Pointing to Jesus
Pastor Pamela Stalheim Lane
John the Baptist was quite a character. He wore funny clothes, went barefoot, refused to cut his hair and ate locusts and wild honey. But that wasn’t why people flocked to see him at the Jordan river. John the Baptist was a powerful preacher. He spoke the truth – with no sugar-coating. He preached repentance to people in power, to soldiers and to ordinary people too – calling everyone to change their ways and return to following the Lord.
He must have struck a chord because people listened, and not only listened, but when he called them to change their ways and as a sign of this change to come down into the river to be baptized, they came. So naturally…people wondered…. is this the one? Is this the Messiah that we have been waiting for?
But John said, “No.” I’m not the one. “I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” Instead, John the Baptist knew that his job was to prepare the way. His job was to point to the one who was still to come. His job was to point to Jesus.
Take a look at the cover of our bulletin. Do you see how long John the Baptist’s finger is? It’s almost as long as his head! The artist, Matthias Grünewald, wanted to make John’s role clear. And if that long finger pointing to Jesus wasn’t enough, Grünewald includes a quote from the Gospel of John quoting John the Baptist. It’s right over his shoulder. It’s written in Latin and is hard to read but it says:“He must increase, but I must decrease.”1 John the Baptist made quite a splash when he started preaching but he – and Grunewald makes it clear that John the Baptist’s mission was not to be the Messiah but rather to point to the Messiah, to point to Jesus.
And he is not the only one! In our children’s story time today, the children pointed to Jesus just as the angels pointed the shepherds towards Bethlehem to see Jesus on that first Christmas night. And, once they had heard the good news and seen the baby Jesus, shepherds pointed out to everyone they met that Jesus Christ, the Savior had come. They all pointed to Jesus and we can too.
In Advent and at Christmas, we celebrate Jesus coming to us as a little baby. We join in singing the Alleluias of the angels. This is a time to put aside the things that divide us and remember the saving grace of God. This is the season in which we are amazed and wonder at God’s incarnation, taking on flesh to become like one of us.
This is why John the Baptist as a prophet - points to Jesus. Jesus is the promised Savior and Redeemer not only of Jerusalem, not only of the people of Israel but of the whole world.
John the Baptist came as a prophet. The people of Israel had seen prophets in the past. But Jesus was not the Savior that they expected. This is why the people of Israel then – and people today – need someone to point the way.
The picture on the cover of your bulletin is only a small piece of the Insenheim altar that the artist Matthias Grünewald painted. The art on this altar is not meant to be a photo-journalistic portrayal but rather a devotional and inspirational way to tell the sacred story. This is why he has John the Baptist pointing to Christ Jesus with a Bible in hand – even though there were no bound Bibles at the time – and with a lamb and a cross and the communion cup at his feet. They all point to Jesus.
Now turn to the inside page 7 of your bulletin. There is another picture of the Isenheim altar. It’s still not the whole altar piece, but it shows you that John the Baptist is pointing Jesus – on the cross. This is the Savior of the world who came as a sweet little baby boy and who proclaimed the Kingdom of God, and who died for our sake and rose again to give us the hope, the promise and the assurance of of eternal life. This is why John the Baptist points to Jesus. For Jesus is our Savior.
And now the story comes back to us. This year, as we prepare our homes, write Christmas cards, buy gifts, sing songs, attend parties and concerts and events, and anything else that you do to prepare for Christmas, let us, like John the Baptist –point to Jesus. For it is now our job – and our joy – to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our family, friends and neighbors so that all the world may rejoice and sing God’s praise. Thanks be to God! Amen.
