Joy Where Is It To Be Found? 3rd Sun. in Advent, B Sunday, December 11, 2011 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL Sermon Text John 1:6-8, 19-28 Old Testament Reading Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-14 Epistle Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Gospel Reading John 1:6-8, 19-28 Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and from our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [Amen.] Our sermon is based on the Gospel reading just read. Dear friends in Christ Jesus, Joy where, oh where, is it to be found in this world? A number of years ago I served a congregation in the Denver, Colorado area. One Saturday evening I went to church to check the wireless sound system that was very old and had been giving us much trouble for the prior few weeks. I made my way through the dark church and turned the system on. To my great surprise, I heard the sound of a baby crying. After a few moments, I concluded that there was a wireless baby monitor in use in a nearby home that used the same radio frequency as did the churchs wireless sound s ystem. I was wondering how that would go over in the morning you know competing not just with a crying baby but with a baby whose crying is amplified! Then my thoughts were taken in an entirely different direction. The sound of man and woman arguing very loudly was also transmitted into the dark church. The couple must have been getting their breath when I switched on the church PA system for I hadnt heard them at first. It was shocking. Horrible language was being used by them against each another. Their voices grew louder, which, in turn, disturbed the infant even more and it cried all the louder! Where where within a few hundred feet of where I was where was that horrible and ugly situation occurring? I was literally sick to my stomach! And I felt helpless. Our church was surrounded by homes. I had no idea where that horrible situation was occurring. It could have been from next door or a number of houses away. If I called the police, what could I tell them, and what could they do? For, it would be impossible for the police to go knocking on every home in a 2 block radius!! What a mess. What a tragedy. Truly, it seemed as if the powers of darkness were having their way in that home and that darkness was even permeating the walls of our humble church! And how is it in our community ? What besides the cooing or crying of a baby what else might a baby monitor transmit from some homes in our area? Or perhaps things like that only occur in homes west of the Mississippi River or in homes at an altitude of at least 5,000 feet. But then, again maybe not! John the Baptist comes to us today as a transmitter of sorts, himself. He comes to us and the whole world telling us that hope and help is on the way! John knows not only the people of his time and era but also those who live in present day Colorado and and even in this far-south area of Chicago. John knows us and our condition. He knows people. He knows that we all so often seek joy where it doesnt reside and therefore, is not to be found! He knows what goes on between men & women husbands & wives, parents & children bosses & employees. John knows people through and through regardless of their position in society regardless of their income or lack thereof regardless of anything. He knows that fallen man, all so often, seeks to find joy in this world apart from the Lord and that effort of seeking joy and contentment outside of God is always doomed to failure! Using his thrilling voice of which we just sang, John tells us that Christ is near (LSB, #345, st. 1) and urges us he almost begs us to be prepared for Him! For John, sent from God (v. 6) has the job to bear witness that the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, was soon to come. Johns job is to tell people then and now that God calls them and expects them to make straight the way of the Lord. Theyre to take a thorough and honest inventory in their lives and see once again that seeking joy, contentment, and fulfillment from the things of this world and not from God in His one and only Son is a futile and wasted effort. That Saturday night some years ago when I heard the couple arguing through the churchs PA system I couldnt tell what the argument was about. But I have a strong hunch that they werent arguing about what portion of Gods Word theyd read or what hymn theyd sing that night for their family devotions. Nor do I think for one moment that they were arguing over which of them would pray for Gods blessing over their dear child when it came time to tenderly tuck it into bed that evening. No! Most likely, they were arguing over matters of this world that had no real consequence at all. They were most likely arguing over who would do which chore which of them would get their way or _______ . Well I have another hunch now. I think that its very likely that everyone in this room (or reading this sermon) has an idea regarding the cause and content of what it is that people argue about! For we all can be self-serving can we not? Certainly, one of the couple that night, could have been as right a rain while the other was wrong on all counts. But again in this world of sin and death of hurt and pain of bitter disappointment and lost hope there is no one no one without sin on his or her shoulders, is there? But on this day John the Baptist brings a simple, but profound message before us to consider once again. He reminds us that Hope Real Hope for this tragic, fallen world was not to be found in himself. Nor is it offered in Elijah, that last and greatest prophet of the Old Testament not at all. Real Hope is in the One who would come after John and for Whose way John was preparing the people. Jesus, the Christ of God the long-awaited Messiah was coming into the wilderness of Gods beloved peoples lives where they lived in darkness and bitter anguish. Jesus true God and true man was coming to break the darkness that enveloped them so that they might once again be Gods people and walk before Him in holiness and righteousness and all the while dwell in peace with one another in this world as well. Quit playing games, he says, and admit the truth. Admit that you, too, need a Savior and receive Him in humility, deep thanksgiving, and incredible joy! See your sin and then see your Savior with unbridled, boundless joy! is Johns call to us all. You Baptized Ones of His see Him come to you in His Word His Absolution and His Supper. In faith, also see Him lifted up on Calvarys cross so that you might have life and have it to the full through His suffering and death for your sins and His wondrous rising from the dead three days later! In all my years serving that church in Colorado never again were any outside transmissions picked up by our wireless system. Also, I never learned whose house it was where that ugly argument had occurred around that little baby. But God knew them. He knows all things. He knows the hurt and heartache of every home, every family, and every individual. He knows the darkness of sin and its horrible effects on people and by His grace and compelled by His deep love for us Hes rescued us from them all! Dear Christians know this the Lord your God is with you and for you. Take joy in Christ, for in Him you are complete, you are filled, you are at peace with God and one another. In Jesus name. [Amen.] ` ____________________________________________________________ Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat! http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210
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