Transparency (John 1:6-8, 19-28)
Listen.December 14th, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
As I was going through some of my old files, I came across several folders that were filled with overhead transparencies. Perhaps you are old enough to remember them? I used overhead projectors and transparencies quite a bit prior to delving into the Powerpoint program on my computer. Now I mainly do presentations in slide form. However, as I looked through the folders, I found some interesting overheads: There was a presentation on Philipp Melanchthon and Martin Luther; another was about the development of the Lutheran church in North America; another on church organizational structures; yet another on church renewal and so on; all of it exciting stuff!
In observing the transparencies, I began to think about the transparency sheet itself. Yes, I know that the information on the sheet is important. After all, that is what the presentation is about. Someone using an overhead projector for a presentation would appear rather foolish if the transparency were projected onto the screen with nothing on it. In fact, it would appear blank, transparent! The printing or drawing is the only thing seen on the screen you really don’t see the transparency film, yet the film is necessary to convey the message.
Today is the third Sunday in Advent and on this Sunday we again have before us a story about John the Baptist. However, in addition to last week’s passage that centered on preparation for the coming of the Messiah, today we emphasize John as he points beyond himself to the Christ. In this way, I always think about John as being transparent. His message was never about himself, it was always about the one who was to come and indeed who was present among them even as John proclaimed his message.
John’s witness
John the Baptist was on a mission. We read that he was sent from God. This was a divinely inspired and appointed mission. His mission was three-fold: The first aspect was to prepare people for the arrival of the Messiah. He did this through the process of baptism. Last week we thought about his announcement to repent and be baptized in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival. We recall that he was rather popular, although dressed and ate in a strange way; strange, but brought the concept of a prophet to the minds of those who flocked to the Jordan River. His popularity was such that people from Judea and all of Jerusalem went out to prepare for the coming.
Secondly, his mission was to point beyond himself to the Christ. After all, people were preparing themselves for the arrival, but who is the Christ? John’s life and message served the mission of God by directing people away from himself to the Christ; the light of the world.
Thirdly, John’s purpose and mission would be to identify who the Messiah is. We recall that in the baptism of Jesus, the heavens opened, the spirit came down upon Jesus in the form of a dove and the voice from the heavens confirmed Jesus as the Christ.
Because of his mission and his lifestyle, there was some confusion among the authorities over his identity. This confusion was probably magnified because of the message’s popularity. The authorities, more than likely, began to worry about this strange person who was gathering people around him with a message that resonated with the people of Israel. Many were waiting for the announcement that Messiah was coming and they would have been ready for this announcement.
However, the authorities wanted to be sure about this man and so they sent a delegation of priests and Levites to ascertain who this person is. In essence they are asking for John’s ID. His answers were telling about the kind of person that John was and the sort of mission that John had. He confesses that he is not the Messiah. He is not Elijah and he is not the prophet. The prophet was another Messianic forerunner that was expected to arrive prior to the Messiah as announced in Deuteronomy 18.15. Then John quotes the prophet Isaiah that his was the voice of one crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. Notice that John says “the voice of one” not the voice of THE ONE. He was not a person chained to a demanding ego. He points beyond himself.
The question continues from the religious authorities: then why are you baptizing? You do not have the credentials; you lack the status to do what you’re doing! Once more, John points beyond himself by telling the authorities that he is simply preparing the people through a water baptism for the Messiah’s arrival. In fact, he tells them that the Christ is among them, even though they do not know who it is. More confusion is felt on the part of the authorities because their concept of the Messiah was one who would arrive in power and majesty and glory as he would usher in a new age and a new reign of God. Instead John suggests that he is already among them and they do not know his identity.
John is transparent. Upon him is the message of the arrival of the Lord’s Messiah; this is the only important thing. Even John did not know who it would be until he baptized Jesus and it was revealed by the Father that this was indeed the Christ of the world.
Transparency
Just as we asked whether or not we are ready for the coming of the Messiah at the end of time, so we are being challenged this morning to consider our own transparency for the sake of Jesus Christ. As people who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, are our lives transparent enough so that others might see Christ in us and experience Christ through us? We are not the light of the world, but we bear witness to that light and allow that light to shine through us. Or do we? In our preparations for Christmas we might do well to consider how our celebrations and our preparations serve to point to Jesus. Christmas is not about us – although we like to think it is.
Our own egos often get in the way. Rather than being a clear sheet with the message of Christ on it, we allow our own egos and selfish patterns of living obscure the message of Christ. We like things to be about us! It’s about our power; it’s about ME. It can be about our standing in the community and about our popularity and about our being politically correct. So Christmas, and even everyday life itself, becomes more about us than about Jesus; we have been culturally defined in a way that precludes our faith from being transparent.
The challenge is before us: How can we exhibit the sort of transparency that John did. How can we direct others from us to Jesus? How can we be the people Jesus wants us to be especially in this holy season? In the book, The Lutheran Handbook II there is a short chapter titled, “How to show the World you’re a Lutheran without being flashy or boring.” There are helpful hints – from bumper stickers for your car to the wearing of the Lutheran symbols, such as a pin that is designed as Luther’s rose. Luther pointed out that living a Christian lifestyle is not about a shoe maker putting a cross on a pair of shoes, but making a good pair of shoes. The bottom line, however is not that we wear crosses or pins or stick bumper stickers on our cars, or plant signs in our lawns; it is about how we live our lives in the love and grace and Christ our Lord. It’s about being ready to point beyond ourselves in words and deeds to the Christ. What do your Christmas cards say? What do your celebrations focus on? Is your life transparent so that all see Christ?
The joyous truth
Just as John was one crying out in the wilderness and pointing beyond himself to the light of the world, so we are often voices in the wilderness in our day as we attempt to live the gospel and share the good news. Yet, even as it seems that we are in the wilderness, the message of Christ as Lord and Savior needs to be proclaimed, shared and lived. Cultural religion has usurped the faith aspect of our Christmas celebration. And that will continue unless we make it a point of celebrating the truth that came at Christ – in Jesus who is the Messiah and the Lord.
Today our country is in a difficult position in regard to the whole economy. It even affects the whole world. Today we see unethical leadership in our government as the issues concerning our governor comes to light. We’ve noticed others in government positions and the lack of morality that is prevalent. It seems as if we are crying out in the wilderness. People need to hear the truth of the gospel. They need to hear of the faithfulness of God even in the midst of such difficult times. God has not abandoned us and Christmas is still about Jesus! And for those of us who are faithful, our perspectives are raised and the constant is the promise of new life and salvation that God has given the world in his Son our Lord Jesus.
The light has come into our lives and now the challenge is for us to allow it to shine through us into the hearts and lives of those around us so that all may know of God’s love, grace and mercy in Jesus, the one who is coming. As the light fills our lives more and more and as we live more fully as God’s people reflecting that light of Christ, our lives are truly blessed with the love of Christ and the promise of new life. I pray for us to be as transparent as John so that Christ is seen in each and every one of his people throughout this season and throughout our life.
Conclusion
Darkness can be scary. It can totally envelop a person if it is complete enough. Today it is hard for us suburbanites to find darkness that is black enough to even see the stars. In Jesus’ day when the sun set darkness took over; it was extremely dark – stars could be seen and the moon was often bright. Yet, in that sort of darkness little lamps would be lit, fires started and a soft glow would be the only light seen. Then came the light of the world, Jesus the Christ and illumine the world with the gift of God’s love, forgiveness and life.
May that light illumine our lives that we reflect the glory and love of Christ in such a way that it touches others and glorifies God! Are we living transparent lives; for Jesus’ sake? Amen.