ADVENT I: Witness to the Light-- Isaiah 6: 1-4, 8-11; John 1: 6-8, 19-28
Witnesses can be tricky. A few years ago, I was preparing a case for trial. I called the witnesses in to review what they had seen and heard. The first witness said she clearly remembered the bad guy. He was a tall white guy, over 6’, and slender, bald and clean shaven. I was thrilled with this clear description. The second witness came in and described the bad guy for me. He said the guy was olive-complected, maybe Hispanic, around 5’8”, chubby, and clean shaven with unkempt hair. I was confused. Had they seen the same thing? What was the problem here? I pulled up the bad guy’s picture and information. He was African American with a large beard. I learned a valuable lesson that day about witnesses.
God, we read, sent John the Baptist to be a witness to the coming light of Christ. But there are a few things we must remember and look at when it comes to being witnesses to the light of Christ. First, witnesses are tricky and unreliable. Second, as witnesses, we must proclaim God’s message boldly and clearly. Lastly, we bring a message of good news to those who need it in this world.
First, witnesses can be tricky and unreliable. When John began to preach and baptize in the wilderness, the Jewish leaders sent Temple assistants and priests to come and find out what is supposed to be a rather simple question: “Who are you?” It went a little bit like a comedy routine, I believe. They asked who he was, and his answer was that he is not the Messiah. But still, who is this man? So, they ask again who John is, asking if maybe he is the great prophet Elijah. His reply is no, but still no real answer. Finally, they ask if he’s the prophet they are expecting? Again, he says, “No.” I am sure they are beside themselves by now.
So, now they demand to know who this person is preaching and baptizing in the desert. His reply is, “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming.’” This has to be the most frustrating and obscure answer John could give. What does this mean? Technically, it means he’s a witness. He lays the groundwork and sets the stage of what happened. But because it’s a prophetic witness, he doesn’t tell what has happened; instead, he tells what is to come. The Messiah is coming. Get yourselves ready.
We, too, are witnesses who must proclaim God’s message boldly and clearly—and never unreliably. Just as John the Baptist was the voice shouting in the wilderness, we live and speak as witnesses in our own modern wilderness here and now where we live. New Zealand author Winkie Pratney writes, “Every day you are witnessing. What are you witnessing to? Your witness is the total package of your attitudes, character, and actions. It does not lie.” Our lives and our behaviors tell a story—and hopefully that is the story of Christ in us.
In the Gospel, it says that John was not the light, but that he was simply a witness to it, to tell about it to the world. It’s a bit different for us. John lived before Christ’s death and resurrection. We live into Christ’s death and resurrection. Whereas John could only speak about the light of Christ, we LIVE in the light of Christ because Christ is in us and with us.
I have watched, in this pandemic, the witness of Christians become more and more unreliable as the light of Christ is dimmed and obscured. There is nothing wrong with safety precautions when there is a dangerous illness. There is nothing wrong with staying home to be safe and to protect others. I believe it is a Christian duty to heal, help, and keep others safe. However, just because we are distanced physically and quarantined socially does not mean we should be silent about God’s love.
As reliable witnesses we must tell the story of Christ’s love which heals and saves and brings peace in troubled times! Just because we are surrounded by dark and dreary times does not mean that Christ has stopped loving us, has removed his presence from us, or will not continue to send his life-giving light and spirit to us. We must proclaim to people to be safe and to keep others safe, but also not to lose heart for God is love, and God’s love continues to heal every person and place of the despair and evil that reigns. Every action and behavior we take should testify to God’s love, God’s peace, and God’s welcome for all people.
Lastly, when we witness, we bring a message of good news to those who need it. Isaiah writes, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!” Isaiah proclaimed a message of hope at a difficult time in Judah’s history. The Assyrians were attacking and nearing destruction of Jerusalem. King Hezekiah was forced to submit to the Assyrian army and morale in the nation was very, very low. Into this despair, Isaiah spoke words of God showing justice and righteousness sprouting up like a plant. Isaiah starts this section with this, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim the captives will be released and prisoners…freed.”
Isaiah prophesied words of hope and comfort. He provided a reliable witness of good news—that includes restoration and hope for a destroyed Judah. But ultimately that did not happen in Isaiah’s lifetime. After the death of King Hezekiah, King Manasseh came to the throne, and in his wickedness, had Isaiah martyred, according to tradition. And yet the good news of Isaiah’s message lives on. In particular it comes alive each time we celebrate the baby born in the manger and when the voice in the wilderness heralds the coming of a Messiah, the hope of the world, the Prince of Peace.
Good news does not end simply because the days are dark. I listened to a story recently of a man named Jacob who was to be tempted by one of the Devil’s minions. Jacob was already poor in worldly things but strong in spirit. The devil’s minion tries every way he can to crush Jacob into submission, but it was all to no end. Jacob lived as a testimony to his neighbors of God’s love and goodness enduring even in the most horrendous times they were experiencing. But suddenly, the minion had a new plan. He made Jacob wealthy beyond his wildest hopes, great crops, great money, and plenty of good drink. Jacob loses his mind in the riches and ends up sinning against God and committing murder drunk on liquor and the riches of life. He traded the good news for nice things and forgot his God’s goodness even in the little things.
Sometimes we are witnesses that little is much when God is in it, and that God is present bringing hope and peace in the darkest of days. Sometimes we are prophetic witnesses reminding people to give thanks to God even when the blessings are great and many. But either way we are witnesses who must, every day, reliably and boldly proclaim God’s love, grace, and welcome to the world. Do not lose heart, and do not silence your voices in despair. Continue to proclaim, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel!” for it is Christ who brings hope to a weary world.
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