Mat 11:11-15 – The World Is Thinking Backwards
Can you imagine trying to explain the concept of paper money to a native in the deep jungle? Let's see, you have a piece of paper with some ink on it. Sure the printing makes a nice picture, but how can this piece of paper be valuable enough to trade for something like a day's worth of food or a new canoe?
As you go through the checkout line, did you ever stop to wonder why that bill is valuable. It's not because of the paper, nor the ink, nor the artwork. It is valuable, because we all have agreed that it is valuable. In fact our whole nation, and the rest of the modern world for that matter, holds the dollar to be valuable.
Now imagine the Amazonian native watching people go through the line at Walmart. Why he might think that the paper somehow has hidden value. People guard it. It obviously has value. It must be magical. In short this native would end up thinking backwards about paper money. Someone who knows the real scoop would have to explain it to him, in order for him to think rightly about what he has seen.
There are many things in life that are like this. If we approach them from ignorance, from not knowing, we often come up with a backwards explanation about what we observe. Think of some of the conclusions that people have come up with in times past: The world is flat. Going faster than 30mph will cause swooning. Radium water is great for pep. Just think, if the world should be allowed to continue what people in the future will think of some of our notions.
It's even worse when it comes to spiritual matters. We're not just ignorant of spiritual things, we are without sight, hearing, touch and sensibility. We're dead set against learning the truth. That is the human condition, the sinful nature, and that means that as a whole the world is thinking backwards when it comes to spiritual things.
Just look at what the world says about John the Baptizer. In the text we are looking at tonight, people in the crowd were thinking that John must be a failure. He was locked up in Herod's jail. His faith was severely challenged. And in a very human moment, even he wondered whether Jesus truly was the promised Christ.
You may remember that when John was baptizing in the wilderness, he had to correct those who thought he was the Christ. At the high point of his ministry he was popular, and people seemed to listen. Now he was at the low point, and people were not taking him seriously anymore, so that even John was wondering about his own prophetic message and calling.
The world values the wrong things, and when the world looked at John, it was looking for power, prestige, honor, something innovative, something exciting, but instead this man was a miserable death row inmate. And if we were to look at things on the surface, that's what we would say about John too.
Now think about what the world says about Jesus Christ. They welcomed Him as king on Palm Sunday, but when He didn't produce miracles, signs and wonders, they crucified Him on Good Friday. When the real Baby Jesus fails to excite feelings of nostalgia and comfort at this time of year, the world turns from the stinky stable and tries to find some more pleasant picture of Christmas, and soon everything is jolly once more.
Clearly the world values the wrong things. If only the world could truly know John. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” The world looks for gain. Sinful man wants something to improve his earthly situation, whether it is the riches, prestige and honor that come from being near to an important person, or the intellectual stimulation of seeing something cool, or the emotional peace and warm fuzzy of feeling.
There is nothing wrong with any of these things, when God gives them to a person for use in His kingdom, but the world cares nothing of His kingdom and seeks after these things for gain, and when that gain appears to be lost, then the world moves on to the next thing.
When John lost his appeal, people got disgusted and moved on. When Jesus loses His appeal to the worldlings, they move on. This is the way of the world, and that is why it is ever so tempting for us to grow weary of the real message of Advent and Christmas. Everyone around us is focusing their thoughts on presents and trees and world peace and combating hunger, focusing on the blessings and not the One who blesses, focusing on deeds that may save a life for a few year, while missing eternal salvation, focusing on everything except Jesus on only Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.
But while the world values the wrong things, God has graciously given to us His Word, and that Word sets things back in the right order.
Instead of pleasant nostalgia, which is certainly fine for a reminisce by the fireplace but soon fades, God brings us real history, His story, the story of the saving work of Jesus Christ, and that never changes. It begins in Genesis with the promise that He would undo the work of the serpent and that first tree on Adam's race by a second tree and a second Adam. All the way through the Old Testament, we hear prophecy after prophecy of about the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, all the way until we reach the last prophet, John the Baptizer, there in that lonely cell waiting for eternal life.
Instead of mere friendship and outward peace, which is certainly to be enjoyed but soon fades, God bring us real fellowship. He binds our hearts together in truth and love. Not the kind of truth that “true” today and not true tomorrow. The real truth that endures forever. And not the kind of love that turns to bitterness when the object of our love becomes less agreeable. God's love binds our hearts such that we would speak the truth in love to one another, rebuke one another for the sake of life eternal, endure ridicule and scorn, even from the ones we love, forgive, teach, confess our sins and confess that Christ is in the quiet manger of our hearts, our only Savior and Lord.
Instead of saving Christmas with a jolly “Ho, ho, ho” and the twinkle in the children's eyes as they tear up wrapping paper to get to their new toys, the Word somberly presents us with the gift of salvation laid in the manger. Do we hasten to the stable to tear off the wrapping paper? Of course not, we come here, quietly every year to sit and listen to eternity talking.
Instead of the progress that we have seen in recent years turning the high holy festival of Christmas first into a family celebration, where family is more important that Savior, and then turning that celebration in a happy holiday, and season's greeting and have you seen the newest thing, Merry Festivus. All so that Jesus need not even be mentioned.
And also remember that instead of riches, wealth and influence and showiness, Christ is about humility and spiritual poverty. Christmas is not about getting our way. It's about His way. Christmas is not about our wants. It's about His great desire to save all men. This is the greatness of John the Baptizer. He is the humble servant, who like Elijah gladly, from his heart, points to Christ and says, “Behold the Lamb of God.” This is the greatness of God also, who deigns to stoop low from heaven and become one of us to save us.
Despite the world's every attempt to erase Christ from the day, the kingdom of heaven advances forcefully wherever the Word is taught in its truth and purity. But it advances against great resistance. Certainly the world does not want troublemakers and those who insist that Christmas is about Christ. The world will let you get away with some little sign on your lawn or a bumper sticker, but just you try to go to your neighbors with the real message of Christ. Just you try to insist on Christ instead of Santa. The world will call you weird and fanatical and try to isolate you, because the world thinks that the Word is backwards.
But fight on in faith. Wisdom is proved right by her actions. God's Word will set things back in order. It is the only thing in this world that can make a difference. Enjoy the traditions and trappings of the season that you know, but put them in perspective by having ears for God's Word, otherwise everything will be backwards and Christ will be insignificant and the greatest gift given unto men will be lost. The traditions and trappings change, but Christ does not, nor does His work, nor His Word.
So pay your attention to Him as did John. Then you will not be confused or have your joy taken away by this world as we wait for our Savior. Amen.