Not the Christ

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

Who are you? That is the question posed by the Jews to John the Baptist on the bank of the Jordan as he preached a baptism of repentance. Who are you, that you say these incredible things, that you condemn the establishment, that you ignore the way things are supposed to happen around here? Tell us, what makes you think you're so special?

After all, no one upsets the apple-cart just for the fun of it. John must have a reason. Perhaps he is the Christ. Perhaps he is Elijah, or Isaiah, or one of the prophets. Perhaps he is just plain crazy. Who is he, that he would choose to live in the desert, shouting at people about their sins, and living on locusts and honey?

So the Jews send envoys to John. Who are you? What should we put on the form so that we can report back to our superiors? Can we see some identification, some credentials? The answer – No. No, you may not inquire as to John's background. No, he is not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor one of the prophets. You can condemn John as a kook. You can whisper about him from the back row. You can denounce him to Herod and get him thrown in prison. But you cannot shut him into some pre-defined box.

Who is he? “He said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.'” He is a voice, crying out, preparing the way of the Lord. He is a finger pointing to the Lamb of God. He is the voice of the prophets, heralding the coming of the Kingdom of God into the flesh.

What does a witness do? A witness testifies to what he has seen and heard, to what he knows. The Evangelist declares, “He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.” John was not the light, but a witness that the Light of the World was coming, and a beacon that the Kingdom of God was at hand. He proclaimed what he saw and what he knew.

A witness does not point to himself. John was no self-help guru, proclaiming his wisdom and charm to entice the masses. He was not a slick snake-oil salesman, prying open the pocketbooks of the unsuspecting with promises of a cure-all. There was no cult of personality around John – he would not have allowed it anyhow. John was rude, obnoxious, and uncouth. And yet he was tremendously popular. All Judea came out to see him, to hear his preaching, and a great many of them confessed their sins and were baptized by John. But he was not the main attraction.

Likewise, the Ministry functions in the same way today. It is not about me, or any other pastor in any other pulpit. You are not here to see me or to hear the eloquent words I craft. If you like me, great. If you don't, fine. The Ministry is about bearing witness to the One who is the big deal. Vestments, ceremonies, rites and rituals – all that is to point to Jesus, the Lamb of God who bears the sin of the world. Every Christian pastor must join in St. John's confession: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

But the world seeks an impressive figure. You want someone flashy and slick. You want someone who says sweet things and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Your ears itch for words that lift up and affirm you, whatever your malfunction. You get tired of waiting and looking for the Christ, and you would rather have the new, shiny gimmick that promises to give you twelve steps to achieving the best life ever, or having the nicest family, or the most domesticated husband, or whatever you think you want. Sure, you can find these sorts of preachers, but they are not witnesses. They are charlatans, selling themselves to empty your pockets and your souls. Repent, and follow the finger of the true witness. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

The Jews ask John, “Are you the Christ?” The answer is no. But that is not the end. The good news is that John is not the Christ, but there is a Christ! The voice crying in the wilderness is crying out that the Christ is here. The finger points to the Coming Messiah. The Holy Spirit has pointed Him out to John, and John points Him out to you.

Look not to the witness, but to the one to whom he points. Look, behold the Lamb of God who bears the sins of the world. Look to Christ, the One foretold by prophets of old. Look to the Son of God, who is born of a virgin mother. Look to Him who hangs on the cross, stricken, smitten, and afflicted, and yet bearing the sins of His people to the end. John proclaimed His coming, but none can mistake Him. The glory of the Lord is revealed in the One to whom John bears witness. The Lamb of God who bears the sin of the world has once been slain, but now is raised, and He sits on the throne of heaven forevermore.

You are not the Christ, no more than John was. But, you are a Christian. You have Christ within you, Christ before you, Christ upon you. You bear the image of Christ, and you waft the aroma of Christ. The holy Name of God was engraved upon you by the waters of the font. The death and life of Christ has been poured down your throat time and again. You have His gifts in abundance, in body and soul. You have His life, because He has made it your life and light and salvation. You are not the Christ, but you are His, and He is yours.

See, the Lamb, so long expected,

Comes with pardon down from heav'n.

Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,

One and all, to be forgiv'n; (LSB 345.3)

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.