The Old Testament, namely the witness of the Prophets, is to lighten our darkness. It is our light to lead us to the True Light; our "Dayspring on High".
The light given to St. John the Baptizer was that he was to be the Forerunner. I think, it was never told to him that he was to be Elijah to come. Or, at least, that he would be in the power and spirit of Elijah, so he denies it all.
He denies that he is Elijah. He denies that he is THE Prophet, promised in Deuteronomy. He denies that he has any significance whatsoever. Even his self worth is not to the level of untying the sandal of Jesus. Most importantly, he denies that he is the Christ.
He is not the One to come, freeing Israel from their sins. Instead, St. John is that last prophet to be in the shadow, but in this shadow of humility, St. John allows the Light of Christ to shine that much brighter.
So, the martyrdom of St. John the Baptizer was to sit in the darkness of prison and the shadow of death. The witness of St. John and all the Apostles was that they dwell in bodies of flesh; bodies that rot and decay, even upon those who are yet living; bodies that pass away.
And they all knew this. It was St. John the Baptizer that put it into words: “He must increase and I must decrease.” Even while you all yet live and sit here today, leave this place, and go about your regularly weekly programming, you must decrease.
You must put aside your hypocrisy, your stinginess, your anger, and your lies. You must let go of any and all control you believe you have in a situation or on people. You must make way for your neighbor in every respect, ensuring his holiday be the best yet.
Even the world understands this part of the Christmas “spirit”. Smile a little more, give a little more, be joyous a little more. Its just a coincidence that Christmas coincides with End of the Tax Year giving or that Retailers offer their best prices of the all selling season.
But you know what it takes for any of you to be nice for just one day, guaranteed? A vision of your own approaching death. Charles Dickens understood that. He knew how much guilt and regret affects a person. However, nowadays, since we have drugs to ward off death, or at least the thought of it, Christmas is simply another emotionally draining time with new regrets every year.
You must decrease. In reality, you are already as decreased as you can get. You have already been found by God, in your sin. You have already been reaping the fruits of your sin and that is death.
For “you
were dead in the trespasses and sins in
which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons
of disobedience” (Eph.2)
Therefore, the doctrine of the Apostles and the Prophets was for themselves to decrease so that Christ would increase. They hid behind the Word and Promises of God. They covered themselves in the Sacraments, allowing nothing but those things to escape their lips.
St. John the Baptizer hid behind his crazy outfit of camel hair and his denials, which we heard today. Jesus needs to be in the center, because it is only through His Light that the sin of darkness and the shadow of death are dispelled.
There will come a time, when the Son of righteousness will return and all will be laid bare, in that Light. Not just our good deeds, but our evil deeds; not just those that we know about, but even those we don’t know about; and not just those that are public, but mainly those that we keep secret.
Then what shall we do? How shall you meet the Lord in light of that?
Behold Jesus comes! Whether Judge or Savior, He comes. He comes to judge the nations on that great and terrible day. So what does Faith tell us to do? The Holy Ghost tells us to run!
Run to the Word of God. Flee to the Sacraments and promises of the Lord! For Jesus rises upon the cross, shedding His blood for all sin. The eternal Light of His Glory shines brightly there as His sacrifice atones for sin.
The gloomy clouds of night are not forever. The darkness of sin and death have been dispersed so we humble ourselves. We even hide our pastor behind vestments and pulpits in order that we hear of Christ. Not just the light of Him, born in a manger, but the light of Him on Easter morning.
Those who sit in the darkness of prison, whether county lock-up or private sins, they shall be set free. Those who sit in the shadow of death, whether in a cemetery or still living, they shall be made alive.
In the midst of the coincidental kindness of this holiday season, Jesus comes to give true hope, true love, and true charity. There is hope in Christ amidst the dysfunction of family and futile struggle against death. There is love in Christ amidst the many who are suffering in poverty and prosperity. There is charity in Christ in the face of great sin.
You are in the night of sin and it appears as if the sun is setting upon you as death’s dark shadows loom. Indeed, the entire world is shrouded. This is why Christ is the Light. Saying that Jesus is the Light of the World should not just be some half-handed identifier you use for Jesus.
Jesus is the Light of the World, because He was nailed to a cross. Jesus is the Light of the World, because He rose on Easter morning. Jesus is the Light of the World, because you were once dead in your sins, but now live in this true Life and Light.
Jesus, true God and true man, did not need to be born, for His own sake. He did not need to be baptized, He did not need to preach the Gospel, or commune in the Last Supper in order to prove this or that about Himself, as if He needed us to proclaim Him this season.
Jesus was born so you could be re-born. Jesus was baptized so you could share in baptism. Jesus preached the Gospel so that you would be saved by it. Jesus communed so you could commune with God, for the forgiveness of sins.
Christ, our Dayspring from on high, shines bright to dispel your darkness. Jesus, our Eternal Light, draws near to forgive, not to judge, for judgment and wrath have been handed out at the cross and Jesus has paid for it, died, and lived again.
It is this Light that we will find, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is this Light that is lifted high upon a cross. It is this Light that breaks on Easter morning and it is this Light that communes with you today. Jesus, the Dayspring on high, has baptized you, spoken to you, and eats and drinks with you all, until the end of the age.
When, at that time, the Light will enlighten the whole world, and no one will be able to deny that Jesus Christ is Lord, to their judgment.
Today, by Grace, we are able to see that Light and know that Jesus comes for us our entire lives; most especially in His Sacraments, not for His own sake, but for you.
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