INTRODUCTION:

A little boy and his Dad were in church, and the boy asked, "Dad, what does it mean when the people pass those plates?" Dad said, "It means the people are giving gifts to God."

Then the boy asked, "What does it mean when they have those trays stacked up there and bread and wine and people go up and kneel?" Dad answered, "It means they are guests at the Lord's table and they're taking communion."

And then the boy asked, "What does it mean when the preacher lays his watch on the pulpit?" Since the preacher was fairly long-winded and liked to circle the point several times before getting to it, if he ever did, Dad answered, "It means absolutely nothing, Son, absolutely nothing!" (1)

Last week I said there is nothing wrong with asking for signs from God. What we have to do is be ready. The signs are all around us, just like in a worship service or daily life. All we have to do is look. We associate certain actions, sounds and even smells with certain upcoming events, don't we. For example, we know that, after the offering, when Lynn plays the opening notes we're going to stand and sing the Doxology, giving thanks to God for the blessings of life.

We know if you see an old Three Stooges short and Moe, Larry or Curly picks up a pie, there's going to be a pie fight. We know that at a baseball game, when you stand to sing the National Anthem, the umpire or the announcer is going to holler "Play Ball" and the game is going to begin. We know when you see the neon sign lighted outside a Krispy Creme Doughnut place that there are fresh hot doughnuts.

And we know Christmas is just around the corner because the signs are all around us.

In Monday's Garfield you see him sitting there and he says: "Christimas is coming and you know what that means . . ." In the second panel, "Garfield has this huge grin onhis face. And in the third panel, still grinning like the Cheshire cat, he says: "That's exactly what that means." (2)

And today we hear from our friendly neighborhood New Testament prophet, weird uncle John, living and crying in the wilderness; Stopping at the local McGrasshopper and eating locusts and wild honey. Dressing in the latest ascetic outfit of camel skin and leather.

I. PREPARATION:

And while it seems intrusive to hear John's message of repentance in the midst of this season of the birth of the infant Son of God, we also know it marks the beginning of the season of our preparation. And while John seems intrusive, he is really that voice reminding us of the true nature of Christmas and the purpose of this child who will be laid in a manger because there's no room in the inn.

John the Baptist came to be a sign pointing to the one who would follow him. He enters into our Christmas celebrations to remind us that Christmas and the birth of Jesus is about more than what we give one another, it's about the gift God has for us.

Let's look at the passage for this morning: Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)

[1] In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,

[2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

[3] This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

[4] Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

[5] Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,

[6] and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

[7] But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadduccees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

[8] Bear fruit worthy of repentance.

[9] Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

[10] Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[11] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

[12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

While a little on the confrontational side, John was really just trying to prepare us for the coming of Christ. John didn't know when the Messiah would show up and begin his ministry. All he knew was that he was called to be the one to get people ready for that day. And underlying his message of repentance was a message of hope.

II. HOPE:

You see, you can't preach repentance without the hope of forgiveness. And you can't have the hope of forgiveness without understanding, at least in some small part, the grace of God which offers that forgiveness. And you can't repent and accept the forgiveness and grace of God without acknowledging that that there is something wrong that needs to be forgiven, something broken that needs to be healed.

In 1st Timothy 1:15 Paul writes: "The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." And in Romans 5:8 he wrote: "God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us."

Jesus, this baby whose birth we celebrate every year with lights and ornaments, music and gifts; this baby who had no home to call his own; this child of love and grace came to offer us forgiveness. He gave Himself on the cross to offer healing to this broken world filled with broken people.

I saw a short video of a Mom and her daughter putting up the Christmas tree, talking about the work that needs to be done in the next two days getting ready for the party. The daughter says, "Mom, I'll clean the house if I don't have to go with you all to see Uncle Steve."

Mom says, "Nice try. But you're going."

The daughter objects. "But Mom, why should I have to go. I hate going to that place. There's murderers and people who beat their wives . . ." The argument goes on but Mom puts her foot down.

The daughter relents and starts unpacking more the Christmas ornaments. She reaches into the box and pulls out her favorite ornament. But she's heartsick because the ornament is broken. It's obviously Mom's favorite too because Mom is upset as well and she says: "You know, my Dad made this for me, when I was six. And he was so careful. He put so much time into every little piece. This one's really precious to me. And you know, every time I hold it I think about him. And Steve, when he was little, he used to take it off the tree and play with it. And I guess now, it kind of reminds me of him, too, cause he's broken just like this. But you know, I can fix this and Steve is so precious to God because God made him. And God can fix him."

The daughter apologizes and Mom says, "We'll fix this"

The daughter says, "Why don't we fix it and then we'll go and see Uncle Steve together. I think he'd like it a lot."

Mom says, "That's a great idea, that's a great idea." They hug and continue getting three ready. (3)

That short clip captures the purpose of John's message. And the purpose of the birth of this baby which we celebrate with such abandon. While John's message seems strident and jarring in the midst of the baby shower atmosphere of Christmas, it really is a message of hope.

CONCLUSION:

This morning we celebrate a Sacrament that is almost as jarring in the midst of Christmas as is the message of John the Baptist. I say that because, when we celebrate the sacrament we remember the final outcome of the birth of this baby. The cross. And the cross and nails of Good Friday and Lent just don't seem to go together, do they.

And yet these two are forever mingled. The manger can never be looked upon without the shadow of the cross falling across it. To do so would be to turn the birth of our Savior into just another sweet and perilous refugee story.

To do so would be to forget the hope that was born that night. The hope that would grow into the man Jesus, who was one of us and who made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

This morning the signs are all around us. The tree, the lights, the Chrismons, the nativity, the candles, the holly, ivy, wreaths it all points to the birth of our Savior.

And on the altar, we have the reminder of the cost of our sinfulness, the bread and the wine, symbols of the body and blood of Jesus' sacrifice for our sakes. But that's not all, for in this simple bread and wine we also find the cure for that sinfulness, the cure for our brokenness. We find healing, forgiveness, wholeness and strength. All through the Grace of God.

In my understanding, there is no better Promise of Hope. It should leave us grinning just like Garfield. And it should leave each of us ready for the coming of Christ. Come to the table. Get ready through feasting on this Promise of Hope.

1. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), June 1989

2. Garfield by Jim Davis (11/29/04 Paws, Inc.)

3. Worshipfilms.com

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