Advent 3 – Gaudete December 11, 2022
Matthew 11:2-10 (11)
A Time of Preparation
v.10 This is he of whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you."
Dear friends in Christ, the Latin name for this Sunday in Advent is "Gaudete" or "Rejoice!" Sunday. On this Sunday we light that peculiarly colored candle—some name it "Rose," but let's be honest—it's pink. A color meant to reflect joy and happiness. And we certainly have much to rejoice in today, don't we, beloved? For on this day we are free to come together in God's house—hear His Word—receive His Sacrament—without fear—without danger. We are particularly blessed at St. Paul this morning to hear our Sunday School children lift up their voices in song and praise to our Savior Jesus.
There has been a lot of preparation that has had to happen to make this day possible. We have had weeks of practice with the children: learning the words and melody, etc.—just ask our Sunday school teachers how much labor went into today! A lot!
And this is not the only kind of preparation that is going on right now. We have many things to do: shopping, baking, decorating, parties to plan and attend, gifts to buy and to wrap, special meals to cook and enjoy, family get-togethers, concerts and pageants to rehearse for and attend, etc, etc. etc. It's exhausting.
Yet with all the things we have to prepare for—there is one above all others that we should not neglect. For it is more important than family dinners and Christmas presents under the Tree. Indeed, during the season of Advent we are called to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas—the coming of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus who is God in human flesh come to save the world from sin. If we fail to prepare for His coming—we may find ourselves on the wrong side of heaven at His return—not somewhere we want to be.
In our text for this morning, Jesus is speaking of His cousin, John the Baptist. John had been put in prison for preaching the uncomfortable truth to the king of Judea that he was sinning by taking his brother's wife for himself. Now in prison, John asks of Jesus, "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Jesus responds to the question by instructing John's disciples to return to John and tell him what they have heard and seen. "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." In other words, Jesus points to His words and deeds as confirmation and proof of Who He is—God in human flesh—for all to believe.
Then Jesus speaks to the crowds concerning John the Baptist. They had all come out to see John when he was preaching at the Jordan river—and baptizing people into repentance for the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus says that John was no ordinary prophet. Indeed, John was the last prophet of the Old Testament era—the prophet who was prophesied in the Scriptures to come before the Christ—the Messiah—in order to prepare the way before Him. Jesus quotes the prophet Malachi, saying of John, "This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'"
John was the forerunner of the Christ—the Messiah. John's job, given to him by God, was to preach of the coming of the Son of Man—the One whom God would send to free His people from bondage to sin, death, and hell. John was the final preacher in a long list of preachers dating back to the beginning of time when Adam and Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, and were told by God that He would send One who would crush the head of the serpent devil, and undo the harm that had broken His good creation.
John had been teaching and preaching along the banks of the Jordan river. He had been speaking to people concerning the Christ—that He was coming—One whose sandal John was unworthy to stoop down and untie—One who is the Lamb of God come to take the sin of the world away—One who would increase, while John himself would decrease. This Jesus is the One about whom John had been preaching and teaching. This Jesus is the One whom John was preparing the people to meet and to receive.
How? How does one prepare to meet their Maker—to meet their Redeemer—their Lord and Savior? Through repentance. A turning away from sin and a turning toward God's mercy in Christ Jesus through faith. This is how people are prepared to meet the Lord. By repenting of our sin—confessing it as wrong and evil—contrary to God's holy Word and will. And then looking to Jesus—the Lamb of God—for mercy and forgiveness through His shed blood on the cross.
This turning to Christ Jesus in faith is what brings great joy and contentment to sinners in need of grace and peace. For Jesus' words and deeds proved He is who He claimed to be—God made flesh. He healed the sick—raised the dead—and proclaimed good news to those in need. Good news to those weighed down with guilt over their sin. Good news to those fearful of death and the grave—for He is the resurrection and the life! This Jesus, whom John proclaimed to be the Christ—is the Lord and Savior of all. And He is coming soon to usher in His everlasting kingdom of joy and blessedness.
How can we be prepared for Jesus' coming—even today? How is the way before Him prepared? In ways we may not always recognize, at least not at first glance. It looks like people being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit—being cleansed from all sin and made heirs of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It looks like children singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God, while telling the story of Jesus' birth. It looks like all those instructed in the faith humbly coming to kneel before this altar and receive the body and blood of Jesus into their mouths for the forgiveness of their sins. It looks like the whole congregation of saints at prayer—humbly confessing their sins before God and one another—and then hearing with joy and thanksgiving the sure and certain absolution—forgiveness—for all their sins in the name of the Triune God! It looks like Christians simply spreading the message of Christ's salvation to friends, family, and neighbors by the words that they speak. It looks like Christians offering forgiveness toward their fellow sinners when they have been wronged—or going to a neighbor to confess their own sin and seeking forgiveness. It looks like families gathered around the Word of God in their homes—reading and studying it together—and then offering up prayers of intercession and thanksgiving for all whom they love.
Beloved, the Lord God has sent messengers ahead of you—to proclaim to you the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ who died and rose again for you. Perhaps, it was your parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, maybe even your own children. Now it is your great joy and privilege to be a messenger to someone else. To go forth from this place with the message of peace and salvation you yourselves have received and heard—to speak that glorious Good News to others. For Christ has come! There is no need to look for another! So now turn in repentance to the One true God and look to Him for your forgiveness and peace—for Jesus has come to set His people free. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 11:2-10 (11)
A Time of Preparation
v.10 This is he of whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you."
Dear friends in Christ, the Latin name for this Sunday in Advent is "Gaudete" or "Rejoice!" Sunday. On this Sunday we light that peculiarly colored candle—some name it "Rose," but let's be honest—it's pink. A color meant to reflect joy and happiness. And we certainly have much to rejoice in today, don't we, beloved? For on this day we are free to come together in God's house—hear His Word—receive His Sacrament—without fear—without danger. We are particularly blessed at St. Paul this morning to hear our Sunday School children lift up their voices in song and praise to our Savior Jesus.
There has been a lot of preparation that has had to happen to make this day possible. We have had weeks of practice with the children: learning the words and melody, etc.—just ask our Sunday school teachers how much labor went into today! A lot!
And this is not the only kind of preparation that is going on right now. We have many things to do: shopping, baking, decorating, parties to plan and attend, gifts to buy and to wrap, special meals to cook and enjoy, family get-togethers, concerts and pageants to rehearse for and attend, etc, etc. etc. It's exhausting.
Yet with all the things we have to prepare for—there is one above all others that we should not neglect. For it is more important than family dinners and Christmas presents under the Tree. Indeed, during the season of Advent we are called to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas—the coming of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus who is God in human flesh come to save the world from sin. If we fail to prepare for His coming—we may find ourselves on the wrong side of heaven at His return—not somewhere we want to be.
In our text for this morning, Jesus is speaking of His cousin, John the Baptist. John had been put in prison for preaching the uncomfortable truth to the king of Judea that he was sinning by taking his brother's wife for himself. Now in prison, John asks of Jesus, "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Jesus responds to the question by instructing John's disciples to return to John and tell him what they have heard and seen. "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." In other words, Jesus points to His words and deeds as confirmation and proof of Who He is—God in human flesh—for all to believe.
Then Jesus speaks to the crowds concerning John the Baptist. They had all come out to see John when he was preaching at the Jordan river—and baptizing people into repentance for the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus says that John was no ordinary prophet. Indeed, John was the last prophet of the Old Testament era—the prophet who was prophesied in the Scriptures to come before the Christ—the Messiah—in order to prepare the way before Him. Jesus quotes the prophet Malachi, saying of John, "This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'"
John was the forerunner of the Christ—the Messiah. John's job, given to him by God, was to preach of the coming of the Son of Man—the One whom God would send to free His people from bondage to sin, death, and hell. John was the final preacher in a long list of preachers dating back to the beginning of time when Adam and Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, and were told by God that He would send One who would crush the head of the serpent devil, and undo the harm that had broken His good creation.
John had been teaching and preaching along the banks of the Jordan river. He had been speaking to people concerning the Christ—that He was coming—One whose sandal John was unworthy to stoop down and untie—One who is the Lamb of God come to take the sin of the world away—One who would increase, while John himself would decrease. This Jesus is the One about whom John had been preaching and teaching. This Jesus is the One whom John was preparing the people to meet and to receive.
How? How does one prepare to meet their Maker—to meet their Redeemer—their Lord and Savior? Through repentance. A turning away from sin and a turning toward God's mercy in Christ Jesus through faith. This is how people are prepared to meet the Lord. By repenting of our sin—confessing it as wrong and evil—contrary to God's holy Word and will. And then looking to Jesus—the Lamb of God—for mercy and forgiveness through His shed blood on the cross.
This turning to Christ Jesus in faith is what brings great joy and contentment to sinners in need of grace and peace. For Jesus' words and deeds proved He is who He claimed to be—God made flesh. He healed the sick—raised the dead—and proclaimed good news to those in need. Good news to those weighed down with guilt over their sin. Good news to those fearful of death and the grave—for He is the resurrection and the life! This Jesus, whom John proclaimed to be the Christ—is the Lord and Savior of all. And He is coming soon to usher in His everlasting kingdom of joy and blessedness.
How can we be prepared for Jesus' coming—even today? How is the way before Him prepared? In ways we may not always recognize, at least not at first glance. It looks like people being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit—being cleansed from all sin and made heirs of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It looks like children singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God, while telling the story of Jesus' birth. It looks like all those instructed in the faith humbly coming to kneel before this altar and receive the body and blood of Jesus into their mouths for the forgiveness of their sins. It looks like the whole congregation of saints at prayer—humbly confessing their sins before God and one another—and then hearing with joy and thanksgiving the sure and certain absolution—forgiveness—for all their sins in the name of the Triune God! It looks like Christians simply spreading the message of Christ's salvation to friends, family, and neighbors by the words that they speak. It looks like Christians offering forgiveness toward their fellow sinners when they have been wronged—or going to a neighbor to confess their own sin and seeking forgiveness. It looks like families gathered around the Word of God in their homes—reading and studying it together—and then offering up prayers of intercession and thanksgiving for all whom they love.
Beloved, the Lord God has sent messengers ahead of you—to proclaim to you the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ who died and rose again for you. Perhaps, it was your parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, maybe even your own children. Now it is your great joy and privilege to be a messenger to someone else. To go forth from this place with the message of peace and salvation you yourselves have received and heard—to speak that glorious Good News to others. For Christ has come! There is no need to look for another! So now turn in repentance to the One true God and look to Him for your forgiveness and peace—for Jesus has come to set His people free. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.