Third Sunday in Advent – Pastor Nancy Nyland / Pastor Will Bevins
Gospel and Sermon – Pastor Nancy Nyland, Director for Evangelical Mission
The Holy Gospel according to St. John the first chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God, the Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Testimony – it is not a word that we often hear in Lutheran circles. And yet, this is what John is doing in our Gospel reading for this week.
John came as a witness to give testimony to the light, so that all might believe through him. John, himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
Jesus, the light of the world. We sing of Jesus. We can witness to Jesus in song (as long as you sing alone at home) 😊😊 Do any of these songs giving testimony to Jesus ring a bell with you?
- What a Friend We have in Jesus.
- Jesus is a rock in a Weary Land
- Oh Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts
- Jesus Christ is Risen Today
- Jesus, Shall Reign
- Shine, Jesus, Shine
- Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
- Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
Jesus, the light of the world. Jesus, the Savior of the world. We give testimony through our actions. We witness to Jesus as we become the hands and feet of Christ in this world.
- Making a phone call to someone feeling isolated
- Sending a card that brightens someone’s day
- Sharing food with the hungry
- Hanging warmth on the mitten tree
- Buying gifts for the angel tree
- Laughing and spending quality time with family and friends via Zoom or in-person when possible
- Baking cookies and sharing with the neighbors
Jesus, the light of the world. Jesus, the Savior of the world. Jesus Emmanuel, God with us. We witness to Jesus to God’s presence with us as we speak words of love and kindness. As we give testimony not just through our actions, but through our words?
- God bless you.
- Can I pray with you?
- The other day something amazing happened, some would say that it was a coincidence, but I believe it was the Spirit at work.
- Even in this time of pandemic, I recognize many blessings from God
- God is active in our word in many ways. I have learned to pay attention to the good that God can bring out of challenging, hurtful and even tragic situations.
- God loves you no matter what.
- May the peace of Christ be with you.
Witness, testify, testimony. It is sometimes uncomfortable, it takes effort and intentionality and sometimes even sacrifice. Interesting, isn’t it that sometimes it takes sacrifice to witness to the one who sacrificed for us. God sacrificed His only begotten Son – because God so loved the world, so loved you. Jesus sacrificed His life – because he so loved the world, so loved you.
Love — love of family, love of friends, love of neighbor, love of strangers….this love can be sacrificial. Love is being uncomfortable, but wearing a mask anyway. Love is making an effort to stay socially distanced. Love is being intentional about when we go, where we go and when we stay home. Love is sacrificing the way it used to be to be safe and to keep others safe.
John is out in the wilderness, people traveling miles to hear him. John – the voice crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ John was not pointing to himself. He was pointing to someone else – to the light –to Jesus, to the Messiah. Preparing the way, preparing people, for Jesus, the light of the world.
As I think of John giving witness to the light, I can’t help but think of the verse that is a part of our baptismal service. After the child, after the youth, after the adult is baptized, a candle is
lighted and given to them with these words, “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.
- How is it that you are letting your light so shine before others?
- How is it that you are witnessing to Jesus, the light?
- How is it that you are sharing God’s love?
- How is it that you are testifying to the work of God’s Spirit active in our lives and in our world today?
All of these things not for your glory, not because you are bragging, but so that others may see your good works and give glory to God. Your good works are pointing to Jesus, preparing the way for others to encounter Jesus.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
“Then, who are you?” they asked. And in so many words John answered, “I am just John, a man who is trying to do what I believe God called me to do.” The bystanders likely were very disappointed. They were hoping John was the Messiah or Elijah, or at the very least a prophet.
John seems at peace, knowing who he is. John seems content . There is an urgency about John. He doesn’t have time for an appropriate wardrobe, he doesn’t have time to cook, settling for locusts and wild honey. John is doing what John’s job is — making a way for Jesus. Not being the Messiah, not being Elijah, not being a prophet was is OK with John. Being John, was enough. It was who God created him to be and he was doing what God called him to do.
It is the same with us, you know. God does not expect us to be some great figure in history, to do great things in life, to be successful, renowned, famous. God does not expect us to be something we are not or to be someone we are not.
Being you is enough. God accepts you as you are, loves you as you are, calls you as you are, works through you as you are. God has work for you to do that doesn’t require you to be anything other than who God created you to be! That is good news, my friends, and that is freedom.
So go and live in this freedom — give testimony through your words and deeds and song, live your life as a witness to the one who created you, be the hands and feet of Christ, show kindness, point the way to Jesus, tell your stories of faith, and share the good news in all you do. Amen.