Who Has Been John to You?

For yesterday's sermon I was inspired by one of the daily Advent devotions from Following the Star, in which it talked about people who have been like John, preparing us to hear Jesus' word.


Well since I have been sick all week, I freely admit I just stole that idea and was excited that we get two weeks of John in a row as yesterday's gospel was the story of John the Baptist from the gospel of John (John 1:6-8, 19-28).  


So who has been John to you?  And who are you called to be John to? 


Enjoy the sermon

John the Baptist came not to be the light but to testify to the light.  John came as the voice of one crying out in the wilderness “make straight the way of the Lord.”  John came not as the messiah, or Elijah, or even a prophet.  Instead John came so that people would get ready to hear the word of the Lord, to hear the word of Jesus Christ. 

John did this because people need to be prepared for the radical love, grace, and forgiveness that is Jesus.  Jesus’ message of unconditional love, grace and forgiveness given to all of God’s children was a radical message.  It still is a radical message.  One that is hard for us to hear. 

Many of us have responded to that message this way: What me?  God forgives me from all of my sins, that is impossible, I’ve done horrible things, God can’t possibly forgive me.  Or..I’m not significant enough to love, I’m a nobody, why would God love me.  Or…Why would God give me grace?  I haven’t done enough to deserve it. 

And we often respond this way because our hearts and minds have not yet been prepared to receive that radical message.  That someone like John has not yet come to us to testify to the light so that we can see God.  And yet we are also lucky enough that people have been preparing us to hear Jesus’ words, to see God since we were born.

Take a moment and think about the people in your life who have prepared and are still preparing you to hear Jesus’ words.  Parents, pastors, Sunday school teachers, friends, spouses, children, coworker, that person in college who you had great conversations with late into the night.  There are many throughout your life you have been Johns to you, who have helped prepare your way so that you may see God.  There should be a notecard in your bulletin, on one side will you write down three of those people’s names. 

And we are also called to be Johns to other people.  To help prepare their way so that they may see God and hear Jesus’ words, Jesus’ radical message of love, grace and forgiveness.  On the other side of the card, will you write down three names of people you can pray for, talk with, support in their journey with Christ.  It doesn’t mean you have to give them a lecture about why they should believe, instead tell them that you are praying for them and actually do it, talk to them gently about your faith, support them in life, invite them to worship, encourage them during times of hardship.