Sermon – Luke 2: 1-14 - Praising God for the Coming of Jesus

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon – Luke 2: 1-14 - Praising God for the Coming of Jesus

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2011

We are at the eve of Christmas and everything is ready. Mary and Joseph are in Bethlehem having come the three day journey from Nazareth probably to register some land Joseph owns to satisfy the tax laws of the Roman Empire. There is no room upstairs in the inn so the animals that usually stay downstairs have been temporarily removed from the ground floor so that it can be prepared for Mary and Joseph to spend the night. The shepherds have gathered in the goats and sheep for the evening and have climbed the hillside to the cave where they will spend the quiet night. God has told the angels what to say when the time comes and they are getting ready memorizing their lines and songs. An ordinary evening has begun, but extraordinary things are just about to happen. So let's pray.

“We praise your name, O God. You are glorified among the nations and in all creation. You cause the flowers to bloom; the honeycomb drips with sweetness according to your design. You dwell in teeming cities and in the quiet of the countryside. The whole earth is your habitation. You invite us into your sanctuary, where we worship and bow down before you. Fill us now with your Spirit, and let your presence be our blessing. (When We Gather, 11)

Luke 2:1-20 ^NIV Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

I love Christmas pageants. Two weeks ago Pitts Creek had their White Gifts Service and the children acted out the nativity stories in Luke and Matthew. All the children had something to say. The smallest were dressed as shepherds and wise men and walked around the sanctuary as I read their stories. Two older children were given roles as the angel and Mary. The angel spoke the climatic words of the evening, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." And Mary sat in the cardboard stable with a doll in the manager pondering and treasuring in her heart all the things that were going on around her. The children all did a really good job acting out the nativity story.

Since that service I have been thinking about the two girls who played the angel and Mary. One praised the glory of God, while the other silently meditated on what all of this meant. And it occurred to me that these are the two reactions we have toward Christmas. Some of us want to celebrate Christmas with the angels praising God in the highest. We love to sing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing.” While others of us prefer to celebrate Christmas quietly holding a candle and singing, “Silent night! holy night! All is calm all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace!.”

I know of people who thrive on the hustle and bustle of Christmas. They want to build floats, organize caroling at nursing homes, and deliver baskets food to those in need. They love to sing, “Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

I know of other people who prefer attending a quiet meditative service of worship on Christmas eve and like to sing “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.”

No matter who you are, the praising type or the meditative type Christmas is for you. You can either hang in there quietly with Mary and her baby or you can go out into the night proclaiming loudly that our savior is born. These are the gifts that God provides the church at Christmas. God gives us people who love to sing, “Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.” And these people will leave here tonight proclaiming to everyone they meet the glorious news that our savior is born, by saying “Merry Christmas” to everyone they meet. The church needs people like the shepherds who hear the good news and repeat it over and over until everyone hears it.

God has also given us people who sing, “ O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” And these people will care for the body of Christ by teaching Bible studies to adults and children, visiting the sick and shut-ins, and serving coffee to the congregation on Sunday mornings. The church needs people like Mary who quietly care for its needs.

So Christmas is a time of contrasts. We gather when it is cold and dark outside and then light a magnificent Christmas tree bathing the sanctuary in it light. Christmas is a time of warning to get out of Bethlehem before Herod arrives, and it is a time of the love of a young mother placing her new born baby in a manger. Christmas is a time of vulnerability of that young baby in uncertain times, and it is a time of great power of God and the heavenly hosts.

So as Christians we may approach Christmas either in a spirit of praise glorifying God for what he is doing for the world, or in a spirit of prayer preparing ourselves for what God is doing inside of us. Either way we experience God's love for us and the great joy of being a follower of Jesus Christ. And let us all express thanks to God for the gift of his son this evening and the promises of forgiveness and eternal life.

“The heavens tell of your glory, O God. All the trees of the wood sing for joy. For unto us a child is born, and into our midst has come a great light. You have come to deal justly with nations; with righteousness you rule your people. We hear of a Wonderful Counselor and know that your Spirit is near. The prophet proclaims you Mighty God, while the sea roars and fields exult. Your mercy is everlasting as you care for all your creation. We herald the Prince of Peace and await the time when his rule is complete. You are our God and are greatly to be praised. We sing unto you, honoring your name, and tell of your salvation from day to day. Gifts have been opened and love has been exchanged. Keep us mindful that you are the source of all abundance and worth. Families have gathered and loved ones have returned home. May we always remember that Christ calls us to the Table with himself as the host. The tree has been trimmed and stockings have been hung. Let their garlands and tributes awaken assurance of your grace. Now that anticipation has given way to celebration, may we not lose sight of your continuing call to obedience and devotion. To those who still seek a sign of your love, may we become that sign as we do justly and love mercy. To those who lack the warmth of home and friends, may we extend hospitality and good cheer. Where the sounds of war drown out Christ’s call to peace, may we fulfill the tasks of reconciliation and love. You have established the world and sent the Prince of Peace. We go forth as his servants in praise of your reign!” Amen. (When We Gather 12)

Sermon – Luke 1:47-55 – Rejoicing the Coming of Jesus

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon – Luke 1:47-55 – Rejoicing the Coming of Jesus

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2011

It's almost here. Christmas is upon us: the last minute gifts, cleaning the house for guests, changing the oil in your car before the long trip. Either you are almost ready for the holiday or maybe you haven't prepared at all. For Christians, Christmas requires preparation and that's why we have Advent, to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ. But sometimes there is no way to prepare. Suddenly things change and the world around us seems to have turned upside down. Today we will be looking at how Christmas looks to someone whose world is suddenly turned upside down. But first, let's pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Atria nursing home in Salisbury. I was conducting a worship service and administering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. I do this on the first Sunday of every month at the request of the Session of Pitts Creek because two of our long time members now live there. We hold the worship service in the living room of Atria and several other people also attend. Two weeks ago after worship I noticed that one participant was not moving his wheelchair and was blocking others from going back to their rooms. One woman told me that that is the way it is for him now. He often is seen in his wheelchair unable to move waiting for someone to help. I offered to push him to his room. When we got there he tried to get out of his wheelchair and into a recliner, but he couldn't. He asked me to pull on his belt using my arm to replace the strength he longer had in his legs and helped him into his chair. After he got settled, we talked for a few moments and he told me that his disease had taken from him all the hopes and dreams he had for his retirement. And it occurred to me that for this man the world had turned upside down.

The world seems to turn upside down whenever, through no fault of our own, all of our hopes and dreams are suddenly gone. I don't have to tell you about this. I supposed that all of you have experienced this from time to time. As your pastor I hear about these things.

Last week the Marva theater put on a play about the world being upside down at Christmas. The main character, George Baily, had numerous hopes and dreams of a wonderful life. He wanted to travel the world and experience different cultures. But over and over again these hopes and dreams were dashed by things out of his control. George Bailey lived in an upside down world. The point of Its a Wonderful Life, is that an upside down world can be put right side up at Christmas, with the help of an angel from God.

We all try to put our upside down worlds right side up at Christmas. We do this by remembering a time when the world seemed to be right side up by getting those old Christmas tree ornaments out of the attic, baking cookies and sweet potato pies, sending cards to friends we haven't heard from all year, and visiting family. These are all efforts on our part to put an upside down world right side up. But we quickly find out that this is all an illusion. As soon as the tree ornaments are back in the attic and all the cookies are eaten we realize the world is still upside down. The problem is that there is really nothing we can do to turn an upside down world right side up, unless, as George Bailey found, God intervenes.

And this brings us to the story of a young Hebrew girl living in the Roman province of Galilee sometime around 4BC. This young teenager, suddenly and through no fault of her own, found herself pregnant. Her world suddenly turned upside down. Imagine for a moment the conversation she might have with her parents. “Mom and Dad, I'm pregnant, but I've never been with a man. An angel told me God did this.” I have two teenage girls, exchange students, living in my house and I'm not sure how I would react if either of them said something like this. How would you react? Mary probably imagined this conversation with her parents, and according to Luke she didn't go to her parents with this news, at least not right away. Rather Mary first went to see Elizabeth, her trusted older cousin to talk with her about the world turning upside down.

When Mary arrived at Elizabeth's home she had to be amazed because Elizabeth's world had been turn upside down too. Elizabeth, who had prayed for a child for years and had just about given up getting pregnant when suddenly she was expecting a child. She was overjoyed. God had turned her upside down world right side up and Elizabeth realized that this was a great blessing. The truth young Mary learned that day is that sometimes when God acts in the world it seems like the world is turned upside down. Being an unmarried teenage pregnant girl would certain seem to be upside down. But in reality the world was already upside down and all God did was to put it right side up again. And that was precisely what God was doing with Mary. What Mary saw as being upside down was really right side up with a savior coming into the world.

This meeting with Elizabeth caused Mary to rejoice because God had blessed her richly by turning her world right side up, and she burst into song. Mary knew that God had chosen her to carry a savior who would turn the world right side up again. The song she sang is now known as the Magnificat. Listen to how different is sounds from the highly commercialized messages we usually hear at Christmas.

LUKE 1:47-55 46bMy soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

When God sets the world right side up those who are oppressed by tyrannical governments and living in refugee camps are freed and allowed to go home. Those who live under crushing poverty are made rich. Those who experience hunger and lack of drinkable water will experience abundance. And those who had already been richly blessed by God will remember what God said to Abraham:

Genesis 12:1-3 ...‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

I recently saw how God is putting the world right side up by blessing the poorest among us at the Samaritan Shelter. Last year they built a new wing for homeless women and families. Just recently the kitchen in the old section was remodeled. The shelter is becoming a beautiful place because of all the gifts it received from people like you. At the shelter people who have no place to sleep can find a bed, people who are hungry can find a meal, and people find fulfillment serving the needs of others. In this place God has turned an upside down world right side up.

So this Christmas remember that if your world is upside down you can't change it by putting some old ornaments on the tree. You can't make the world turn right side up by baking cookies and a sweet potato pie. But you will see God putting the world right side up if, like Mary you have a savior growing inside of you. So my prayer for you this Christmas is that Christ will be in you, that you will experience God's love for you with great joy as God turns your world right side up.

Lord Jesus we come to us who live in a world that is upside down. You already know what we have been through and how our hopes and dreams have been dashed. Put a savior in our hearts to rekindle our hopes and dreams and help us to be a part of the right side up world you are creating. We name the savior who is coming to set the world right side up. It is Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.       

Sermon – John 1: 6-8, 19-28 - Witnessing

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon – John 1: 6-8, 19-28 - Witnessing

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Third Sunday of Advent

December 11, 2011

We have come yet another week closer to Christmas. People are in stores buying gifts. Others are getting ready to travel. Still others are preparing to receive guests in their homes. Christmas is a time when we encounter people we know but only see, call or send a card to at this time of year. Your family and friends will want to know what is happening in your life. Some of you will send cards and letters. This gives you the opportunity to witness to them of the faith you have received from God. Since you have all been blessed by God in many ways witnessing to others about all the gifts you have received should be easy. But we often find witnessing difficult because of misconceptions we have about it. So today lets look at the first chapter of John to see what the author of this fourth gospel has to say about what witnessing is and what witnessing is not. But first let's pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

Witnessing is a spiritual discipline just like attending worship every Sunday, praying every day, studying scripture regularly, being a part of a fellowship group, and serving the needs of others in the community. As we do these things our faith grows and this faith leads to eternal life. So we do all these things in a disciplined way, building up good habits and growing in the stature of Christ.

According to the Gospel of John witnessing is the most important of the spiritual disciplines. John talks about it in the very first chapter. Witnessing is important because without witnessing no one would ever come to the faith that leads to eternal life. Each of you has been witnessed by someone. Maybe it was your parents, or a pastor or Sunday School teacher. Whoever it was they did the most important thing in the world of witnessing to you of their faith in Jesus Christ so that you too would begin growing in that faith. So it is important that you witness to others so that future generations will continue to come to a saving faith that results in eternal life.

We have to know what witnessing is before we can do it, and there is no better teacher of witnessing than John the Baptist. In testimony that John that Baptist gave to religious authorities he told them that he was a witness and cleared up some misconceptions we have about witnessing. Listen to what John has to say about what witnessing is and is not.

John 1:6-8 ⁶ There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

John 1:19-28 ¹⁹ Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." ²¹ They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." ²² Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" ²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" ²⁴ Now some Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." ²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Recently I visited a young man in jail. He graduated from high school last year with high hopes and a bright future. But, sadly, he began hanging out in the wrong places and with the wrong people and sin almost completely obliterated the image of God he had been created with. In jail he has had time to think about what he has done and experience guilt and remorse. He needs a messiah who will remove his guilt and restore him to new life.

It would be tempting to try to be his messiah. You could try to help him get a job, or help him apply to college. You could give him advise and possibly money. All these might be good things to do. But they won't save him. They won't remove his guilt. They won't lead him to new life. The problem is that you are not the messiah, you cannot save anyone. All you can do is to witness to the light in which you live through your testimony and lead people to Jesus who is the Christ, the Messiah, the savior who can forgive sin, remove guilt and restore someone to new life. So remember you are not the Messiah.

Let's continue. Recently I heard about a farmer. He has spent a lifetime in fields. He is up at dawn working every day. And you can often see him working late into the night. He has little time for family and friends, and no time for church. You might call him a workaholic. Or you might say that he worships the god of work.

We have all known people who worship other gods. I am not talking about Muslims or Jews or anyone else in an organized religion. But I am talking about the alcoholic who worships the god of vodka, the moneyaholic who worships the god of greed and stinginess or the sexaholic who worships the god of one night stands. We all know people who worship things rather than God and if they are our family or friends we are tempted to try to save them.

We wish we could be like Elijah on Mt. Carmel confronting the false gods with supernatural power proving that God is the only God. It would be tempting to try to be Elijah and lead people away from their false gods. But we are not Elijah. All we can do is to witness to others about what Jesus Christ has done for us and let Christ rescue them from their false gods. So remember that you are not Elijah.

Let's move on. The newspapers are filled with world problems. This past Friday the Washington Post had stories about the failure of a European summit to solve the debt crises, the shooting of a police officer at Virginia Tech, and Pakistan preparing to shoot down American military jets. This is a typical day in a fallen world. We need a prophet to come forward with a word from God that solves the world's problems. We wish that our faith was strong enough that we could speak with a prophetic voice the good news of Jesus Christ to a world that desperately needs it.

It is tempting to try to be a prophet of God, to hear a word from God and say it to a world that needs to hear it. But we are not prophets. All we can do is to testify to what Jesus Christ has done in our lives, and allow Jesus to be the prophetic hope that the world needs. So remember you are not a prophet.

We see from John that we are not messiahs, we are not Elijahs, we are not prophets. Only Jesus is the messiah. Only Jesus is Elijah. Only Jesus in a prophet. Only Jesus Christ can save us and the world. But what we can do is point to him, the light of the world.

And this brings us to the picture in your bulletins (and on the screen). This is the famous Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald. In it you see John the Baptist pointing to the crucified Christ. Historically speaking this picture does not reflect reality because John the Baptist was executed by Herod before the crucifixion. So the scene you are viewing cannot have happened. But this painting by Grünewald is true because it accurately reflects the relationship between John the Baptist and Christ. John is pointing at the crucified Christ. Also notice that John the Baptist is holding an open Bible. Through his testimony and the testimony of scripture John points to Christ. John is not the Christ. John is not Elijah. John is not a prophet of God, John is not the light of the world. But John witnessed to others the truth of Christ bringing them to faith which leads to eternal life. And we are called to do the same.

So this Christmas season, as you see, write letters to, and meet your friends and relatives remember to witness to them about all the blessings you have received from God this year. Tell them about the messiah who has saved you from sin and delivered you from guilt. Tell them about how Christ has freed you from false gods. Show them how Christ, the word of God is a prophetic word to a world in need. Testify to the light in your life and the light of the world. And witness to them the saving faith in Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Father in heaven we ask this day for the gift of witnessing. Help us to testify to all that you have given us. Remind us that we are not the messiah, we are not Elijah, we are not prophets, and we are not the light of the world. But remind us that we do point to the light of the world, your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sermon – Mark 1: 1-11 – Preparing for The Coming of Jesus

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon – Mark 1: 1-11 – Preparing for The Coming of Jesus

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Second Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2011

We are continuing today with our celebration of Advent. Through our weekly meditations on scripture, read and proclaimed, and our daily prayers we are filled with hope and anticipation for the coming of Jesus even as we prepare to remember his birth from some two thousand years ago. That's why we are singing Christmas carols. We are filled with hope, peace, joy and love and so we praise God in song and worship joining our voices with the angels celebrating the birth of our savior. Today we will prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus by experiencing some of the excitement of the first hearers of the good news. But first, let's pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

Pretend that you are a rabbi living in a small village in Galilee around 70AD. The times are bad and tensions are rising. Jewish Zealots, determined to throw off the Roman occupation and create a Jewish kingdom, have been attacking Roman military installations. The Roman army has responded with a heavy hand against the civilian population. Add to this the political instability in Rome. Nero has been dead for a year and his four successors have all been assassinated. General Vespasian, who has been leading the Roman Army in Galilee, has been named the new emperor. You have no idea how this will affect your family and your life. All of this has affected your village because the Romans suspect that some Zealots are hiding there. You and your extended family live in constant fear that the Romans will break down the door of your house and carry you away.

One day you hear that a scroll has arrived from Rome. It has been brought by someone named Mark and supposedly is based on the teachings of Simon-Peter who once live in the neighboring village of Capernaum about 40 years ago; some of the old timers in town remember him as fisherman. The title of the scroll is “The Beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ.” You really need to hear some good news with all the bad news going around these days. So you decide to go to hear the scroll read on Sunday morning.

When you arrive Sunday morning you are surprised to see that the group is composed of both Jews and Gentiles, and women are participating equally. You have heard that this group's leader was crucified by the Romans a generation ago, but they seem to believe that he is somehow still with them. Mark is here from Rome to read his scroll and everyone is really excited. So you take a seat near the back to listen to what he has to say.

He begins by saying, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1) When you hear these words you nearly fall out of your chair. This is treason. “Everyone here will be killed by the Romans,” you think. “Only Caesar is the Son of God in Roman Empire. To give anyone else this title is a capital offense.” But you stay in your seat and listen for more.

Mark continues reading the scroll with these words: “As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” (Mark 1:2-3)

You think for a moment about these texts from the Hebrew scriptures. You are reminded of the words of the Prophet Malachi.

3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom

you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you

delight--indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

So you think that a messenger is coming to proclaim that God will return to his temple and save his people. If true, this is really good news because this is what you have been praying for for so long that God would come to earth and put an end to this war and rule the nations with justice and righteousness.

As Mark continues speaking you are reminded of the writings of the Prophet Isaiah:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1-5)

You marvel at the brilliance of this Mark reminding people that when Israel was held in exile in Babylon, a messenger, Isaiah, came to them with the good news that they were just about to be freed and permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and temple. “Make a pathway straight through the wilderness back home,” he said. “Could this Mark be a Prophet like Isaiah? Could he be here to proclaim the end of the war and victory over the Romans?”

With these questions on your mind you continue listening to Mark.

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. (Mark 1:4- 6)

When you hear this you realize that it is not Isaiah who is returning. No. It is the Prophet Elijah who is returning. The great Elijah who confronted the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. Elijah has returned to prepare God's people for the coming of God by calling them to repent for the forgiveness of sins. Now that's the good news you have been waiting for. God is returning to set everything right. So you listen carefully for what Mark has to say next.

7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8)

“Who is this?” you think, “Who is more powerful than Elijah?”. “What is this baptism of the Holy Spirit? And Mark goes on to answer your questions.

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the

Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart

and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are

my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1: 9-11)

Then you remember Rabbi Jesus. Your father had talked about the great crowds who followed him as he taught throughout Galilee. He had been executed by the Romans when he was teaching in Jerusalem. And some of his followers claim he is still alive. This is the man Mark is claiming to be superior to Caesar, the true Son of God. And Mark wants us to be prepared for his coming which could come at any time.

When Mark finishes reading the scroll he has written you realize that this Jesus is truly the Son of God and is the savior the world has been waiting for. This scroll is truly the good news that everyone needs to hear. So after the reading you ask Mark if it would be okay to copy his scroll onto papyrus sheets so that the village could continue to study it after he left. You are thrilled when Mark agrees to stay in town for a few weeks while the copy is made, and you look forward to the conversations that you will have with Mark about his travels around the Mediterranean proclaiming this goods news to other groups of Christians.

You leave the group that Sunday morning filled with hope and anticipation for the coming of God in Jesus Christ. You want to bring this good news to all the people in the community, Jews and Gentiles, Men and Women, Slave and Free. You want everyone to hear the good news and prepare themselves for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Lord Jesus, we wait for your coming. The world around us seems to be falling apart. Europe is plagued with a debt crisis. The streets of the Middle East are filled with violence. We are struggling with high unemployment and high debt here in America. But we wait with anticipation and hope for the peace you will bring when you return to save us. And so we joyfully praise your name. Amen.          

Sermon – Mark 13:24-27 – Waiting for The Coming of Jesus

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon – Mark 13:24-27 – Waiting for The Coming of Jesus

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

First Sunday of Advent

Nov. 27, 2011

God has given us a rhythm of the seasons. The nights are getting longer and days shorter as we approach the Winter solstice. But soon the days will lengthen and the leaves will return to the trees. Winter will give way to Spring and the heat of Summer, and the cool Fall days will be with us once again.

We follow this God-made rhythm in many ways. The school year starts every September with new clothes and sharpened pencils and lasts until June. The solar year begins on January 1 with a great celebration at midnight on New Years Eve. Koreans start the lunar year with a feast of rice cake soup. And Christians begin the church year with the season of Advent.

Advent is the time of the church year when we think about the coming of Jesus. In one sense Jesus has already come as a baby born in a barn in Bethlehem. But in another sense Jesus is still coming and will come again with a new heaven and a new earth. So the coming of Jesus is both “already” and “not yet”. We finds ourselves in the middle of “already” and “not yet” and so we are both remembering and waiting. This is what Advent is all about. We wait for the Jesus we remember. So lets start this time of Advent in prayer.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

NRSV MARK 13:24-27 24“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Picture in your minds a young girl in the 3^rd grade standing on a street corner near her house. She is waiting for the school bus. And she is waiting with a sense of dread. Today is report card day. And she didn't hand in all her homework and didn't study real hard for the tests. She fears what the report card will say and what mother will say when she brings it home this afternoon. So she waits for the bus waiting in fear.

Now picture in your minds the same girl waiting on the same corner. But this time she is waiting on tiptoe waiting for the Christmas parade to start. She is filled with joy and anticipation as she waits filled with hope for an exciting time watching the floats, marching bands and of course Santa Claus as he comes down the street. The same girl, the same corner waiting in fear or waiting in hope.

Or consider this picture. A fisherman is sitting in his living room. He has cleaned his boat and his gear and is settled down for the winter. The pond out back is frozen over. He is waiting for the return of Spring and is bored to death. He has nothing to do. He doesn't think he can wait for Spring to get back on the pond fishing. He thinks maybe next year he will spend the winter in Florida.

Now the same fisherman: He is in his boat on the pond. And he has been waiting since dawn trying to catch the large mouth bass he knows is there. He is filled with anticipation and hope that the fish with bite the plastic worm on the hook. He doesn't even notice that he has been waiting all day. The the same fisherman waiting in boredom

We all wait for things. We wait in the doctor's office. We wait for the kids to come home. We wait for the presents at Christmas. And what,s important is not that we wait or how long we wait. What's important is how we wait. Do we wait with excitement, anticipation and hope? Or do we wait in boredom, fear and anxiety?

Jesus was concerned about how his disciples would wait. Jesus knew that he would be leaving them, and he had no idea when he would be returning. So he had to prepare his people for what could be a long wait. And he had to give them something that would allow them to wait filled with anticipation and hope.

The opportunity to do this for his disciples came while they were in Jerusalem. One of his disciples commented on the grandeur of the temple. It was truly an amazing structure. A generation before King Herod the Great had expanded it and made truly one of the world's wonders. Jesus knew that within the lifetime of that disciple the Jews would rebel against the Romans and in the war to follow that temple would be reduced to rubble. Jesus also knew that within a week he would be dead crucified on a cross. How would his disciples wait for his return given these catastrophic events? Would they lose faith and go home? Would they be filled with fear and dread? Or would they wait in hope of a glorious future and Jesus' return?

Jesus wanted to ensure that his disciples would wait filled with hope in what God was about to do. But he had to give them something that would continue to sustain them with hope while they waited. And this is what Jesus did. He took four of his most trusted disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew and crossed the Kidron Valley to Mount of Olives. There in full sight of the magnificent temple Jesus began teaching them from the Hebrew scriptures he had memorized. He quoted from the book of Isaiah and the stars falling from the sky. He talked about the book of Daniel and the exaltation of the Son of Man before the throne of God. These books had been written is times of great distress as the people of God waited for God. And these books teach us that God did act entering human history to save his people. So Jesus was teaching these disciples to use scripture to sustain hope while they waited for God to act.

And that is exactly what they did. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension to the Father all of Jesus' followers were filled with hope. And to sustain this hope throughout the period of waiting the disciples established churches where the Hebrew scriptures would continue to be taught as Jesus taught them and where the stories of Jesus could be shared with each other. By continuing to study the scripture each Sunday the new Christians were able to wait with great hope in the resurrection.

This continues today. We are still waiting for Jesus to return. And we are filled with hope throughout this wait by coming to church each Sunday and hearing scripture read and proclaimed. Through this process we remind ourselves of God's faithfulness to his people throughout the ages. Through scripture we know that no matter how bad it gets God remains with us and will act to save us.

Let me finish with one last story. Picture in you mind a breakfast table and a father reading the newspaper: Credit Crisis in Greece, Riots in Egypt, Penn State Couch Molests Young Boys. This father is gripped in fear for the future: what about America's debt, the protests in our streets, and the rising threat of inflation? He is waiting for something to happen and is filled with dread. At the same table is his young son. He can see the Christmas tree that they set up over the weekend. He has already written his letter to Santa Claus. And he waits with joy and anticipation for Christmas day and all the presents under the tree.

How are you waiting for Christ to return? Are you filled with fear and trepidation at what is happening in the world? Or are you filled with the excitement of a child waiting for Christmas morning? Jesus wants you to be filled with hope. And that is why he has given you the church with its joyful proclamation of scripture so that each Sunday you can be filled with hope and excitement as you wait for the coming of Jesus.

Lord Jesus remind us of God's faithfulness to his people in times past. Help us to see God at work through the scripture of old. And though these words of the Bible fill us with hope as we wait for you to return. This we pray, joyously, in the name of our triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.