John 1:6-8, 19-28

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ 

They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’

He said, “I am not.”

‘Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”

Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

“I baptize with water,” John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Let us pray,

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all of our hearts, be pleasing and acceptable to you, our rock and our redeemer…

Today is the Third Sunday in Advent. I learned something new about Advent this week. Did you know that historically, Advent wasn’t a very joyful season? To the early church, Advent was a season of waiting and somber reflection as she prepared herself for the birth of Jesus.

Except during the third week of Advent. During the third week, the church transitioned from somber reflection. To joy of Jesus’ impending arrival. I think this is why we light the pink Advent candle during the third Sunday of Advent today. To visually remind ourselves that joy is coming. 

So, you may be wondering. What does another Scripture passage about John the Baptist have to do with joy? I’m glad you asked. This week we switch from Mark’s gospel to John’s gospel. Mark is primarily concerned with telling the story of Jesus’ life and ministry correctly. While John is more concerned with theology. With who Jesus is and why Jesus matters.

How each gospel tells the story of John the Baptist illustrates their differences well. In John’s gospel, John is not ‘the Baptist’ because he does not baptize Jesus. Instead he is ‘John the Witness’ because he bears witness to the advent of Jesus. John prepares the people for Jesus’ arrival by bearing witness to the coming joy of the one who is to come.

The way that John witnesses to the coming joy of Jesus is through personal testimony. John shares with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem that he is not the one that they have been waiting for. But he knows the one they have been waiting for. And trust him, he is worth the wait.

How do you know they ask? I know because I only baptize with water. But the one who is coming, Jesus, will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I cannot baptize with the Holy Spirit because I am not the Messiah, John says. I come to prepare the people for the Messiah. I have seen and experienced the Messiah. So my job is to prepare the people to experience the Messiah who is to come.

We should be familiar with John’s chosen form of evangelism- personal testimony. Because we use our personal faith stories to share the story of Jesus with others today just as John did. Testimonies shape our views about God and God’s activity in the world. As we share how we have seen God at work in our lives and world with others.

What is persuasive about John’s testimony is that John’s knowledge of Jesus does not come from journeying with Jesus, the way the disciple’s testimony does. It comes directly from God. God revealed to John, ‘here is the Lamb of God.’ If God’s revelation isn’t enough to prove that Jesus is the Son of God, I don’t know what will!

Like the man whose name is John, the church is sent into today’s world as witness to the good news of Jesus Christ. We are hopeful enough to believe that the gospel is true. And that if it is to make a difference, it must be proclaimed publicly and confidently. Today’s Scripture reading invites us to consider. How can we bear witness to the coming joy of Jesus this Advent?

I want to share with you how I’ve seen a friend do this this past week. This friend is a pastor pastoring a church in the South Hills. This Advent, the ladies in her Sunday School class are doing a book study on the four themes of Advent- hope, peace, joy, and love. During the study on Joy, the ladies asked her how they were supposed to find joy in the midst of a global pandemic? My friend posed their question in a Facebook post. She asked her Facebook Friends to post one thing that brought them joy that day. Very soon her post was filled with comments like:

The kids ate what I made for dinner tonight without complaining!

I got a good report from the doctor today at my annual checkup!

My Joanne Fabrics order came in so now I can finish making my Christmas gifts.

My mom dropped off a big container of peanut butter blossoms for our family.

It occurred to me, as I read through the comments. That in sharing their joys with each other, these women were sharing a powerful testimony. There are moments of unexpected joy. Even in the midst of dark and difficult days.

The beautiful thing about joy is that it when you share it, it multiplies. Seeing other people’s joys helps you see joy in your own life. It encourages you to share the joy you’ve experienced with others. Until, before you know it your joy, and your friends joy, and that person you went to high school with joy, are pointing to a larger joy. The joy of experiencing the presence of Jesus in the midst of challenging seasons of life and ministry.

If testimonies shape our view about God and God’s activity in the world. Then bearing witness to joy in the midst of challenge is one way that we can both profess our faith. And share that our challenges do not have the final say in who we are.

I hope that John’s testimony inspires you to share your testimony with others. Advent is the perfect time to share with others who Jesus is and what difference Jesus has made in your life. I think everyone is hungry for a little joy right now. In sharing the joy you’ve found in Jesus with others you create the possibility that others will experience that same joy.

I recommend starting small. Start a group text with a few family members or colleagues. Ask them what brought them joy this day. It can be as small as a perfect cup of coffee. Or as big as a new job, a new grandchild, or a new relationship. This practice of identifying and celebrating small moments of joy throughout our day helps us practice our faith that Jesus is with us always. 

Because the thing about joy is that it is all around us even as we enter into a long and difficult winter. It is with us in the Christmas cards we receive from family and friends. It is with us in the Christmas decorations and the Christmas songs we sing in worship. 

We need these moments of joy if we want to face the coming days with resilience and creativity. My prayer for us this week is that God would give us eyes to see the joy, and hearts to share that joy with others. Because trying times have the possibility to yield tremendous testimonies. 

As we prepare to go from this place, may God’s people bear witness that the Light is come and is now here. 

Thanks be to God, 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen.