Luke 7:18-35

(sermon note: 02-16 sermon note)

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ When the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” ’ Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.”

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ (And all the people who heard this, including the tax-collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves.)

‘To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another,

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

we wailed, and you did not weep.”

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.’

This morning’s reading reminds me of the one about two crows who were hanging out in a field one day. They were looking out over the field when one of them noticed a figure that looked like a man in the distance. “See that over there? What is that?” asked the crow. The second crow took a long look. “That’s a scarecrow. Looks authentic, doesn’t it?” “How can you tell it’s a scarecrow and not a person?” replied the first crow. “Look at its hand…no cellphone.”

Short and sweet…sometime that’s the best way to go! Of course, the scarecrow is distinguished by the fact that it isn’t holding a cellphone! People just don’t go out in public anymore without their trusted cellphone. Last Sunday I inadvertently left my phone at home before the service and the morning felt a little odd without it. It’s been years since I’ve been away from home without my cellphone! No one’s going to try and get ahold of me on a Sunday morning, no one of importance at least, but still some emergency at home might arise between my wife and all our furry creatures. The kids are with me on Sunday morning so the chances of an actual emergency happening are significantly less but still…there could be an animal uprising trying to overwhelm my solitary human companion. Ya just never know! And besides, I know how focused she gets while she’s working. The uprising could occur, and the house could be burning down around her, and she just might not notice. Maaaybe… The point being that us humans have really grown attached to our cellphones over the last 25 years. I know some envision cellphones or cellphone-like devices will eventually be implanted in our bodies, so we won’t have to carry them around anymore. Now that is a frightening vision! Something my children will have to wrestle with in the years to come. I hope I check out before that day comes.

No, the point of that joke is that we all struggle with perceiving authenticity in those around us. Some of us are genuinely authentic people. We are what we come across as. However, there are many among us who aren’t who they appear to be. Outward appearances can belie inward realities. Many of us put on false appearances. Sometimes to protect ourselves, sometimes to have fun messing with those around us. Some of us simply don’t know ourselves all too well. We’re trying to figure out who we are just like everyone else. But there are people who know themselves and give their authentic selves to the world around them. And I think Jesus was one of those people. He knew exactly who he was and what he was capable of. He else knew how to withhold himself from some people who were unable or unwilling to fully appreciate his authentic self. Perhaps he is not unlike many of us who deeply know ourselves but choose to withhold our authentic selves for a variety of reasons. Maybe we’ve been hurt before. Maybe the world doesn’t want our authentic selves. Maybe the world can’t handle our authentic selves! There are many reasons why we withhold our authentic selves from the world around else.

We’re plugging along through this season of Epiphany and for all intents and purposes it is a season of revelation. Jesus slowly reveals his authentic self to the world through a series of “ah-ha” teachings and healings. Our readings come from the beginning of his ministry when he is slowly yet methodically revealing himself, gathering his disciples, and building his kingdom. In our reading for today, we heard how an imprisoned John the Baptist sent some of his followers to get Jesus to reveal himself. And rather than reveal himself explicitly, Jesus simply responded to John’s inquiry by telling him what he had done: gave sight to the blind, mobility to the lame, a cure to the lepers, hearing to the deaf, life to the dead, and good news to the poor. Taken as a whole, all his deeds reflect those of a savior, a Messiah, but Jesus would never come out and declare such titles for himself. Jesus wants us to come to know him by what he says and does, not by whatever title we or others might give him. Jesus IS much bigger than whatever title we might give him! Jesus is life and love! But these aren’t titles. They’re qualities of who he is. And they’re also glimpses of his authentic self. When and where there is life and love, Jesus is there.

I like how Jesus went on to talk with the crowd around him after sending John’s disciples away with his “answer” of who he is. He scolds the crowd for believing he ought to be much bigger than he is. For believing he ought to be royalty or better yet, a prophet. “What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, more than a prophet.” They want him to be more than a prophet and surely, he IS more than a prophet. Jesus IS much bigger than a title! Jesus says and does more than a prophet! We know this and trust this and believe this! Jesus would later tell us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) The encounter between Jesus and John’s followers and the crowd was very early in his ministry and no one knew who Jesus was and is yet. But friends, we know who he is. We know he is life and love! We know he is truth and peace! We know he is much, much more than a prophet! And he is within us. Jesus gives us life and love and peace and truth to share with the world. The apostle John wrote, “Little children, let us love, not in word and speech, but in faith and action.” As Christians, we have authentic selves that reflect Jesus within us. The light of Jesus is within us, that is who we are. We don’t have to know anything else about ourselves other than the light of Jesus within us.

As we continue through this season of Epiphany, getting glimpses of the life and love of Jesus, let us also reveal his life and love to the world around us. Let us be our authentic selves as beloved children of God! The world needs Christ’s life and love! And let us heed David’s words in his 25th psalm, “Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.” (vs. 5) Thanks be to God!

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.