2007. 12. 2 Rev. Choi, Ji Hoon

Belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 11:2-15

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new church calendar year. There is someone who we think about often this time of the year, i.e. John the Baptist; because he personified the waiting and preparing for the coming of the Messiah. Just as Jesus' coming was not an event limited to the past but has a meaning for us today, so does John the Baptist and his life. Today I would like to tell you the Bible's story on John the Baptist. He was born about six months ahead of Jesus as a devout priest's son in Judea. Having grown up, he went to live in the wilderness and there preached a baptism of repentance. Many heard him, confessed their sins and were baptized by him. Even the young Jesus was baptized by John, who at once recognized him as the holy one of God; he said, "Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John was, however, put in prison by Herod, when he criticized the king for taking his brother's wife. It was there that he sent his disciples to Jesus and asked him, "Are you the one, or should we wait for another?" This is truly a momentous question: it came from someone who had given his life to preparing the Messiah's way and proclaimed that Jesus was indeed the one. Clearly, Jesus for some reason did not quite fit the expectations that John had. Most likely John hoped as Messiah someone who would deliver his people from oppression, a Moses or a David, someone who would execute God's judgment. There was little sign that Jesus was on his way there. Moreover, John the Baptist is now in prison! If the Messiah is here, why must I spend one more hour in this evil man's dungeon, he may well have asked. Then in our text Jesus answered: "In place of what expectations he may have held, tell him what you saw and heard. The blind sees, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not take offence at me." As if understanding John's struggle, Jesus did not chide him but simply let him consider the very things that his disciples witnessed.

After John's disciples went back, Jesus could not but teach a lesson about the him. Now, Jesus says something quite amazing: "I tell you the truth; among those born of women no one greater than John has arisen" Isn't this amazing? Out of all people, this man who occupies mere several passages in the Bible earns this sort of judgment! On further thought, however, we may be more inclined to agree. More than anything, John the Baptist was a person who was wholly set apart and dedicated for the purpose of God. The Bible says that he was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother's womb, before he was born. He lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey. Either he was a person gone mad, or he was someone whose mad appearance was a testimony to the world's foolishness, a person of strong and pure character. Even Abraham had a weak and foolish side, and Moses did not respond to God's call until he was 80 years old. The great King David's life was also tainted by ambition, passion and blood. In comparison, John the Baptist's life is much less dramatic, but it was one wholly set apart and given to God.

Jesus says: "What did you go out to see in the wilderness? A reed shaken by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in fine garments? Such people are in palaces, not in the wilderness." Now fine clothing represents that a person has something that attracts attention. Celebrities are usually distinguished by the clothes they wear. Even nowadays, there is an occasion where people go out to see those finely dressed; it is called a red-carpet event. It is actors and celebrities simply moving on their way into an arena, but people flock to see them in their extravagant clothes; no one shows up on the red-carpet in plain clothes. One of the twentieth century's greatest celebrities, the late Princess Diana, attracted huge attention with her dresses. Those went out to see John the Baptist were expecting nothing of the sort. John was someone who did not really know how to dress. "What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes." There was found in John's mouth the word of God. That was why the whole Israel went to see him in the wilderness. Words are reflections of one's character. That a mere prophet drew out a huge number of people into the wilderness to hear him, gives off what kind of person he was. His words had power, and they brought life to the souls listening. A great person must have truth within, and that is really the ground for all worthwhile and honorable endeavors.

Jesus, however, goes further to say: "He is greater than a prophet. It was this person for whom the Scripture prophesied, 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way.'" According to Jesus' this word, John's significance went farther than simply being someone who spoke God's word. He was one sent by God in order to prepare for the new work of God as foretold by the Scriptures and eagerly waited for by many. He prepared for the coming of the Messiah. Malachi, one of many prophets who spoke of the coming kingdom of God, said: "I am sending my messenger. He will prepare my way. Before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will send you Elijah the prophet. He will turn the fathers' hearts to children, and children's to fathers." (3:1) Jesus says that John the Baptist was Elijah, someone who came in the type and mold of Elijah in order to prepare for God's kingdom. More than all other people ahead of him John had a special call.

Verse 13 says: For all the laws and the prophets until John prophesied about the coming of God's kingdom." John the Baptist stood last in the long line of the prophets and lawgivers of the Old Testament. Moses' call was to give the laws and the tabernacle; David and Solomon had the privilege of founding a nation upon Jerusalem and of building a temple in it. Isaiah and his fellow prophets were called to the mission of preaching repentance, justice, and mercy. When the time came, John the Baptist came as the ultimate of the law and the prophets, and at the same time as the messenger for the Kingdom of Heaven. As the fastest runner is chosen for the anchor lag of a relay race, John as the last represented the most mature spokesperson for the law and the prophets. Therefore, Jesus teaching that no one greater than John had come has in mind this special call and mission of John's. On the other hand, his life well reflected his call. He feared God and lived a holy life. He had strong and pure character and the kind of courage that could withstand those in power. He spoke to many, many people. Lastly, he was the one who baptized Jesus. God could not have given that task to just anyone.

Now, Jesus goes on to say something even more amazing. "But even the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John." Here heaven does not refer to a paradise up there beyond the sky; it means the new reign of God that is ushered by God's Messiah. Even the smallest one participating in that is greater, says Jesus, than John the Baptist, whose call was a most glorious one. Perhaps we may want to ask: "Jesus, are you saying that whoever enters the heaven is transformed into an angelic being? You could not possibly say that one has to be better than John the Baptist before entering heaven. He was wise, strong, and holy; what more could we wish for?"

We could be perhaps right. But here Jesus speaks not of individual worth but the grace and privilege of God's kingdom. When he mentioned John as the greatest, he was referring to the great and glorious mission John had. Likewise, Jesus by saying that those participating in the Kingdom are even greater speaks of the incomparable grace of God. Just as the most intellectually accomplished person could not compete against an ordinary person with a calculator, a person belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven will be greater than this world's best, says Jesus. What could this grace be, that elevates a common man to such a noble height? I believe we may come to find it in none other than Jesus himself.

Jesus was hard for John the Baptist to figure out. Being the last of the prophets, John had the perspective of Moses and Elijah. He hated evil and loved righteousness. He had no reason to doubt the teaching, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemies." He expected the Messiah to execute God's fierce judgment. To the Pharisees and the priests who came out to check him out, John said, "You brood of vipers! Who told you to flee from the wrath that is coming? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. The ax lies at the root of the tree. The tree that does not bear good fruits will be cut down and thrown into the fire. With winnowing fork he shall cleanse his field, bringing grain into the store and burning chaff in the unquenchable fire."

Jesus to be sure preached the same message of repentance. "Unless you repent, you will likewise all perish," he said. He did not, however, judge himself. He did not punish the evil men. John the Baptist, who had baptized him, was sitting in a prison, but Jesus did not rescue him but himself began to suffer. This Moses and Elijah would have never accepted. How could right be overcome by evil? Must a righteous man be oppressed by evil? Jesus himself certainly did not want it. He could have used power from above and saved himself, let alone punish the evil. He knew, however, that although without sin he must take this world's sins and infirmities as they are his own, that he must take the punishment himself. Just as a grain falls into the ground, he had to accept his suffering and obey God, whom he trusted. Even to the point of dying on the cross Jesus accepted the lot that was chosen for him out of trust and obedience, praying for those who persecuted him.

Meanwhile, strange things are happening on his journey to the cross. The lepers are healed. The blind receive sight. Even the dead are raised. These miracles are not all. The poor and the low are given the good news of God's Kingdom. One day, when Jesus was dining at a Pharisee's house, a woman came into the room. Everyone knew this woman as a "sinner." But she stood behind Jesus next to his feet, crying, wetted his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed his feet and anointed with oil. When everyone's patience was reaching its limit, Jesus spoke: "Your sins have been forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Jesus showed the holy love of God. Living in the Kingdom of Heaven is none other than participating in this holy love. One who knows this love is truly a great person. It elevates a person beyond ordinary limits, as the Scripture says that those who believe in Christ are the children of God. They can call God their father! (When Jesus in his prayer called God 'Father,' it was a revolutionary thing) Anyone who can call God father has a greater call than the greatest of God's servants.

In John 14 Jesus says: "My commandment is this: as I have loved you, love one another. Greater love no one has than for a man to lay down his life for a friend. From now on, I will no longer call you servants. Servants do not know their master is doing. I have called you friends, for I have told you all that I have heard from the Father." (14:12-15) Those who love, Jesus called them his friends. You know the difference between a servant and a friend. At the end of the day, a servant goes home; a friend joins the table in order to share his very heart. One who has come to know the love of Jesus Christ as one laying down his life for a friend, is a great person even though he or she may be the least of people.

Amazingly, such love brings in God's power. Jesus said to John's disciples: "Go and tell what you saw and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor." The Rev. Jae Bong Park, a Methodist pastor, was known for the many healings and miracles that took place in his services. He nevertheless wrote a prayer titled, "Give Me the Miracle of Love." Part of it goes as this:

My Lord of love,
Give me that mercy of yours.
So that, while I remain on this earth,
this mercy shall move on its own and be a miracle,
healing even all who are ill in their bodies;
Let them respond to your grace
And move freely in order to serve your people.

My Lord of love,
Let me not become a miracle advocate;
Let me not chronically commit miracles.

My Lord of love,
Allow me to trust in the almighty power of love and love only.
Let me not feel any need to evangelize
Without this almighty power of love?

Although Jesus never broke down Herod's palace or fought against the Roman armies, but wherever he went, there were signs of God's reign-signs of life, healings and restoration, because, to borrow Rev. Park's expression, he was the embodiment of the Father's love. Great is the love of God, but we have received it and experienced. We saw it on the cross, and we learned it through the Holy Spirit.

Today there are before us three paths. One is the path of a finely clothed person. Who would not want people's attention, envy, and respect? Many wish to have success and fame or other measures that might bring them glory. We may not be able to call that entirely wrong. But if there is no inner life, that by itself is empty. There are many who seem to have everything, are in places of envy, and just so unhappy. "Vanity, vanity; all is vanity?

Then there is the path carved out by the law and the prophets. This is the road of knowing the creator God and fearing him. This leads one to have something on the inside. It is a pursuit of pure and straight character. Psalm 1 expresses this well: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. Proverbs 3 says: Wisom is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy? Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
These are the things that garner respect and honor. An excellent culture, for instance, stands upon a solid spiritual ground. An attempt at the so-call mainstream society without the necessary moral and ethical preparation will result in only shame. But this path has its limits. Great persons often cannot save us from our issues of sin, of suffering, of evil, and of death.

Lastly, there is the path of the kingdom of heaven. This is the consummation and perfection of the previous road. This can be a lowly path. It is not luxurious. It is becoming a servant. Here, however, is found the love of God. There is joy, a true greatness, a power to save life. 1 Corinthians 13 says it well: "If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways."

How about us? Is there a power of love in our lives? What determines and motivates our behaviors? The Bible says, "Even the smallest in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist." God has poured out his love upon us in Jesus Christ. This is hard to understand for those who are rich and full. Those who are poor in spirit, those who are crying, those who have found out they are sinners before God, these are one who are not far from the Kingdom. Look to Jesus with the eyes of faith! He gave his life for us all. He who believes in him is a child of God and a friend of Jesus'. He (she) is a person belonging to the kingdom of heaven.

Friends, we are at the beginning of Advent, a season of waiting for the coming of Christ and of our renewal in that waiting. What would we hope for in Christmas? We must desire to have this power of love in our life by God's grace. Even the smallest of faith can move the mountains, according to Jesus; so must be love. Even the smallest yet true love can be powerful As we gaze upon the one who came to the lowly manger, let us pray to receive the love's power anew.