St. John 1:6-8, 19-28
The prophet Ezekiel lived at the time that the powerful nation of Babylon was in power. He watched Babylon take Israel into captivity. Centuries of prophecy came to pass before Ezekiel’s very eyes. In Ezekiel 8-11 God gave Ezekiel a vision of what was about to happen. In chapter 9 the vision described six men (actually angels) who were to come bearing weapons to destroy. God’s people in Israel had been following their emotions and their hearts. They worshipped false gods and yet they presumed to worship the true God in the Temple all at the same time. There was another man among those six who was different than the rest. This man was clothed with linen. The linen reminds us of the clothing that the Old Testament priest would wear. The priest, you may recall, was the one who did the sacrifices and stood as one who interceded on behalf of the people for their sins. The priest was God’s mercy to the people. This other angel was, too. This man in linen was a similar figure who stood to help God’s people. In addition to the linen clothing, this man had something different from a weapon to destroy: this man had a scribal kit. God told this angel to go throughout Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the people that were sighing and crying for all the abominations that were being done among their people. The vision was to unfold in such a way that all those who had the mark on their foreheads would be spared and saved but those who did not have the mark would be killed by the other six angels. Those in Jerusalem who were sighing and crying were those were those who lived lives of faith and repentance in the promised Messiah. Those who died were those who were just going through the motions and playing the part of religion whose hearts were really far from God. John the Baptist was a similar figure. He was preaching in the desert and seeking people who were upset over their sin and the inherent evil in the world--he was calling all to see their sins and grieve over them. If John was the forerunner to Jesus and Jesus would divide households and cities through His preaching, then certainly John was set as one who would divide those who played the part of religion over and against those who truly desired the holiness of God to cover them. Such preaching leads us to ponder the need for Christian faith and devotion in our lives. What exactly are we doing? What is the Advent season and why do we need it? Advent is a penitential season much like Lent, and we desperately need to reflect on our lives and our need for Jesus otherwise the feast of the nativity (Christmas Day) will not bear out its true meaning for us. If you don’t believe in Jesus, then the rest of the discussion sort of stops. But, we must come to grips with why we need to believe in Jesus. We have to examine our lives and Advent gives us opportunity to do this. Law and Gospel preaching facilitates this, as well. You and I have to look at what causes us pain and hurt in life. Do the evil words and actions of others cause you pain? Do your own words and actions cause you grief? Do you ever look at your life and wonder how you will overcome your sins? Do you look at the pain that life and death brings to your life and wonder what it is all about? Sadness due to our sin, the sins of others, and the trials and chances of life all lead us to seek the face of God. It is this process of repentance, hope, and faith that leads us to hear the voice of Christ in a way that bears forth the good words of love and mercy. If you do not experience sadness and terror from your sins and this sinful world, then you are in danger. St. Paul is quite clear to the Thessalonians in chapter 5. “You yourselves know, perfectly that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. For when they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman in labor; and they shall not escape.” Paul is warning us about soft preaching that never convicts the heart of its sin. John the Baptist’s preaching was tough but it saved some. Jesus was brutally honest and some didn’t like Him for it. But, as we ponder all of this, one can hardly help but think of Genesis 18:20-33, where Abraham appeals to God’s character as a God who would not indiscriminately destroy the righteous along with the wicked, no matter how few in number the righteous may be. When God’s judgment strikes, He is also merciful and lovingly cares for those who cling to Him in faith. We see this in Ezekiel’s vision. There are those who loved the Lord even when Israel was crumbling due to spiritual decay. In Ezekiel’s vision is the promise and the encouragement for us to watch the signs of the world in which we live. We are not to allow ourselves to fall prey to the godless form and practice of the society in which we live. Repent. The mark on the forehead is God’s holy absolution for a repentant heart that clings to Christ. The mark on the forehead is Christ’s baptism, as the pastor makes the sign of the cross on the forehead and the heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. In such preaching and in the mark of Christ upon the forehead do we find God’s great mercy for us. Jesus comes to us--He seals and protects what is now His--your heart and your mind. All of this talk of looking at our sins and the sinful world and our terror and sadness from what we see leads you to be the recipients of Isaiah’s words in chapter 61. Jesus is the one who preaches good tidings to the meek. Jesus has been sent to bind up the broken hearted. Those who sighed and cried in Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day are the broken hearted whose wounds and pains are bound up and healed. Those who come today to the Lord’s altar bearing the pains of sin and the grief of life find in Jesus the One who opens these prisons that close us off. In Jesus is your peace. All the obstacles to believing in Jesus and trusting in Him are removed by Jesus through His seal placed upon your foreheads. Jesus forgives you. Your sins that repeat themselves and cause you sadness are removed. Jesus forgives you. Jesus is the God who heals your and removes your sins and then He proceeds to fill you with His love, which brings faith, hope, and worship. Christ is your strength and your Savior. He has busted the gates of hell, to be sure. You are His holy children sealed by His blood in holy baptism. He is also your strength and He who comforts all who mourn and struggle. His love pervades our lives and infiltrates every aspect of our existence. He shall continue to grant you what you need on this journey with Him--love, and faith, protection and peace. Jesus abides with you now and shall always be with His children who have the seal upon the forehead marking you as His blessed holy ones. Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=243282012833
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