Sermon Tone Analysis
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Our theme for 2022 is “Begin Again”
We recently completed a series in the Gospel of John entitled “Believe Again.” - It’s online if you want to see it.
This Sunday begins our 2022 Advent Series.
Advent literally means “the coming.”
It is a time of building anticipation for Christmas, which is the celebration of Christ’s coming.
Someone suggested to me, “Why not do an Advent series from the Gospel of John?”
I thought it sounded like a good idea.
It’s especially interesting because John is the only Gospel writer who does not include any details about the birth of Jesus.
Matthew tells us about the Wise Men.
Luke tells the story of the shepherds.
Mark begins at Jesus’ baptism.
John begins with the pre-existence of Jesus.
Each of the gospel writers is telling us something about Jesus to help to prepare us for what they eventually expect us to see.
Jesus is no ordinary person.
One might say, “when you see it, you will believe it.”
But being prepared it vitally important because the opposite is also true.
“When you believe it, you will see it!”
Have you seen any Christmas movies yet?
We started a couple weeks ago.
The first movie we watched was The Polar Express.
The Polar Express is about an imaginary train ride to the North Pole to visit Santa.
The main character is a boy who is not sure if he believes in Christmas or in Santa, but he gets the opportunity to exercise a bit of faith when a bell falls from one of Santa’s reindeer.
In order to hear the bell ring, he has to believe.
He want’s to believe, so he hears the bell ring.
At the end of the movie, of course you think he is going to wake up and find that it is all just a dream.
But there is the bell, nicely wrapped with a note from Santa underneath his Christmas tree.
But only the kids can hear it ring.
Which calls to mind the biblical principle that we need to have faith like a child.
Believing in Jesus is different from believing in Santa Clause, but it is well illustrated in this movie.
Why?
Because we have a bell, but only some people can hear it ring.
We have actual historical scriptures, but some people spent more time trying to disprove them than learning from them.
We have a real Jesus who lived, died and rose again, but some people only worship an imaginary version of Him.
We have a Holy Spirit who is living, active and still working today, but some have Him relegated to the past.
How are we to see what we don’t believe?
And how are we to believe what we don’t see?
That is why we need preparation and expectation.
Preparing the way means that we see God’s plan unfolding even before it happens, so that we are sure to recognize it when it does.
Our advent journey begins in the Gospel of John, but will draw on a number of Old Testament references which show God’s unfolding plan.
John wants us to believe in Jesus, not just for who He is, but for who He has been all along.
1.
The preparer of the way.
John the Apostle begins the story of Jesus by introducing John the Baptist.
It’s not polite for important people to introduce themselves.
According to proper etiquette, it is always better to be introduced.
It is only in informal settings or when someone fails their duty to introduce you that you may introduce yourself.
John the Baptist is the introductory speaker for Jesus.
He is Jesus’ front band or his “hype man!”
He’s there to warm up the crowd and get them ready for the main event.
John is luring the people out of the cities and into the wilderness.
He’s getting them out of their comfort zone.
He’s making them aware of their need for repentance and renewing their commitment to God.
He’s doing this so well that some people think He’s the main event.
Are you the Messiah?
Are you the One we came to see? No.
Are you Elijah?
John says no. Jesus later says, actually, he was - he just didn’t know it.
Are you “the prophet” Well no, he’s A prophet, but not THEE prophet.
By recording all of these questions, John the writer of the Gospel is reminding his audience of a number of Old Testament passages regarding the coming of Messiah and what will precede Him.
He’s warming up the audience for what they are about to hear.
He’s reminding them of God’s promises and preparing them to believe them when they see them.
Who am I? says John the baptist (and John the Apostle using the voice of John the Baptist) Why, I’m the announcer!
John (and John) are the preparers and you are being prepared to hear something that is going to change your life!
Are you ready?!
Are you excited?!
Are you believing that this is going to change your life?!
Then here it is … I am a voice crying out!
Wait! What?
Where have I heard that before..?
2. The people being prepared.
The book of Isaiah the prophet was written 800 years before Christ.
It contains 66 chapters, the same as the number of books in the Bible.
The first 39 chapters have a completely different tone than the last 27, so much so, that many scholars believe they were written at a different time and perhaps even by a different person.
But is the 66 chapters represent the 66 books of the Bible, 39 chapters is the same as the number of books in the Old Testament and 27 is the number of books in the New Testament.
Wait?
How does God inspire someone to write a book in 800BC that will reflect a book which won’t be finalized until 400AD?
All I can say is, Yeah God!
The point is that these verses represent the turning point.
When John says, “cry out!” it is to mark the turning point in history.
Everything is about to change - that is Advent!
But what else do we see in these verses.
Who is God talking to?
“My people” - “Comfort my people!”
Israel became the “people of God” at Sinai when they entered into covenant with their Creator, but now they probably feel like God has forgotten them.
Or more realistically, like God has given up on them, because of how often they have forgotten Him.
So “Cry out” it to remind them of who they are and that the time has come for God’s people to be reconciled to Him.
So what are we supposed to do with that?
Just put it on a shelf for another 800 years?
No, its time to remember and to remind God of His promise.
What is His promise?
3. The promise we are to be prepared for.
God is going to make everything right.
It’s the promise of redemption.
Redemption means to deliver from bondage through
a purchase.
Jesus has paid the price for our redemption.
Jesus bore the penalty of our sin in His own body on the cross.
And he rose again to give us new life, a new beginning and a restored nature.
But do you get the sense from this passage that this is all happening around us and we are to do nothing?
Absolutely not!
Everything has changed and we are changed!
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