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

If Advent is about Jesus, our coming King, it’s also about preparation for his coming, his advent. God prepares us by sending John the Baptist, the forerunner, ahead of Jesus.

Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight”, he declares.

John is the voice crying out in same wilderness that Israel was led into during the Exodus. He’s standing in the same water Israel crossed to enter the Promised Land. And he’s preaching the same message Israel heard from the prophet Isaiah: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” An old message to be sure, but with a new twist.

“Repent. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And if heaven is described as a kingdom, Jesus is the King. Jesus rules and reigns. And not like we expect, for his kingdom is not of this world. 

The kingdom or “reign of heaven” is God’s intervention in creation, his “reigning.” John announces that God is breaking into human history, invading a fallen world to rescue from captivity to sin, Satan, and death. The reign of heaven is God’s gracious activity for you.

That’s what John is doing out there in the desert, calling Israel – and us - out of slavery and bondage to sin and into a new land, a new exodus. For the Day has dawned. The King is coming. 

So John the Baptist prepares us for Jesus’ coming: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Many in faith heard John’s message and believed. “They were going out to him and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”

Still others – like the Pharisees and Sadducees - had another answer. But John cuts them off. “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”

All of Israel was in need of a bath. They were sinful and unclean. Whether by blood, birth, or obedience to the Law the religious leaders thought they were worthy of being called children of Abraham. They had it all backwards though. True children of Abraham aren’t given salvation as a reward, but as a gift. The stones John mentions were a euphemism for Gentiles. God will raise up from the Gentiles children of Abraham. Children of promise and grace. Just like Abraham.

What the Pharisees and Sadducees needed was a spiritual lobotomy. When it came to salvation they thought they had it all worked out: “Sure we’ve sinned a little here and there - but after all, we’re children of Abraham and we’ve kept the Law.” 

John’s warning is for us too. Repent. The kingdom of heaven is near. John’s voice is jarring, offensive even. To repent literally it means to have a new and changed mind, a new way of thinking. John calls us to repent of our prideful goodness and repent of our sinful badness.

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees we need a new mind. And that is precisely what Jesus works in us in Baptism: he works repentance, faith, and a new mind in us. John’s preaching of repentance prepares us for the kingdom and reign of God which is coming and is ours in Jesus.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The people of Israel expected the Messiah to rule and reign as king, to conquer and destroy, to judge, and save. And Jesus certainly does all of those things, just not as he expected to. King Jesus was born in a lowly feeding trough in a lowly town of Bethlehem and grow up in the lowliness of Nazareth. King Jesus conquers and destroys by being conquered and killed in death on the cross. King Jesus is judged in our place. The axe of God’s wrath is laid upon the Root of Jesse, not us. Jesus reigns as King from his crib and his cross for you.

Jesus brings us the joy of the Gospel after John’s Law has exposed our valleys of weakness and brought our mountains of pride to rubble. Jesus comes in humility and weakness. Jesus submits Himself to John’s baptism of repentance even though He has no need of repentance. Instead of an axe and a winnowing fork, Jesus comes with the nails and wood of his cross. Instead of coming in judgment, He comes to be judged. King Jesus dies and we, and all his subjects live in Him.

That’s how John prepares us for Jesus’ Advent. He’s the butler preparing us for an exquisite banquet. Off with the old rags of sin and on with the new and holy robes Christ gives us. Your sin is stripped and you are clothed in Christ. You are baptized, washed, and cleansed. And now you’re ready for the Advent feast.

After all, Advent isn’t only about repentance. It’s also about bearing fruit. This Advent bear fruit in the pattern of John’s exhortation: hear the Word of the Lord – in church and around the dinner table with your families. Bear fruit in confessing your sins and receiving the Advent of Jesus in His body and blood. Bear fruit in showing mercy and compassion to others: a card, a phone call, a visit, a word of encouragement. God loves a cheerful giver. And you know why? Because He is the biggest giver of all. 

John’s words still ring true today: The kingdom of heaven is near. The gracious reign of Jesus is near. Today God breaks into human history; heaven invades earth. The reign of heaven comes as Christ feeds you with his own kingly flesh and his royal, precious blood.

You’ve been washed by water and the Spirit. You’re robed and swaddled in the finest garments of Christ’s salvation. All is prepared. The feast is ready. Christ your King draws near.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.