Date: December 17, 2023 

Scripture: John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon Title: “Who Are You?”

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Bob Jon

You can also listen on Podcast from iTunes and Spotify. Search for “Podcasting from Rev. Bob Jon.”

In the movie “Life of Brian,” three kings come to pay homage to a baby born in a stable. Here is the problem. They went to the wrong house. The baby’s name is Brian. Brian grows up to be an idealistic young man who resents the Roman occupation, later joining “People’s Front of Judea.” To prove himself, Brian paints slogans on Pilate’s palace that say, “Romans, go home.” After being kidnapped by aliens, Brian comes back to Earth and finds himself in the middle of a busy plaza, repeating the fragments of Jesus’ sermons. He attracts many followers who call him their Messiah. So, he is arrested and crucified on the cross along with other prisoners. Although Pilate gives an order to release Brian, all the prisoners claim that they are Brian forcing him to accept his fate singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” 

At the end of the movie, the audience might ask, “So, what is the meaning of life for Brian?” He is not Jesus, not the Messiah. He falls in love with a woman named Judith, but their love does not go on. His life is abruptly finished on the cross. In a way, it could be the song for John the Baptist. He was born only six months earlier than Jesus. His birth was also miraculous as his parents were quite old. He stood in the wilderness, living an ascetic life, wearing clothes made with camel’s hair, eating locusts and wild honey. He baptized people with water, proclaiming the impending judgment. “You children of snakes! Who told you to escape from the coming wrath? Don’t say that you are children of God unless you bear good fruit. He will come and cut you down!” Despite his challenging message, many came to be baptized by him.  

However, the Gospel of John especially strips John the Baptist any other details about his life, as if his life is not that important. Mark and Matthew tell us how John confronted King Herod and his wife Herodias and later became a martyr. Luke gives us some elaborate account of John’s birth, how he leaped for joy when Mary came to visit his mother Elizabeth, and John’s work of preparing for Jesus. Certainly, he deserved some recognition for his work. But the Gospel of John is different. Some Jewish leaders sent the priests and Levites and asked him, “Are you Elijah?” “No.” “Are you the prophet?” “No.” They are scratching their heads and say, “Well, then, who are you?” We need to bring some answers for those who sent us. “I am just the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord.”   

Some years ago, when I was just starting ministry as pastor, I got all hyped up that I finally moved on from being an associate pastor to a senior pastor. Not long after I started my ministry, I was asked to be the chaplain for the police department in that town. So, I was given a police uniform and a badge. Well, they did not give me a cruiser. Anyway, one day, another church in the town hosted some sort of training for any pastors in New Hampshire. The associate pastor of that church called me and invited me to come and join the workshop. I said sure I would come and see what the fuss was about. When I showed up, I found my name tags among some thirty pastors who signed up. And I saw my name not “Rev. Bob Jon,” not “Pastor Bob Jon,’ but “Bob Jon.” I got so upset and left the place because I felt humiliated. 

Think about a time when you felt like you were disappointed because your title did not matter, all your work experience did not matter, or all your sacrifice did not matter. You have worked at your job for over 30 years. And this new person comes and becomes your boss because he has some master’s degree from some college. He will claim way more salary than you have and boss you around as if you are inferior. He tells you to finish some enormous workload by the next week while he is going on a cruise ship. And here is what happens to John the Baptist. One day, his disciples come and tell him that everyone now was going to Jesus to be baptized. Instead of getting upset, he tells them, “You remember I told you I am not the Messiah. I have been sent ahead of him. He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

In our culture, we often try to answer the question about our identity, “Who are you?” with the self-affirmation, “I am a good person,” “I am beautiful,” “I am smart and intelligent,” In such a context, the words of John may sound foolish. It may look like he is dealing with low self-esteem, often caused by trauma, a difficult childhood, and too much negativity in one’s environment. However, John is challenging the way of our world in that our self-worth does not come from our own assurance but from God who knew us even when we were in our mother’s womb. God who counts the number of our hairs. The purpose of our life comes from God who gave us breath in the beginning and promises to be with us even after this world. Advent is the season that we do not confidently say that we are the light of the world, but Jesus is. 

Norman Theiss, a Lutheran pastor in Washington DC, comments that perhaps the hardest thing for devout Christians to understand, especially clergy, is that they are not the Christ, not even very good prophets. We cannot save the world; we cannot answer its deepest questions; we cannot offer perfect solutions to its greatest problems; we have no political agenda that will create the ideal society. Yet, we are not left in paralyzed silence. Rather, we are moved by and made heralds of a promise that comes from beyond us.” Just as the authority of emissary comes from the one who sends them, the answer to our identity can be found in God who is our Creator and the Holy Spirit who sends us out to the world. Therefore, the Gospel of John says, “John the Baptist was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.” 

Yesterday, our choir went to Kennedy Meadow to sing some Christmas carols. We have four parishioners from our church who live there, Chuck and Jean Piper, Bruce and Gabrielle Sargent. Well, we did not show up to solve some problems in the world like the war, poverty, or illness. We were not there to help the residents with their personal problems of loneliness, depression, or aging. But we went there to sing to testify to the light who shines in the darkness and darkness could not overcome it. One by one, some residents started joining u in the hallway. An elderly woman who was attending a Christmas party came to stand next to me. I tried to share the words to “First Noel,” and she said, “I know this song by my heart.” Another man came out with his banjo and started playing with us.    

In our world, many political leaders, CEOS or billionaires, or military powers present themselves as the one who can fix the world. Even in churches, some pastors present themselves as candidates for bishop, making the cases why they should be leaders so that they can be the ones who can fix many problems of the church, correcting the wrong, making it straight. While many people are ambitious to present themselves as the Messiah to save others, arguing that they are the light of the world to show the way, the words of John the Baptist quite the arrogant, self-righteous, and proud that we are not the light. But we are called to testify to the light, just as Mary sang her song, “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.”

Amen.