Sermon - December 19, 2010
Make
It So
Since its debut in the early 60s, I
have followed the series and the subsequent movies of Star Trek. You
have to admire the commanding power and the humanity of the captains of
the starship Enterprise. For
instance, Captain Picard punctuates his orders by saying “Make it so.”
The crew scurries and scatters to follow through regardless of the risk
or peril they face in the line of duty. Whether it's beaming down to an
inhabitable planet, altering the engineering of the warp core, or
plotting a course through hostile space, the captain's command is the 23rd
century equivalent of “Git 'er done.”
In awe, we read how God
commands space ship earth, the sun, moon, stars, galaxies, the entire
universe with His Word. God's Word brought all that is into being.
God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Gn. 1:3 God's
Word was revealed to the prophets. The Word came to me, “What do you
see, Jeremiah?” 11:1 God's Word was conceived and given birth as a
human being, Jesus. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Jn.1:14. When God speaks, it most assuredly comes to pass according
to God's Word. But sometimes, we don't see it, can't see it, and doubt
that it will.
Like John the Baptist. He had been
in prison about a year. His free ranging ministry along the Jordan River
was aborted by guilt ridden King Herod to please his illegal wife.
Imagine John, accustomed to the open air, the
rain on his face, the sun at his back, driven along Jordon by the
unleashed power of the Spirit of God, chained in the confines of a dark,
dank, narrow prison, under certain condemnation of the King of Judah.
His soaring ministry plunged into a downward spin, hitting the prison
floor strewn with hay and filth and only hungry rats to follow him.
His life work was seemingly at a dead end. John sends messengers to
Jesus. “Are you the one? Or should we be awaiting another?”
John already knew the answer to that. Even before he was born, he
leaped in Elizabeth's womb, at the sound of Mary's voice, the mother of
the Son of God. John knew when Jesus came to be baptized, and he saw the
Holy Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove. He didn't doubt then. Why
now? He was looking for a deliverer with a winnowing fork in His hand,
to wreak havoc and vengeance against the enemies of God. Where was the
fire and brimstone? Jesus came offering love and forgiveness.
As believers, we can identify with John. Not only do we have his
testimony, the testimony of the prophets before him, but as redeemed in
Christ, we have the testimony of the Spirit living within us. Things
can go splendidly, the world is a bright and beautiful, at least
predictable. God is in His heaven and all is right with the world. Then
suddenly, a pain grabs your chest, or there is a phone call from a
family member, or your job is on the grid iron. Through long hospital
stays, and mounting medical bills, crouched under unshakeable grief, or
burdened by unemployment and financial shortfall, your are imprisoned
like John. Then the heart cries out, “Are you the One Jesus? The One who
promises deliverance? Why aren't you getting me out of this?” Have I
been unfaithful to You? Why are you letting this happen? If we are
truly honest, and with God we always should be, there are times we
wonder, is Jesus all He says He is? Lord, if you truly are the
deliverer, then deliver me! Beam me outta here, out of this mess, out of
this hardship, this heart ache.
Jesus does not answer John directly, but replies, “Report to John
what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who
have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good
news is preached to the poor.” John would have recognized his report
as fulfillment of the Scripture pertaining to the promised Messiah.
That much of the prophesy had come to pass: eyes of the
blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the
lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Is. 35:5-6.
The rest of it is yet to come: But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the Lord will return. Gladness and joy will overtake
them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Is. 35:10
When John's messengers
turned to leave, Jesus gave high commendation to John as being more than
a prophet; the fulfillment of prophesy, God's order: “Make it so.”
I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before
you.
What's so great about
John the Baptist? He was Spirit filled. Luke 1:15 For he will be
great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong
drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother's womb.
He was great because he
lived a separated life: Mark 6:20 “Herod feared John, knowing that
he was a just and holy man. He was great because he stood
firm: He preached righteousness without compromise or impartiality even
to King Herod. Luke 1:17 tells us that John came in the spirit and power
of Elijah. Elijah was known for his bold stand for the Word of God. He
was great because he was submissive to God's will, honoring God's way
above any other. He took no titles for himself. When his credentials
were questioned by the Jewish authorities he simply answered in the Word
of the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.” Jn 1:23 John the
Baptist was great because he was a soul winner: According to Luke 1:16,
John would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their
God.”
For these reasons Jesus said
of John that among those born of women there has not risen anyone
greater than John the Baptist. Mt. 11:11. But then Jesus' surprise
statement: yet he who is the least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he. How's that possible? Every person in whom Christ
freely dwells has all the potential that was specific to John the
Baptist: the infilling of the Holy Spirit, called to live a life
separate from worldliness, to stand firm on the Word, be submissive to
God's will, and a soul-winner for Christ. When we are at God's command,
we have command of ourselves.
When Christ came as one of us, it was to identify with us, a human
being, subject to all that we experience. Where is the fire, the
brimstone, the vengeance of the Lord? To save as many as possible, God's
judgment awaits Christ's return.
Jesus' brother James exhorts us to be prepared, ready in this second
advent for the Lord's return. Be patient, then, brothers, until the
Lord's coming. Js. 5:7. We are to be as patient and diligent as a
farmer waits for the crop. We know the Kingdom is near, for God said has
already said, “Make it so.”
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