Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland, Ohio
December 15, 2023
by: Rev. Dean Kavouras

Advent 3
The Greatest Man

Now when the men reached him they said, "John the Baptizer sent us to You to inquire, 'Are you the One to come, or should we be expecting another?'" In that hour the healed many from illnesses and plagues, and evil spirits, and on many blind he bestowed sight. And He answered them, "Go and tell John what you see and hear! The blind see; the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have good new announced to them.” Luke 7:20-22

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The 3rd Sunday of Advent gives us opportunity to explain one of our liturgical customs: namely the pink candle on the Advent Wreath. The church has many such customs that are not commanded in Scripture, but nonetheless proceed from theological reasoning; their beauty glorifies God, and they serve as a visual aid to us so that we might better understand our Lord, his Love for us, and the worship we offer to him.

As we have often said there is plain worship that gives little more than what the pastor (or God forbid: the worship team) might manage to convey. And there is liturgical worship which calls on all of our senses so that we might truly “offer our bodies as living sacrifices to our God.” (Rom 12:1-2) Our “reason and all our senses.” (SC)

The Lutheran church is (or should be) firmly in the latter camp.

But back to the pink candle!

The season of Advent is 4 weeks long. It is a season of repentance, like Lent. In previous centuries Advent was taken very seriously. It involved stern preaching against sin, especially, the sins of the flesh; and commanded severe self-denial in terms of dietary restriction; as well as prayer hours interspersed throughout the day and night so that a person was deprived of rest. This is how people were taught to welcome Christ, who comes at the end of Advent and fills us with joy – which was celebrated with plenty of good food, and much rest and relaxation; and with gifts, and many expressions of love and good will among God’s people. It is the contrast that made the 12 days of Christmas as filled with joy as they were.

All this to say that by the 3rd week of Advent people needed to dial down so that they did not make themselves ill, or begin to despair. The pink, or more properly the “rose” colored candle is lit. A gentle color to signal gentle relief. Thus, churches who take their liturgics very seriously, and can afford it, have rose colored paraments which are utilized only twice a year: once on the 3rd Sunday of Advent and again on the 4th Sunday of Lent – further emphasizing the joy that is about to overtake us!

In keeping with the more joyful and gentle nature of the day there are today’s readings: First, Zephaniah washes over us with comfort:

“The LORD your God is among you!
The Mighty One will deliver you!
He will exult over you with gladness!
He will quiet you with his love!
He will rejoice over you with song!”

Thus Saint Paul:

Rejoice in the Lord always,
and again I say rejoice!
Do not be anxious about anything,
the Lord is at hand …
and the peace of God which surpasses understanding
will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

And in today’s gospel we hear extensively about the gracious miracles by which the Lord blessed many people in dire need during his earthly ministry – things that will become universally so for all Christians at his final coming:

"Go and tell John what you see and hear!
The blind see;
the lame walk;
the lepers are cleansed
the deaf hear;
the dead are raised up
and good news is announced to the poor.

But now let us now turn our attention to John.

We should know that there is a disagreement between theologians on the meaning of these verses. A modern interpretation in the last 40 years or so, says that John lost faith as he grappled with his impending execution and wanted final assurance. The traditional interpretation say that John did not lose faith but sent his disciples to “the LORD” for their own assurance now that John, their teacher, was about to be taken away from them.

St. Luke’s gospel does not give a conclusive answer but the traditional interpretation is the better. “The church,” says G.K. Chesterton, is a “democracy of the dead,” whose overwhelming interpretation/vote cannot be vetoed by the minority of Christians who happen to still live and breathe on the earth.

The traditional interpretation again, is that no fault can be found in John; and for two reasons. Firstly, because of Luke’s glowing account of John in chapter three of his gospel. Secondly, because of the Lord’s overwhelming adulation of John in today’s gospel. That John did not tremble like a “reed shaken in the wind,” and that of all men ever born of women, there is none greater that John.

But even more to the point we should understand that with certain personages Scripture is not interested in their natural human frailties but presents them to us as pure, humble and fully dedicated saints who gladly carry out God’s will whatever the cost. Not what they were as men and women, but what they are by the special grace of God.

First is the Blessed Virgin Mary whom the Angel Gabriel addresses as “full of grace”.

Joseph, the Lord’s foster father, was another such personage.

So was Elizabeth, John’s mother.

So were the Magi who saw his Star, worshiped him, gave him kingly gifts & deceived Herod to save the Holy Family.

So was Simeon who circumcised the God-Man.

So was 84 year old Anna the Prophetess who “did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” Who was a charter member of the Christian church and one of her earliest witnesses announcing the Lord’s arrival, to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel.

Among such special personages we must count John the Baptist, who was miraculously conceived by a barren mother; and by special grace dedicated his entire life preparing for the special mission for which God had chosen him.

He lived a painfully sparse life. His wore clothing made of camel hair. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. He cared nothing for the winds of politics or popular opinion. Indeed, he preached his way right into prison and was now about to suffer beheading for his trouble. It is very doubtful to say the least, that such a man would run the entire marathon of his life, only to lose courage at the finish line.

And for what? So that we might justify our own weakness of faith by subjecting JB to psychoanalysis. No. Quite the opposite! Today’s account fills us with faith, courage and comfort in Christ, knowing that come what may:

“He who began a good work in us
will bring it to completion
on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6)

And that the grace that was sufficient for Paul and for John, is equally sufficient for us at all times and in all places, even prison and the day of death. Amen.