John the Witness

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

John the Baptizer Witness

Today’s Gospel reading is quite similar to last week’s story from Mark about John the Baptizer. Except this week John the author puts John the Baptist in a different role. Yes, John baptizes people, but this ministry is more in the background to his real purpose. In today’s reading, we find John engaging in a back-and-forth conversation with the Pharisees.

Who are you? Are you the messiah? … No.

Who are you? Are you Elijah? … No.

Who are you? Are you the prophet? … No.

Who are you? … I am the voice crying in the wilderness.

Then why are you here? … I have been sent to prepare the way for the one who is to come. I, myself, am not worthy to stoop down to untie his sandals.

… The focus in John’s Gospel is how Jesus is the Son-of-God. John the Baptizer is important as the Witness to the coming of Jesus into their midst. I’m going to refer to John the Baptizer as John the Witness today, to help us see how important this role of witnessing is.

Some speculate that Jesus had been one of John the Witness’s disciples, but that is not clear here in John’s Gospel. John the Witness doesn’t state that he knows who this “one” is, only that he is declaring that the “one” is coming. If Jesus has been with John, then he likely has recognized God’s powerful presence in Jesus, and knows Jesus is the one he is announcing here.

It’s also important to note that John the Witness doesn’t baptize Jesus in John’s Gospel. He is named as one who baptizes, but there is no story of John baptizing Jesus. It may have happened, but there is no story about it. It wasn’t important to John the author. This is another reminder that each author tells the story in their own way, emphasizing what is important to them and for their audience.

In many medieval paintings of the crucifixion, John the Witness is present. When he is there, he is usually shown pointing at Jesus, witnessing to Jesus beyond death.

… Paul writes encouraging the Thessalonians to remain faithful. They should pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances, and in this way witness to Jesus.

There are many who believe that the line in Paul’s letter, “pray without ceasing” means to devote oneself to prayer 24/7. This belief has led to the establishment of monastic communities, where the siblings gather up to 7 times a day for prayer.

Instead, I believe it means to be so aware of the good things God has given us, that our daily activities are all done with the recognition that God is present at all times. When we work, our desire can be that those who purchase our product, or receive our email, or pay their bills, or grade our papers, will be blessed. Our kindness in answering an email or phone call or text goes a long way to spread the news that God reigns in our hearts. In our lives, then, we are witnessing to Jesus without saying a word, and we’re doing it all day long.

That doesn’t mean we don’t ever have to say Jesus’ name in public, of course. If we never say “Jesus”, people won’t know whom we worship and serve. Witnessing happens when we pray a thanksgiving for our meal in a restaurant. Witnessing happens when we say “God bless you” to someone who needs such simple good news. Witnessing happens when we invite someone to an activity at ULC. Witnessing happens when we hand a bag of snack food and water to a hungry person.

… Witnessing happens when we welcome everyone, especially those who are not always welcome. Witnessing happens when we accept that younger people don’t do things the way we used to do them. Witnessing happens when we tell someone that we will pray for them.

Witnessing happens every time we show God’s love to someone. Witnessing happens when we place our offering in the basket or mail it to the church or the synod or Lutheran World Relief or the school in Haiti.  

Mostly, witnessing happens when we tell a person who doesn’t know God that God loves them. People who don’t know about church have no idea that Jesus is about love and forgiveness and acceptance. Many people today weren’t taken to church as children, so they have no concept of what church is, what belonging to a church family can do for them, and with them.

People who belong to churches with lots of rules don’t know that God doesn’t care as much about rules as they have been led to believe. Even people who believe in Jesus need us to help them remember that Jesus loves and welcomes them just as they are. That is witnessing.

… It was almost 75 years ago, in 1949, that people began gathering in Gainesville to plant a Lutheran church and student center at the University. The goal was to witness to the community, and especially to the students, with the Lutheran understanding of Jesus. By 1951, there was a Sunday school, a women’s group, and an active student group. One of the first tasks, after a building was located for the new church, was to find an organ. I suppose students of that day appreciated organ music and traditional worship.  

By the ‘60s and ‘70’s, folk services were extremely popular. I know Chicago Folk Service well because it was attractive to students and young adults of my time. It was a great way to witness to students, with its then-radical lyrics and music.  

In the past, campus ministry was like Sunday School for college students. It is so different today that we need to begin by finding out what students do want or need, and then seek to provide it. The question for us today is, if we want to continue doing campus ministry: what does it look like? And what do we need to do to make it happen? How do we witness to students today in a way that makes sense to them and gives them the opportunity to draw closer to God?

I invite you this week to be aware of opportunities to witness to Jesus. He is the one who is coming, just now as a baby, but soon as a teacher and healer, and crucified and risen one. How do you share that good news with someone else? As Paul says, when Spirit is urging you to speak up, “Don’t quench the Spirit!” by remaining silent. Amen