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The Voice Text:
John 1:19-28 When John the Baptist was interrogated as to his identity by the representatives of the Pharisees, “he confessed, and did not deny, but confessed,” saying, “I am the voice.” Calling himself “the” voice meant a specific voice that was predicted, prophesied, promised of old, a voice they should have recognized. Were their reservations about John the proper ones motivated by Moses' warnings against false prophets? Or was there something else going on?
There have been many voices since Adam and Eve first heard the Voice of God in the garden after their fall into sin; heard it and shivered and hid in fear. The Voice of God does that, shakes us with fear. It's bound to do that and it must do that. It's bound to do that because it is buried deep within every human soul, first, the knowledge that there is a God, and, secondly, that he is angry at us. God is holy, righteous, sinless. We are unholy, unrighteous, sinners. He says, “the soul who sins shall die” [Ezekiel 18:4 (ESV)]. God's Voice must shake us with the hammer blow of his righteous judgment against sin. Otherwise His Gospel would be meaningless—an answer to no question, a remedy to no illness, a salvation from “no big deal.”
The Gospel, the Good News, is the promise of a Savior from sin and death. This Savior didn't appear immediately but was promised, predicted and announced by a long line of voices, prophets named Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Malachi and others. He was announced by the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Last of all, he was announced to the world by St. John the Baptist. All these preachers make the same announcement: that Jesus is the seed of Abraham, the Son of David, the Lord's Christ, the Anointed One, the everlasting King of an everlasting kingdom.
Since he is the last of the prophets, John's announcement is unique, however. He preaches Law and Gospel, sin and grace like the other prophets. But in addition he also baptizes. He doesn't just talk about sin, repentance and the Savior, he actually prepares the people by a baptism of repentance. He doesn't so much lead the people to Jesus as he does prepare the way for Jesus to come to them by calling to mind their desperate need of a Savior from sin.
But now what good does it do for us to hear John's preaching today? For the Savior has already come. We already know the story, and we've heard it repeatedly. The story never changes. So John comes to us again this Advent and predictably says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and we say, “Yes, we know.” We prepare to celebrate Christmas and hear the angels and the shepherds with their predictable lines and go away with little more than a warm feeling of nostalgia, a sentimental longing for simpler times. The problem is, it seems, that nothing changes and we return to the daily grind. It seems “the hopes and fears of all (our) years” have not been “met in Thee tonight.” We actually celebrate Christmas expecting nothing really to happen or to change.
When the voice of John the Baptist echoes again in our ears today, he urges us not simply to dust off the Christmas decorations and the fond memories but to actually repent… again… and again, and again; to come to the manger, and to the Upper Room, and to the cross, and to the empty tomb in order that our hopes may be fulfilled, our fears banished, and true joy restored, as we heard the voice of the apostle encourage us today, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” [Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)].
John baptized with water for repentance. But you were baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, that is, into repentance and into the Lord Jesus. You say you know the whole story, you've heard it all before. Then you should also know that this baptismal water has blood in it. It is the holy, cleansing, life-giving blood of Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins. So your repentance is not just a preparation for some future grace or deliverance, but the present removal of your fears, your sins, your anxieties, your separation from God. You go away from this altar not expecting everything to remain the same, least of all yourself, but that you are being made a truly new person in Christ, confident of the Lord's never-ending kindness and generosity. Nothing need make you afraid anymore or make you despair. And nothing needs to let you think anymore the devilish lie that you must do for yourself, live your own life, fix your own messes or make your own way.
John's voice is the very voice of God saying, “I am the voice who makes your way straight. I am the voice who makes you ready for the Lord. I am the voice who declares you worthy, acceptable, fit, and well-pleasing to God.” And in the hearing of that voice we become what God declares us to be in Christ.
This is the voice and testimony of John. And it is as true and powerful today as it was when he first spoke.
Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness, Christ hath done away with sadness! Hence, all sorrow and repining, For the Sun of Grace is shining! [TLH 96 refrain ]___________________
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