Advent 3C, 2025
Text: Matthew 11:2-15
Title: What to do with John
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If you want to start an argument among pastors, just bring up today’s Holy Gospel reading. And then ask about John the Baptist. Did John really have doubts over whether or not Jesus was the Messiah?
Some say, “No, John didn’t have doubts” This was the position of Luther and most of the church fathers. And that way of thinking goes like this:
John was the forerunner of the Messiah. He leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary, being with child, came to visit Elizabeth. John preached boldly in the wilderness and he pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Later, Jesus would say that John was the return of Elijah.
So, why did John send his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the coming Messiah?
“Well,” they say, “it wasn’t for John’s benefit, but it was for his disciples. He wanted them to have faith and follow Jesus, and so he sent them to Jesus to learn from him.”
That’s one position, that these questions that John asks aren’t evidence of John having doubts or questions about Jesus.
The opposition position, is that these are honest questions and “Yes, John did have doubts.” John isn’t completely sure that Jesus is the Messiah.
John had been expecting Jesus to come in power and judgement. Remember last week we heard John preaching about fire and wrath and chopping down dead trees. Jesus hasn’t done any of that. Jesus hasn’t begun to destroy the wicked.
In fact, the wicked seem to be winning. John is in prison with little hope for release. Perhaps he’s having doubts and second guessing his whole mission. And if John is just sending his disciples to Jesus, why does Jesus send them back to John?
You can see how this point of view makes sense as well. So what do we do with this troublesome text?
As long as we make this day about John the Baptist, we’ll only have questions and doubts. That’s what happens when you place your faith in another human being.
We often idolize people like John and put them on pedestals, particular when it comes to religion.
Doing so risks two dangers.
The first danger is that we make these religious figures into such objects of reverence that they’re not even human any more. And then it becomes unrealistic for you to actually follow their examples.
“Oh, I could never have the faith of Abraham, or the endurance of Job, or the missionary zeal of Paul,” you say, and you don’t even bother trying to follow after them.
In reality, every character in the Bible is a real human being just like you. These stories of faith are there to encourage you to follow their examples.
That’s the first danger, is that we make them super-humans.
The second danger is that we set ourselves up to fall when they inevitably fall from grace.
No pastor or professor or spiritual leader can live up to being treated like a demi-god. And so when they are shown to be sinners or a major scandal strikes them, we fall with them and give up our faith entirely.
So, it’s never a good idea to place your pastor, your professor, a devout family member on a pedestal like this. It never ends well for anyone.
And that’s certainly the case with John the Baptist.
If today’s not about John the Baptist, what is it about? It’s about Jesus, of course. Jesus is always the right answer.
Jesus is the only one who can bear the burden of being treated like God, because, in fact, that’s who He is.
Don’t worry about John’s faith. Don’t even worry about your own faith.
Now, that seems a bit heretical to say, especially in a Lutheran Church. Aren’t we the “saved by faith” people? Didn’t we just have “Faith alone” hanging on a banner in the back for the whole month of October?
The danger with talking this way is that it makes faith all about me and how strongly I believe.
Have you even wondered if you have saving faith? Have you asked yourself, “Do I really believe strongly enough?”
Don’t trust in your faith to save you. Just look at Jesus. Consider the miracles that He does.
Jesus gives the blind their sight.
Jesus makes the lame to walk.
Jesus makes the deaf hear.
Jesus makes the lepers clean.
Jesus makes the dead to rise.
Jesus preaches good news to the poor.
Jesus doesn’t wait for someone to be good enough or strong enough before they are qualified to be cared for by Him.
Jesus doesn’t come for those who are healthy and well-off, who have perfect little lives and perfect little families where nothing ever goes wrong.
Jesus comes for the sick and the poor. Jesus comes for the sinner and the outcast.
Jesus comes bringing healing and life and a restoration of paradise. Jesus comes to make a new creation free from sin and all of its effects, including doubt and discouragement.
Jesus comes for John, wasting away in prison, and Jesus comes for you, when you’re struggling to keep it all together.
I will admit to a bit of stress this time of year, as Christmas Eve is now ten days away.
I will admit to being worried that I’ll get everything done on time and done well, both at home and at church.
I will admit that I put a lot of pressure on myself to try to make a perfect Christmas celebration for my family and my congregation.
But all of that comes from focusing on myself, making Christmas all about me and what I’m doing to make it turn out right.
Instead, if we look to Jesus, and make this holiday about Him and what He comes to do, all the stress should melt away. All the worries and fears and doubts become unimportant.
I don’t need to be the Savior of my family. I don’t need to be the Savior of my congregation. I don’t need to be the Savior of the Naperville community.
And neither do you. And neither did John.
That’s Jesus’ job. That’s what He comes to do.
Jesus comes to take your worry and your stress and your doubts and give you joy.
Remember how the Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah ends, “everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
No matter what you’re struggling with, no matter what you’re dealing with this December, Jesus comes to bring you joy. And that joy comes only from Him.
What is our Introit today?
“Rejoice in John the Baptist, always?”
“Rejoice in your pastor, always?”
“Rejoice in your own perfect Christmas celebration, always?”
No!
“Rejoice in the Lord, always. I’ll say it again, ‘Rejoice!’”
Today is the Sunday of Joy. The rose candle is lit and the rose paraments and vestments are out.
No, it’s not Christmas yet, we’re still waiting.
No, Jesus hasn’t returned yet, we’re still waiting.
But as we wait, we have joy. Not in ourselves, not in our efforts, not even in our faith. We have joy in the Lord.
Because Jesus is coming.
When He came the first time, He brought joy as He healed the sick and raised the dead. He gave us a picture of that new creation that He has come to bring.
If He has kept God’s promise thus far, you can be sure that He will keep it to the end. You can be sure that all the promises of Isaiah and all the prophets will be fulfilled in His time.
Whether you find that easy to believe or difficult, whether you struggle with your faith or you’re rock solid, it’s not about you. And it’s not about John. It’s about Jesus, your coming Messiah and King.
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