February 20, 2008
Passage:Matthew 11:1-15
“‘Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
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?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers 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 offence at me.’
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. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen! “
“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
That was the question John the Baptist had while he is sitting in prison. Here is John, facing execution and he is starting to have doubts about his cousin. He has questions and he wants answers.
A friend who is also a pastor was planning on preaching this sermon in a missional way. When people enter the doors of a church, they are asking this very question that John asked of Jesus so long ago. “Are you the One?”
For three years, I was involved in a church plant. The church never really got off the ground, but I did learn a lot of things during that time. One is that the church has a lot of work to do. Many of the people I met, many whom I would consider friends, had stopped going to church for various reasons. For them, the answer to John the Baptist’s question was flat out “no.”
The people we meet in our daily life continue to ask this question. Are we the community of faith we profess to be? Do we represent Christ?
How do we answer that question? Jesus answers it by saying that the blind can see, the deaf can hear, the dead have come back to life and the poor have good news brough to them. The answer is that the proof is in the pudding. Are we sharing the Good News of Christ? Are we healing the sick, bringing hope to the poor? If so, then are actions are a sign that we are following the One who is to come.
Ghandi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
There are many who are seeking. When they encounter us as a professed follower of Christ, will they see us as followers of the One: caring for sick, tending to the poor, or will they echo Ghandi’s sentiments?
God in Christ, we know you are the One who is to come. There are no others. Give us the stregnth and courage to live a life in your footsteps.Amen.
Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
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