Who Are You?

Connection/Tension

Open with prayer guide...

Continuing series on The Return of the King…

What makes you happy? Where do you find satisfaction? What does your answer say about you?

It’s been common for some time to assign character traits to the various generations in the US.

Baby Boomers have been labeled the “me” generation because of a rise in the 70s of what sociologists described as a culture of narcissism.

My generation, Gen X, is the greed generation. The Secret to my Success and Wall Street were our defining films. We all wanted to become rich in the stock market.

Millennials are the “selfie” generation because of their tendency to share selfies on their social media accounts in an attempt to prop up a lagging self-confidence.

Gen Z. The verdict is still out. It’s a toss up between being the social influencer generation - having a social media channel that makes them famous - or as the mental health generation - because more focus has been placed upon mental health by this generation than ever before.

In truth, every generation is a “me” generation. We are all prone toward navel gazing, it just takes different forms. It’s been suggested that the first sin of humankind in the garden was selfishness. To take what “I” want when “I” want it without regard for anyone else. The truth is that, due to the brokenness caused by sin, one of the primary characteristics of all people in all places is narcissism. We are prone to self-centeredness. That shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone. Every person in every generation has the tendency to make life about “me”. In our very best moments we may still see some nod toward brotherly love and social concern, but the balance of the scale ultimately tips back to an inward-focused gaze. “What about me?”, “notice me” or “what’s in it for me?” is the narcissistic cry of every generation.

The problem with self-centeredness is that it never gives what it promises. When we give in to the siren call of self-centeredness, it doesn’t bring the joy or peace or fulfillment we hope for. It creates an ugly, grasping sort of person who eventually loses their ability to be truly human. We become like Smeagol who, upon finding the ring of power, becomes so self-consumed by it that he loses his true identity and becomes this pitiful thing now known as Gollum. A life fixated on the self as “my precious” is a slow and sure descent into a twisted caricature of real humanity.

If selfishness was humanity’s first sin, then perhaps the first thing a returning King wants to heal is this self-centered fixation that has infected his creation. To move us from navel-gazing to an outward awareness of others. To move us from wanting to promote our self to becoming motivated to lift up others. Perhaps his first job for us is to live for a cause greater than ourselves and that ultimately points beyond us.

And what if this is the secret to the real and lasting joy we’ve been looking for all along?  What if joy is not found - and never will be found - in a life lived for the self?  What if, instead of pointing the camera at “me” in endless selfies, we are supposed to point it outside ourselves?  This is the counter-intuitive good news this morning from our returning King. We will find our most satisfying joy when our life points to Someone greater than our self.

Text

John 1:6-9, 19-27

“Who are you?”

John’s ministry was a puzzle to the religious leaders of the day. He has this ministry of baptizing and calling people to repentance, so who is he claiming to be?

“Who are you…not the Messiah, not Elijah, not the prophet”

“Who are you…the voice, the witness”. I am here simply to make you aware of someone else. John’s identity was not centered in himself but in someone else.

Embedded in their question is the assumption that John is out in the wilderness trying to make a name for himself. That all his actions are just the ancient equivalent of taking a selfie. Those who are motivated solely by the self often find it hard not to project their selfish motives on to others. An life that is spent outward-focused still puzzles people today.

The first thing we have to wrestle with this morning is the question, “Who or what is your life about?”  Not the ideal answer that you know you’re supposed to give, but the answer you have to give based on how you spend your time, your money, and how much you think about yourself. I invite you to take a moment to think about this honestly...

John’s answer

“Came to bear witness…”

“A voice crying in the wilderness…”

If you were here last week, you may remember that this language from Isaiah is a royal proclamation. The herald has come announcing the king is on his way, so you need to make everything ready. Roll out the red carpet!

This is how John identifies himself. He is a herald. But what is the role of a herald? To go through town saying “Look at me!”, “Notice me!”? No, a herald comes bearing a message that points to someone else.

John’s whole life was centered around the understanding that his vocation, his calling, was to point to the promised Messiah. The words used at the beginning of the passage for witness and testify are marturia and martureo. Sound familiar?  They are where we get out word “martyr”. John’s life was centered, not around self-promotion, but martyrdom. This would become literally true in a short while. But long before this happened, John’s life was one that was already being poured out for the sake of someone greater.

What we must wrestle with is, is this call to martyrdom the occasional calling of a few, or is this the general calling for all who worship and long for the returning King? Is this outward-focused kind of life only for pastors or missionaries or super-serious Christians, or is it the call of all? Is self-focus or martyrdom to path to true joy and fulfillment?

John’s focus

John’s focus and meaning for his life was found in the “One…coming after me…”

John’s whole life focus was in pointing others away from himself and toward the coming One - King Jesus.

John might most famously be known for his reply a short time after this. As Jesus came on the scene, people began leaving John and following Jesus. John’s disciples were alarmed and came to tell John. John’s happy response? John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John’s life mission was bound up in becoming less. How counter-cultural is that? But, has John possibly found the secret to a life of joy and satisfaction?  I think so.

As far as we know, John never married, never had children, never enjoyed the “good life” as we would describe it. He was more infamous than famous. And his life would be cut short because of the selfish oath of a local ruler.

But if I had to guess, John is not dissatisfied with how his life turned out. He said, John 3:28–29 “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.”

John found joy in decreasing so that Jesus may increase, of being less so that Jesus could be more. By decreasing, paradoxically, his joy increased.

Gospel/Response

John’s life was symbolic of how Jesus would pattern his own life. The apostle Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”

Jesus himself choose to decrease, to live his life, not for himself, but for the sake of those he loved. To offer his life as a ransom for many. To give his life so you can have real life.

Here is the counter-intuitive nature of our returning King’s kingdom. If you try and keep your life for yourself, you WILL end up losing it. But if you will give you life for the sake of God’s kingdom, you will find real life. Have you ever accepted Jesus invitation? (next steps slide)

Everything John did points us to the unmistakable truth that real joy and satisfaction in this life is found living outside yourself. To the extent that we continue to buy in to the narrative of our culture, one that says we must be rich, successful and famous in order to be happy - to live for “me” - we will remain locked in a spiraling narcissistic misery. Why? Because you and I can’t make ourselves instantly rich or successful or famous.

But we can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, make ourselves less for the sake of Jesus and his kingdom and for the sake of others. We can choose, not to think less of ourselves, but to think of ourselves less. Every morning we can embrace the vision of the kingdom that life is not about us.

That’s a radical message!  One we can’t hope to fulfill without surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit. But, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can find true joy and satisfaction by embracing the life of our King. This doesn’t mean you stop going to work or sell everything you have to become a missionary in some far off land. It means changing the focus or your life.

So, who or what will your life be about?  Where will your camera point? Will the pictures that flood your life’s social stream by an endless series of selfies, or will they be pictures of Jesus and his kingdom. When you come to the end of your story, how do you want your epilogue to read? “She had a loving family, a successful career, and lots of admirers” or “Her life pointed to Jesus”? Who are you?