Making introductions

Introductions are hard.

Do any of you struggle with making introductions? For me the hardest part of writing the sermon is the introduction. Finding the best words to write or say to set up everything else to follow is a weekly challenge. My challenge with making introductions doesn’t end with sermons frequently when attending social gatherings, or if Heather comes by at work I’ll either forget to even make the introduction or give a poor one. To give an example recently Heather came by at work to show me some Christmas gift ideas. I was standing there with one of my co workers who had yet to meet Heather, his name is Rick. I said oh yeah Rick by the way this is my wife. Realizing i had completely neglected to mention her name in that introduction, I looked back at Rick and by the way her name’s not wife it’s actually Heather.

Making proper introductions sheds light on who or what your introducing. It begins to shape whether or not others are going to listen to what you have to say or not. John the Baptist was the voice shouting in the wilderness, calling people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. He was the voice shouting in the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD! Part of that preparation was to introduce to those who came to be baptized, who came to hear his message who was coming after him.

My job right now is to introduce to you why what God has to teach us today is important to hear and put into action what we learn. We as followers of Christ today find ourselves in John’s position of introducing, bearing witness, or giving testimony to others who Jesus Christ, light in the darkness, the word made flesh is. Making the right introduction matters to whether or not others will listen or not, whether what we have to say is received as the good news it is, or it’s not received. The theme for the third Sunday in advent is joy. When someone truly meets the love, grace and truth found in Jesus Christ, Joy overflows from their soul. Today let us learn from John how to make the introduction and remember the words from Isaiah that Christ chose to introduce himself.

Isaiah 61:1–2 NRSV

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

John’s Introductions

John 1:6-8

Mission: In the Gospel of John the mission of John the baptist is carefully limited. His mission was to testify, to bear witness, or to introduce Jesus Christ, the light that shines in the darkness that the darkness cannot overcome.

As John introduces, or bears witness to who Christ is, we can see how fragile and vulnerable any form of making introductions can be. For John there are some that just don’t listen, and then there are others that confuse him to be the very light he came to introduce.

Purpose: John’s mission to introduce Jesus came with a purpose. The purpose was very simple but broad. John the baptist is the voice shouting in the wilderness why? So that everyone would believe because of his witness, his introduction to who Christ is.

How does he go about it?

John 1:19-28-

-JOHN MAKES HIMSELF LESS IMPORTANT TO MAKE CHRIST MORE IMPORTANT. John 3:27-30

As John is making his introduction, giving his testimony to the light that had come into the world, the religious leaders of his day came out to question him. Their question was simple, “Who are you?”

Instead of answering with who he is, where he comes from or who his parents are, John answers with who he is not. I am not the messiah.

The religious leaders ask the same question, this time asking if he is Elijah? Elijah is supposed to come back and proclaim the messianic age. John’s answer was no he’s not Elijah.

Are you the prophet we are expecting? This reference goes back to Moses that God would send the a prophet. No John is not this prophet they are expecting. John spends more time telling the religious leaders who he isn’t than telling them who he is.

Insisting on an answer the religious leaders ask again, “Who are you?” John responds with the words from the prophet Isaiah that we heard last week “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, clear the way for the LORD’s coming!”

The first thing we can learn from John in his introduction is who we introduce is more important than us.

Hearing John’s response the religious leaders questions turn from who are you to what authority he has to baptize.

John neglects to answer their question instead taking the opportunity to again stress the importance of the one he is introducing, the one he has been bearing witness. Right here in this crowd right now is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry begins after John, John doesn’t even feel worthy enough to do the job of a slave for him.

Ways John Makes his introduction

John 1:29–34 NLT

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

JESUS LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD

Mark 1:7–8 NLT

7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

THE ONE WHO WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

To the religious leaders of his day John introduced Jesus as judge.

Matthew 3:10–12 NLT

10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

These are the ways that John introduced Christ to others through his ministry. We God’s church are in a very similar position to John the Baptist. We get the honor to introduce others to the king of kings and Lord of Lords, the light in the darkness that the darkness cannot overcome.

John 1:17 NRSV

17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Now it’s our turn given the opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus Christ this week how would you do it?

Making the right introduction

Making the right introduction determines whether or not someone listens or ignores what we have to say. Yet as with the case of the religious leaders John and Jesus frequently tangled with, no matter how well we make the introduction there will be some who just refuse to listen. Even if you over turn tables in the temple.

Our mission as followers of Christ is very similar to John the baptist. Our mission, our lives should bear witness, testify, introduce others to Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, through whom grace and truth came into this world.

Our purpose is the same as John’s as well that everyone will believe because our witness, our testimony, our introduction of Christ.

May we be a people who lead with the grace and truth of who Christ is so others will believe and meet the same graceful, loving savior we have to come to know ourselves.

Jesus Introduced his ministry this way:

Isaiah 61:1–2 NRSV

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

When others meet this Jesus overwhelming Joy fills their soul.