"POINTING TO THE LIGHT"

A young man came to the door of his uncle's home with a large turkey in hand. The uncle answered the door. A multitude of small faces looked out from behind him. "Here uncle," said the young, "I have a nice, fresh turkey for you. Eat it in good health!" The uncle gratefully received the turkey, not knowing how to butcher and dress it. He worked at it and that night, everyone had a lovely roast turkey dinner. Of course, there were a lot of leftovers. A few days later, the young came back to the uncle's door. "I had an argument with the wife," he said, "and I was wondering if I could stay the night." "Of course," uncle said. So the young man stayed the night, and of course had more turkey. In fact, all he had was turkey over his brief stay.

A few days after that, another knock at the door: "Hi! I'm a friend of the nephew that brought the turkey. I've been down on my luck and could I impose on you for a night's stay and some hospitality?" Given to hospitality, the uncle invited the young man in, and more turkey --turkey stew. A few days later, yet another knock. "Hi! I'm a friend of the friend of the nephew who brought the turkey." I've been down on my luck and wondered if I might impose on you for a night's stay and a little hospitality?" Being generous, the said, "Of course."

That night at dinner, the visitor was presented with a bowl of hot steaming water. He tasted it and then looked up at his host. "What is this?" he asked. The old uncle answered, "that is the soup of the soup of the soup of the turkey that my nephew brought."

It seems to me that this is the experience of many who come to the Christian faith seeking an answer to their needs. The Christianity they find is second, third, --even fourth-hand. Sometimes, it nothing at all to do with Christ, or even God!

Some sermons preached are about problems arising from churches in decline, or because it's not like it was in the "good old days" anymore. Some preachers preach about evils and ills but never offer a solution --or the solution. Some churches even focus on hatred of certain groups or causes. And what does that have to do with Christianity? After all, Christianity is based on one man, Jesus, called the Christ. It is not based on hate or attitudes or even religion.

John the Baptiser comes on the scene in a strong way. We don't know what to make him. He's in the Bible, so we want to like him; we want to find the peace and joy of Christmas in his message. But he comes off sounding like weird and harsh. Truth be told, John could care less; it isn't John that he wants you to notice. John is just the messenger, pointing the way to the Christ, the Messiah, the One sent from God who is the Light of the world.

I once heard sociologist and preacher, Tony Campolo, say that he pastored a Baptist church for two years, but he seemed to have a knack for only provoking the dear folks. One Sunday morning, as he greeted people on their way out from church, a little old man said, "Preacher! I didn't like your prayer today." Campolo looked at him and said, "So what! I wasn't talking to you, anyway!" That is about how John would have said it!

In a time when much of our Christmas preparation is focused around giving others what they think they need or want, we rightly focus on John, who points us to the Messiah --the gift of God so different from our expectations. Still, our expectations get in the way.

Would it still be Christmas if we didn't have all that shopping, Christmas-card writing, cookie-baking, Christmas lights, or the tree, or presents or a Christmas ham? Our expectation is that we will get a Christmas tree, put up the lights, buy the presents, write the cards, bake the cookies, bake the ham and suffer our visiting relatives. That's Christmas --at least the Christmas of our expectations. John the Baptiser --the witness to the Christ, could care less. Christmas does not come in a box. It comes from the heart of a loving God. Listen to his message:

"The true Light that gives light to every person is coming into the world"

This time of year, lights are every where. Driving home a few nights ago, I noticed beautiful displays of Christmas lights --places where the people have gone all-out to create a memorable display. They are lovely --but they are not the true light. What would John say about all the streets lights and houses with candy-canes, Santa's and reindeer and elves? All he could say is that,

"The true Light that gives light to every person is coming into the world!"

George Fox, the original Quaker, was turned off by a self-serving, politically motivated clergy, walked out of the church in search of the Light. Why were his contemporaries so surprised when he found it? They never expected that he would. Their own Christianity was so watered down that they had little idea what real Christianity looks like. Fox considered himself a kin-spirit to John. He wanted no attention drawn to himself; instead, he exhorted people to search for the Light of the World --the Light God has given to all the world --the Light that will shine in every heart open to God. That's our job too --pointing others to the Light.

The reason we meet has to do with knowing Christ and making Christ known. To know him is to know him as the Light --the Inner Light from God, giving light to every part of your life and living. The character of a Christian is marked by that light --it is marked by an inner peace --even in a very busy world; by love and respect for all of God's creation --even in a world of frustration and fear; and marked by a sense of joy that infiltrates all of life --even through our tears. When someone walks with Jesus, you can tell it --without words. It's not religion; it is relationship. And this relationship is about experiencing the very love that spoke the universe into being. To know Jesus is to know God.

One of the highest privileges is to lead another to Christ. To lead someone to Christ is to lead them to the Source of life itself. The church has not always done this very well. The church always wants to lead people into things like "correct doctrine" or "right observance." Such has its place, but it is not what God seems to have in mind. Those in whom I have seen Jesus never had to say a word for me to know that Jesus in their lives. Some are people of note and accomplishment; some are quietly unknown and untouched by fame. Like John, they have the high privilege of simply pointing others to the Light.

In basketball, the point guard sets up another to score. That's us --we are point guards. Christians are to point others to the Light.

Some years ago, I had the occasion to do a funeral service for a family. The family had belonged to the church years before, but hadn't attended for many years. I did my best to care for the family and a few weeks later, they came to a Sunday service. Soon, they were there every week. About six months later, the husband had some heart problems and required bypass surgery. In the course of a pastoral visit, the man asked if I knew why he and his wife had begun attending the worship services after so many years. I had an idea; I thought it was because I tried to be a good pastor to them.

Actually, that had nothing to do with it. It was because of Sara, the woman who organized the church kitchen and served the meal after his mother's funeral. He said, "Sara came over and hugged my wife and I, and said, 'Don't you think it's time to come back to the Lord?' That did it. It was like God speaking to me." That couple saw that Sara had a first-hand relationship with Jesus, so pointing the way to him was as natural as breathing.

"The true Light that gives light to every person is coming into the world"

May we so live that people see not us --but the Light of the world --even Jesus, in us. Amen.






Return to Sermon Page

Return to FBC Homepage

Request free weekly Puppet Scripts by Louise Ferry.