12162020 – John 1. 6-8, 19-28 Advent IIIB
The message of John was so SIMPLISTIC, so unpretentious…and IT IS one – many of us could heed…or at very least, acknowledge…and listen to…
What John is saying to those who come to “question HIS authority…”
They question his right to speak PUBLICLY…
They question his BAPTIZING of others…
They question this “washing away of SINS business…”
They want to know “his background…”
“WHO” are his people…
“WHERE” does he come from…
“What” DEGREES does he have…
WHERE did he STUDY?
“Where” does his AUTHORITY come from?
Just WHAT does he have to say for himself?
What John is saying to those who come to “question his authority” IS — it’s not about ME! Never was, never will be…
We live in such a “hedonistic world” today…
Hedonism is defined as being…the pursuit of pleasure. It is the ultimate goal of life and living.
It is all about self-indulgence.
Pleasure seeking.
Self-gratification.
After all, I deserve it.
The “proper aim of life” and it’s the highest good—is that of—my own personal satisfaction.
That I will be happy.
That I will be successful.
That I feel secure.
It is all about ME.
The word is derived from the Greek hedone meaning (“pleasure”), and from the word hedys (“sweet” or “pleasant”).
Listen to any conversation…
And you will quickly learn and hear…it is ALL ABOUT the person who is doing the speaking…
We can HIJACK any conversation and turn it into something about OURSELF.
IT’S ALL ABOUT ME…
MY LIFE…
MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS…
MY WORK…
WHAT I HAVE DONE…
WHAT I HAVE GIVEN UP…
WHAT I HAVE CONTRIBUTED…
The BURDENS that I BEAR…
MY HEALTH
MY ACHES AND MY PAINS
MY MEDICATIONS
We do not like playing “second fiddle” to anyone, ever! And most of us DO anything/everything we can, to ensure THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
I have the best clothes.
The best car.
The best house.
In the best neighborhood.
We have to get “our two cents worth” into every conversation. And of course, it goes without saying, I DESERVE IT!
We are poor at listening…
But good at bragging…
We are good at building up ourselves…
Our homes…
Our family…
Our children…
Our grandchildren…
It’s all about my 401K
MY JOB…my workplace…
Listen to people SHARE.
Listen to their CONVERSATIONS.
Listen to what they have to SAY.
It is about them.
The sun, the moon, the stars up above all orbit-rotate around them.
John was just this humble guy. Who knew it was NOT about HIM.
It was about someone else. He was definitely not the MESSIAH, not the PROPHET, not ELIJAH…just a guy crying out in the wilderness and trying to PREPARE THE WAY for someone else.
John says I am NOTHING while HE IS EVERYTHING. I am not worthy to be his servant, his slave, to buckle or to unbuckle his sandals.
If only some of us, could learn the lesson, it is NOT ABOUT US.
To GOD be the Glory, now and forever.
Amen.