Sermon - Gaudete 2021 - Matthew 11:2-11

Saint John the Baptist in Prison, Victor Meirelles, 1852

The Lord is faithful, and so are His servants.

There was a good quote going around recently on the internet from a church in Michigan, saying: “The church’s job is to be faithful, not popular.” This simple fact is just as true today as it was two millennia ago. St. Paul taught the church in Corinth what pastors are: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

Pastors are servants, not servants of the people or of the world, but servants of Christ. Pastors are a particular kind of servant: a steward. The single most important requirement for a steward is to be faithful. This is obvious from a human example: if parents leave their children with a steward, what matters most is that the steward is faithful so that the children live. The steward may have a weird haircut, a dry sense of humor, and kind of an awkward personality, but those really don’t matter so long as the steward is faithful.

St. John the Baptist is a good example of a faithful steward. John was in prison, obviously not because everyone liked him, but because he was faithful. He called sinners to repentance, including the king who had married his brother’s wife and another brother’s daughter. He was the voice crying out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” John came preaching the Gospel of repentance to prepare people’s hearts for the Christ who forgives their sins.

Jesus Himself even praises John’s faithfulness: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” John was a prophet, a man’s man, a faithful servant and steward of God, faithful even unto death.

Even when in prison He remained faithful, sending his followers to Jesus. John’s goal was that he decrease so that Jesus would increase. Facing the chopping block, John pointed his disciples to Jesus, so that when he died they would know who to follow. That’s what faithfulness looks like for us Christians, it means looking to Jesus even when we’re in the pits and distracted by much suffering.

Jesus said of John: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” John was faithful. Pastors are to be faithful. But it’s not just John the Baptist and pastors who are to be faithful, every Christian, yes, everyone of us is to be faithful. Jesus went on to say: “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Even we who will probably be forgotten by everyone in less than a hundred years, we are called upon to be faithful.

But why should we be faithful? Why was John the Baptist faithful? Because God was faithful to Him and is faithful to us, that is why we will be faithful in return to our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. When Jesus is asked if He’s the Messiah, He responds by pointing to His works: “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” Jesus is the healer and the preacher of the gospel. His works of faithfulness are evident proof that He is the Christ.

When Jesus healed people of their various infirmities, including raising them from the dead, it was kind of like an offering of good faith. Jesus is promising healing and eternal life on the last day when He returns, and to show good faith that He will keep His promises, He gives a small taste of what is yet to come. He’s faithful and trustworthy.

That He is faithful is also evident because His church is still here today! After 2000 years and all that has happened in the world, there are still many Christians all over the world. God provides for His church and keeps us in the faith because He is faithful. Afterall: “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

If the church were merely of manmade origin, or only continued to exist because of the strength of mankind, then the church would have long ago withered with the people. But because the church is founded upon Christ, yes the church is the body of Christ and He is the head, this means that the church still stands and will forever. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

God is faithful even in times of sorrow and great suffering. This message of comfort and hope was what faithful John preached and what every faithful pastor continues to preach. ““Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

God is faithful to His suffering servants. John may have spent time in prison and been beheaded, but Jesus has won for him an eternal mansion in the skies and has given him a new head. Likewise, you too may endure much grief and sorrow, suffering of mind or body, and yet Jesus remains faithful towards you. He has laid up for you a treasure in the heavens, to which your current suffering cannot even compare.

John remained faithful unto death because Jesus remained faithful unto death. Jesus did not concern Himself with popularity or being liked by the people. He didn’t bother to play politics and say the right things in order to advance His position in the world. He didn’t summon legions of angelic warriors to fight on His behalf and prevent His arrest. He didn’t immediately come down from the cross and put an end to His suffering. Rather, Jesus endured all of the agony, pain, misery, injustice, and persecution in order to be faithful unto death and so procure for you a place in paradise by forgiving your sins.

More or less, this is what the coming feast, Christmas, is all about. God is faithful and keeps His promises. We see God’s faithfulness in the manger, cross, and empty tomb. Therefore we know that God will continue to be faithful to us today. Are you mourning? God will turn your mourning into dancing. Are you sick? God is the Good Physician. Are you lonely? God is the comforter who communes with you. Are you scared? God fights on your behalf.

God is faithful. Therefore, we, His servants, must also be faithful in return. All of God’s Word is essential, even the parts which aren’t politically correct, so let us faithfully live and teach according to all of God’s Word. When we discover that we haven’t kept all of God’s Word, let us faithfully return to the Word of God. If being faithful means that our coworkers, friends, and family get annoyed at us, let us try to win them over with the Word, but remain faithful anyway. If it means losing our job or benefits, so be it, God give us courage. If it means changing our lifestyle and habits, let us do it with joy.

If we have a difficult time being seen as weird or unusual, let us remember the wisdom of St. James: “Friendship with the world means enmity with God.” But on the other hand, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” God is faithful. So who cares about friendship with the world when we have friendship with God!