Second Presbyterian Church

"Something's About To Happen!"
December 5, 2004

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2004 » Sermons for December 2004

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Isaiah 11: 1-10
• Romans 15: 4-13
• Matthew 3: 1-12

Here's the situation. The Jews, the People of Israel had not witnessed a prophet for 400 years! The scriptures indicated that a prophet would appear just before the coming of the Messiah, the Christ.

Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, John the Baptist is in the Judean wilderness preaching, "Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" It sounded like something was about to happen.

The people became curious. They flocked out into the wilderness to listen and experience this man who wore camels hair clothing, a leather belt around his waist, (typical attire for a prophet). In other words he looked the part. John's diet was a typical wilderness prophet's diet - locusts (the only type of insect considered clean) and wild honey.

Is he a prophet? Is John for real, or some demented imposter? Evidently John convinced a lot of people that he was a true prophet and that they should repent, be baptized, and receive forgiveness for their sins. Even some of the Pharisees and Sadducees were convinced and were baptized. Though many more came out to "examine" John and to see if the age of prophecy had returned. If it had, then the Messiah was about to come. If John were not a real prophet of the LORD, then nothing at all was about to happen.

Now, as readers of Matthew's gospel, you and I know that something was about to happen! We have already read the genealogy of Jesus, and Matthew's version of Jesus' birth. We have already read how Jesus was visited by the wise men. And we have already read how Joseph had to protect Jesus by fleeing to Egypt so that Herod wouldn't kill the baby and how they returned and settled in Nazareth. So, as a reader of Matthew's gospel we already realize something was about to happen. But the people of Judea did not know until John the Baptist suddenly came on the scene preaching Repentance.

If we had continued to read beyond these verses we would have immediately encountered Jesus who came out to be baptized by John and that this marked the beginning of his ministry in Galilee.

So, this particular passage from Matthew signifies that something was about to happen - the Kingdom of Heaven was now at hand: Jesus the Messiah.

We also know that what happened does not complete the story. Yes, Jesus the Messiah came to earth, preached the gospel, died on the cross and rose again from death. And we also know and confess that He lives and reigns with the Father in heaven.

We also know that Jesus promised to return in power and to complete the work of establishing the Kingdom of heaven. We don't know much about how this will take place. All we know is that the Saints who have predeceased the Second Coming of Jesus (So far, that means all the Saints up to the living Saints of today!) will be raised from the dead and then with the Saints who remain alive shall be together with Jesus Christ forever.

We don't know what this will look like. We don't know if our resurrected-transformed bodies will continue to be a form of flesh and blood, as we know it today. We simply know that it shall happen and that Christ is going to return for us when the time is complete.

Although the ministry of John the Baptist was 2000 years ago, we find ourselves in a strangely similar situation - waiting and anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Israel waited for the Messiah for centuries. Sadly many people did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. This remains true today.

Then we find ourselves waiting for the promised return of Jesus the Messiah. And so it shall come to pass; Jesus shall return to bring his own people to be together with Him. We don't know when - in chronological time - this shall take place. Although for practical purposes we experience the coming of Christ when we die in that our life on earth comes to an end.

So, something shall happen and when I describe it as "Something's About to Happen" I do not necessarily mean soon. It could be in the next moment; it could be that Jesus' return for his flock will not take place for thousands of years.

So, the message that John the Baptist is very important for us to retain: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Christ has indeed come near and Christ presence continues to come near through the work of the Holy Spirit, especially in His Church!

The question needs to be raised; are we living our lives in preparation for the coming of the Messiah? Are we living repenting lives, lives that demonstrate a change from our tendency to be self-centered to life that is focused upon Jesus Christ?

Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of the Lord. All year is time to prepare for the coming of the Lord. We all should be leaving this sanctuary with the awareness that this life is preparation for the time when Jesus returns. What else do we need to do to prepare, to make the road through the valleys and mountains level? Or, what else do we need to do to be ready to receive our Lord in profound, new ways in our lives?

Two thousand years ago Jesus came to earth. He was God in the flesh. Later, each one of us, you and me, have allowed Jesus to begin to come into our hearts. And we all confess that Jesus shall return for all the Saints at the fulfillment of time.

All of us have room to grow. We all need to be "better Christians." Are you willing to let that happen? Are you willing to allow the Spirit of Jesus Christ transform you further into the Christian brother or sister that God has called us to be?

Prepare! Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Something's about to happen.

Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.