Dec 5

Written by: jyankey
12/5/2011 11:56 AM 

"The Unexpected Prophet"

Matthew 3:1 -12

Rev. Ted Jansen December 4, 2011 First UMC

 

(Let us open our hearts to the word of God as the Spirit speaks to us. Scripture reader goes to lectern. "Jane" the Baptist goes to pulpit and looks at the congregation. Scripture reader looks at "Jane" and they look at each other not saying anything. Scripture reader begins reading and stops so that Jane can speak scripture listed (verses 2, 7 – 12). Scripture reader ends and sits down. Jane stays in pulpit.)

 

1.)    John the Baptist prepared the people so when Jesus came to earth to begin his ministry they would be ready. This unexpected prophet startled and challenged the people as he began his vital ministry.

I want to know who you are. I had asked for a John the Baptist from the acting agency. (I am Jane the Baptist.) Oh, that is unexpected. I am not quite sure what I should do now. I had planned on a John the Baptist for the sermon. Do you know anything about John? (Yes, even though I am Jane the Baptist I am familiar with John.) I want to look at a few things about John's life that were unexpected and if you can help me out that would be great. (Yes, I will do the best I can. Hey, all I know is that I was to come as "Jane" the Baptist. So what do you want to discuss about John, or Jane?!)

    Well, I discovered some unexpected things in God's plan that involve John. I wonder if in John's life God's plan can be revealed for our lives?

 

2.)    a.)    The first unexpected thing I noticed was the location of your ministry, John. The expected place for you to announce to the world of Jesus' coming was in a place where the most people would live, like in a large city, like Jerusalem. I would think you would want to be in the center of the most influential city. Instead the Lord places you in the desert where very few people live. Isn't that unusual? Unexpected. (Yes, I agree. The desert is a lonely place.)

     b.)    Your message was unexpected. You called upon people to repent. You could have started with a softer message like, "you are ok," but you told them to move the direction of their lives. Unexpected. (Yes, but there are times when you have to be blunt and direct.)

    c.)    You were baptizing people in the Jordan River. You could have pronounced a blessing on them without getting the people all wet and muddy. That would have been easier. Unexpected. (You are right, but there is something interesting that happens when people get entirely soaked, it touches their souls in a special way.)

    d.)    Then when you began calling the religious leaders names, ridiculing them and telling them to get their act together that was unbelievable. It seems like you should have had more respect for them; these were the religious people that were in the same business as you, helping people get closer to God. Yet, you blasted them. Unexpected. (They really weren't helping people get closer to God. They were burdening people with more religious things to do and in the process they forgot about the loving God. They were actually moved farther from God.)

    e.)    You said your role was very small in the Kingdom of God, that you were not even worthy to carry the Messiah's sandals. You did not want a bright moment of fame. Unexpected. (I am a servant, not the Savior.)

     f.)    Then you told the people that the Messiah would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire, not just water. Fire consumes and makes things hot. Is this the message that we needed to hear? Unexpected. (Jesus meant business and I wanted people to know that. Jesus wasn't planning on making life more comfortable for people; He was planning on making people holy.)

    Well, thanks John, I mean Jane, for helping us. (I am glad I could help.)

 

3.)    As I think about the unexpected from John's life, and Jane's, let us seek to understand how God might be working in our lives.

    a.) Has God placed you in a desert place where it feels like you are alone? Does your faith journey feel barren, dry and without color? Do you believe that God is with you in the desert? God placed John in the desert for a reason. God is with you. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "I am with you always."

    b.) Does God want you to move in a different direction for your life? Are you walking on God's path or are you moving away from God? Is it time for you to repent and confess your sin before God? God points out our errors and the way we can be forgiven through the love of Christ, shown on the cross. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins."

    c.)    Is your life messy with your family, your work, your health, your finances, your life? Even though you are soaked can you sense the blessing of God? Habakkuk 3:17 – 19 says, "Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior, The Sovereign Lord is my strength."

d.)    Does God need to get you out of your comfort zone? Are you content doing religious things but don't care about your relationship with the living God? God is getting your attention in the middle of your discomfort to let you see His plan and His love in a greater way. God needs a holy humility in your life as you live in faith. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

    John's life reminds us that God's will is often revealed in the unexpected.

 

4.)    Two brothers farmed together. They lived in separate houses on the family farm, but met each day in the fields to work together. One brother married and had a large family. The other lived alone. Still, they divided the harvest from the field equally.

One night the single brother thought, "my brother is struggling to support a large family, but I get half the harvest." With love in his heart, he gathered a box of things he had purchased from his earnings-items he knew would help his brother's family. He had planned to slip over to his brother's shed, unload the basket there, and never say a word about it.

The same night, the married brother thought, "My brother is alone. He doesn't know the joys of family." Out of love, he decided to take over a basket with a quilt and homemade bread and preserves to warm his brother's house. He planned to leave the items on his porch and never say a word.

As the brothers stealthily made their way to each other's home, they bumped into one another. They were forced to admit to what they were doing and there in the darkness, they cried and embraced, each man realizing that his greatest wealth was a brother who respected and loved him. (Stories for a Faithful Heart, Nighttime Treasures, page 64 compiled by Alice Gray)

 

5.)    The Lord is like the brothers who see you and want to come to your home, your soul to bless you. The unexpected gifts of love are from the Lord. The unexpected prophet came to let the people know that the Lord loved them unconditionally.

    May we believe that the Lord loves us with unconditional love, unexpectedly. May we receive that gift of God's love in Christ in Communion.