1 Corinthians 4:1-5 St. Matthew 11:2-10

I Cannot Tell

Many of you will remember the first Confirmation service I was part of in 
this parish. Not only did Josh Killinger get confirmed twice mainly because 
I could not tell the top of his head and the top of my own son's head apart, 
but a very unexpected thing took place that day. Glenn and I had discussed 
the timing of the music to follow the Bishop's final blessing.right after 
the Amen the organ was to thunder out the opening notes of "Breastplate", 
adding a climactic moment to an already emotional service. But Bishop West 
had other ideas. Over the blast of the first few bars, we all heard what, at 
the time, to me was a nightmare. "Stop! Stop!" Bishop West cried.the 
startled organist complied while I died a thousand deaths. Bishop West had 
not been part of our discussion and didn't know our plans. Obviously, we 
didn't know his either. He had wanted the confirmees to turn, to face the 
congregation and to give their testimony. Once they had done so, the 
organist was given the nod and all went back to business as usual.

As I read over the passage for this Third Sunday in Advent, I couldn't help 
but think that this unexpected turn of events was something similar to what 
many First Century followers of St. John the Baptist as well as followers of 
our Lord were experiencing at that time. Not unlike believers today, they 
had their own expectations regarding the way in which the Kingdom of God 
would be established. Many thought that the Messiah would be a radical 
political figure Who would claim His kingdom through acts of power and 
might. This was one of the reasons that St. John the Baptist was asked 
whether or not he was the Messiah.

Surely one so bold as to openly denounce the king about his scandalous 
marriage and to rebuke the religious elite in his fiery sermons had to be 
the Lion of the tribe of Judah! But St. John denied the title and pointed to 
one Who was to come after Him, the Lamb of God Who would take away the sins 
of the world.

Now, we must remember that our Lord and St. John the Baptist were cousins. 
No doubt they had discussed from time to time their respective roles in the 
great drama of God's plan of salvation. But for those who were not privy to 
these discussions, this Messiah's apparent reluctance to confront the 
political power of Rome and the puppet authorities they had set up in 
Palestine was totally unexpected. When their champion, St. John the Baptist, 
was thrown into prison, their shock and bewilderment was complete. That wasn't 
supposed to happen! Surely they should have moved directly from the Baptist's 
Amen into the thundering judgement scene of the reinstated Davidic King! But 
no.their hero languished in a prison, while the One he had pointed to had 
seemingly forgotten to come in on cue. When would He stand up to them and 
fight for the establishment of His kingdom?

And so, St. John the Baptist, sent his disciples to get a free lesson in 
Messiahship first hand. Apparently, some of his disciples had not understood 
what he meant when he said that he would decrease, but the Messiah would 
increase, and they had stuck with him through thick and thin.but it was now 
high time for them to stop following the forerunner and to join the Lord, 
but somehow St. John's fiery zeal matched their ideas better than Christ's 
merciful ministry, and thus the contrast kept them from making that move.

St. John no doubt knew that his days were numbered and so he sent his 
disciples to Jesus Himself with a question. "Are you the Coming One, or do 
we (note the plural) look for another?" Now some have thought that the 
question related to the Baptist's own struggle with his faith. Although this 
is certainly possible as none of the biblical characters are ever portrayed 
as perfect (thanks be to God!), it really is not probable, as we have 
already noted that the cousins no doubt knew their respective roles from 
studying Scriptural prophecies and from discussions with each other. It is 
highly unlikely that the two key figures in the Messianic movement would 
have been ignorant of each other's ministries especially since they were 
close relations! So, I believe it safe to assume that the fact that Jesus 
did not fit the popular image of political zealot would not have effected 
the Baptist negatively.but it would have effected his disciples.

Our Lord's reply to their question was designed to point them back to 
Scripture, and away from public expectation. The prophecies concerning the 
Messiah, especially those in Isaiah and Jeremiah, were being fulfilled 
before their very eyes through the works of Jesus. The promises of God were 
incarnate in Christ.the characteristic mark of the Messiah was clear for all 
to see.Jesus was the One peculiarly anointed by God's Spirit to preach good 
tidings to the spiritually impoverished, to heal the sick and to raise the 
dead.

The statement at the end of His reply was meant to challenge them to 
re-examine their presuppositions. "Blessed is he who is not offended because 
of Me." Or in other words, "Blessed is he who is not offended because I am 
not the Messiah he thought I should be, but the Messiah the Scriptures said 
I would be."

Many throughout the ages have been offended by the Messiah simply because He 
did not fit their mould. In the 1st Century the offence was based on the 
fact that He was a spiritual teacher rather than a political revolutionary. 
After the crucifixion the offence was based on having to believe in One put 
to death as a criminal on a cross. For the Greeks the offence was based on 
an apparent lack of eloquence and wisdom. To many in the modern church the 
offence is either based on the exclusive nature of Christianity (no man 
comes to the Father but by Me) or the inclusive nature of Christianity (if 
they are not against us they are for us) or the fact that our Lord chooses 
to reign in and through the changed hearts of men, women and children and to 
establish His kingdom covenant family by covenant family.

That puts the disciples of St. John the Baptist and us in the same boat. We 
simply do not know all there is to know about how the Lord will bring His 
kingdom to complete fulfilment. As the hymn writer, William Fullerton, 
correctly said, we cannot tell so many things.starting with the 
incarnation.why He would stoop to love the people of the earth and why He 
would even bother to seek those who have wandered far from Him.but we know 
that He did.that He came as a babe in a manger.that He was born of the 
Blessed Virgin Mary and that He lived amongst us as one of us. We know our 
Saviour has come and thus we are encouraged to look for the consummation of 
His kingdom.

The cross is another enigma to many. Even the most graphic portrayal of His 
suffering does not do justice to the agony of Calvary. Our minds are too 
small to comprehend the gravity of the crucifixion. But we do know the 
result of His death and resurrection. And so we know that the Saviour is 
present to heal others as He has healed us and many before us.

Neither do we know how He will win the nations and how He will claim His 
earthly heritage. We look at the countless prophecies in the Scriptures 
plainly stating that all the nations will turn to Him and that He will reign 
until He has placed all His enemies His feet (cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 2:8; 
22:27-31; Daniel 2:35b, 44-45; Habakkuk 2:14; St. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 
3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25, et. al.), but, like the Baptist's disciples, 
we stumble over the things we previously have come to believe. But we know 
that when the end comes, He will have done all that He purposed to do 
because He has never before failed in the fulfilment of His Word.

I cannot tell you how He will accomplish what He has promised, but I know 
that He will based on what He has already done. Likewise the disciples of 
the Baptist were exhorted to believe in Jesus because of what He was doing 
right there amongst them.

Life sure has its unexpected moments, doesn't it? But when we are confronted 
with a curve ball, let us learn the lesson our Lord taught the bewildered 
1st Century believers. The Scriptures do not fail.what God has said, He will 
do. We may not be able to plot the exact manner in which He will fulfil His 
Word, but we know He will because He has.

In many ways, our participation in the Holy Eucharist is also meant to 
exhort us to believe Him rather than our own muddled expectations. The proof 
that God has fulfilled His promise to deal with mankind's dilemma is here 
for all to see. As we come to His Table to participate in the symbols of the 
finished work of our Lord, let us bring the many things we cannot fathom 
with us and lay them before His feet. And as He feeds us with his Body and 
Blood, let us hear His reply once more.

"Do not be offended because I am not the Messiah you expected. I am Whom the 
prophets foretold. So take and eat, this is My Body given for you.drink 
this, all of you, for this is My blood shed for you and for many for the 
remission of sins.and as you eat and drink, remember Me as I am revealed in 
Scripture.remember that I am presently reigning as the Victorious universal 
King, ever to place all My enemies under My feet. As I have promised, so I 
will do as I have done. I came into the world to save you.I gave my life for 
your life.now trust Me to complete what I started that first Christmas Day."

© Johann W. Vanderbijl III 2004

The Rev. Fr. Johann W. Vanderbijl III, Rector
The Anglican Church of St. George the Martyr, R.E.
427 Batesville Road
Simpsonville, SC 29681
cranmer@...
www.stgeorge-re.org