"I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth." the prophet proclaims (Zephaniah 3:19) - From Zephaniah 3:14-20 (Old Testament, Candle Lighting Reading)
Meanwhile, John the Baptist, proclaims "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (3:17) - From Luke 3:7-18 (New Testament Reading)
This is the third week of our Advent 2024 series, "The Weary World Rejoices."
Find our livestream and archive of previous sermons on our church center channel.
"It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!" S. M. Lockridge was a famous preacher who popularized that phase.
We might also say, "It's Advent, but Christmas is coming."
One of the most simple and captivating images which help us understand a key Advent theme: that the world we live in awaiting the invasion of God's grace while existing "in territory held largely by the devil" (Flannery O'Connor) comes from a children's novel.
C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. The White Witch is in control of Narnia, in the first book The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. And while she reigns it is, "Always Winter, and Never Christmas." A terrible state, for sure.
When we read the prophets, as we often do around Advent, it can be tempting to read the promises and to not allow ourselves to marvel at the situation in which the prophets spoke. We do this, especially because, we do not read the whole prophetic letters. We read portions that fit on an image we could share to social media, or put on a Christmas card. But what is striking is that these prophetic promises come to people who do not know "Sunday is coming," or that Christmas will arrive, or that anything, ever, could look better.
But imagine how these words of the prophets would sound if you did not stand on the side of history in which we now stand. What if you did not know Christmas was on the other side of these Advent words of judgment? What if you did not know resurrection Sunday was coming after the crucifixion of Good Friday?
Historically, prophets like Zephaniah wrote in a time in history when everything seems lost. Israel is facing the invasion of Babylon, in our text today. These grand promises of God's people fearing disaster no more (3:15), come immediately after the much more immediately believable statements of woe and oracles of the Lord's Judgment and Jerusalem's destruction.
In the midst of that political tumult, death, exile, we read: "I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth" (Zephaniah 3:19). What reason is there to believe this? What evidence could the prophet point to given his situation? What cause could there be for his command to "Rejoice and exult with all your heart" (3:14) Look around you, Zephaniah! "Read the room!" Is this what "Joy to the World?" sounds like?
And what's more, Christians believe the messenger shouting the promises, the greatest and last of the prophets, and the herald of the coming Kingdom found in Jesus is John the Baptist. The same one who called the surrounding crowds a "brood of vipers" trying to avoid the wrath to come.
If you're confused by this all, good! It's not immediately obvious to us how such statements of woe can co-exist with these promises. But the amazing truth is the judgment of God is better than his absence. God's presence, even if it comes like a refiner's fire, is so much better than there being no God at all. The hope we have is not merely that a baby messiah arrived, but that he is coming again.
"The Judge is standing at the door!" says James, the brother of Jesus, in his letter. And in a world of darkness, that judgment just might break in, that it might meet us where we are in the darkness and hopelessness of life, and that his mercy might prevail - however hard to believe as it may seem - is good news.
Jesus is introduced by John the Baptist, the last prophet. The forerunner. Jesus is introduced by one who is unafraid to speak of the wickedness of humanity in its restless world. John baptizes with water, for repentance of sins. Jesus comes and, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Luke 3:17). He comes with fire, but it is the refining fire of the Holy Spirit. He comes as Judge, but he is the Judge who is judged in our place.
It's the third week of Advent, but Jesus is coming.
Let every heart prepare him room.
Join us for worship, this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at 309 East Adams Street in Downtown Muncie.
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