Advent Week 3

Psalm: Psalm 146:5-10 

Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 

Epistle: James 5:7-10

Welcome to the third week of Advent, traditionally known as the Sunday of joy.  The last few weeks have focused more on the second coming of Jesus and the hope we have as we wait for that day.  Today, however, we will look more at the first coming of Jesus and his ministry on earth.

First, let us look back at what the two Old Testament readings say about Jesus’ first coming.  In both the Psalms and Isaiah, the writers are looking forward to a time and place when all things will be made right.  We have looked at this idea the past two weeks in relation to the hope we have when Jesus comes again, but these two writers are hoping that the Messiah, God’s Anointed, would come and bring the healing and justice Israel and the world greatly needed.  They both envision a time when the whole created order will rejoice in the Lord and all hurt and pain will cease.  The blind will see and the deaf will hear and the lame will walk and the prisoner will be set free.  Justice, but also a great joy, will be present when that day comes.

Reading these two passages, and many others, give us insight into the questioning and expectations of John the Baptist and his disciples in Matthew 11.  They are looking forward to the hope of a great king and Messiah, the “Expected One,” they tell Jesus.  They knew the situation Israel was in under Roman authority and that the world seemed to not be right, as well as the prophecies the Old Testament writers hoped for.  It with this background that the disciples come to Jesus and ask if he is the One they (and us) read about in Psalms 146 and Isaiah 35.  Will Jesus be the one to redeem Israel, restore creation, and set up a kingdom with God on the throne?

Jesus’ response directly relates to the question.  They ask if he is the Messiah, and he goes right back to the Old Testament prophecies and declares that what they hoped for, at least at some level, is being fulfilled. (See Isaiah 35:5, for example.) Then he goes on to declare that John the Baptist also fulfilled prophecy and was the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah.  Jesus answers their question in a fairly direct manner, yet without giving a yes or no, he allows the disciples and the others who are present to decide for themselves who Jesus is.  He also avoids the wrath of the authorities by not declaring who he is before he is ready.

Jesus’ response is interesting also because of what he doesn’t say.  He doesn’t say that the deserts are now flowing with water or that lions and other predators will no longer prowl the highways.  He declares that certain things are happening and that blessed is the one who does not take offense at him.  No doubt the response left John, his disciples, and even us wanting more.  Jesus doesn’t say yes or no, and he doesn’t even declare that all the hopes and prophecies are fulfilled.  Jesus leaves us all wanting more and this passage anticipates that moment when Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15) This is the central question we all must ask and it is the one John and his disciples come asking.  Just who is Jesus?

Well, that is the question we must all answer perhaps more than once as we continue to put Jesus first in our lives.  But getting back to Jesus’ answer, we are reminded that all the prophets hoped for hasn’t been fully accomplished.  Jesus and we his body, the church, still has work to do.  We once again have to return to the theme that Jesus is coming again.  His first coming points to and begins his Kingdom, but there is work to be done still. 

I feel like I left the theme of joy by the wayside.  But hopefully the idea of Jesus’ work provides a great sense of joy in us.  We also can find joy in knowing that Jesus has left his Spirit here to work in the world and we are not alone.  Finally, what joy we can have that Jesus is coming again to restore and renew all creation and set up his Kingdom!

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

Grace and Peace