The Lutheran Hour
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"You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet"
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Text: Matthew 3:1
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! To a sinful world that searches for the best, the greatest, that which is perfect, this day we are proud to proclaim a risen Savior, a living Lord, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
I was just wondering: what do you think of Richard Johnson? What’s your estimation of the man? Was he good or bad, was he incompetent or a genius? What’s your opinion? And, as long as we’re on the subject: what do you think of George Dallas, or Cabell Breckinridge, or Schuyler Colfax? I’m really curious about how you would rank William Wheeler, Levi Morton, Charles Fairbanks, Alben Barkley, James Sherman, Henry Wilson, Garret Hobart, and Elbridge Gerry. Those of you who are masters of trivia, or live in the hometown of one of these men might have an opinion. Still, I’m reasonably sure that most of The Lutheran Hour’s listening audience today are scratching their heads and saying, “Who? Never heard of any of them.”
Now if all those names are nothing more than names to you, I’m not entirely surprised. I hadn’t heard of most of them, either. No, I have to be honest, even though my honesty is embarrassing; I hadn’t heard of any of them. But I should have. All of these men were vice-presidents of the United States. All of these men were a heart-beat away from the presidency; all of them were constitutionally next in line to be America’s leader. In their day, these men were loved and hated; they were respected and reviled; they were revered and ridiculed. When they were out campaigning, kissing babies, and pressing the flesh, people were proud to have met them; they bragged to their friends and relatives, “I shook the hand of vice-president …” and then they filled in the name of the very-important man that you and I have forgotten.
Greatness. If there is anything in the world which is here today and gone tomorrow it has to be greatness. Generals win their victories and heroes do deeds of great daring. They are welcomed home by the beating of drums and the fanfares of military brass. Still, within a few years, the victor’s battles and triumphs, the hero’s guts, glory, and gallantry have been forgotten. Politicians and statesmen shape and shake the world, but only for a passing moment. The click of the clock, the flip of the calendar, promise that pharaohs will be forgotten; the statesmanship and sacrifices of powerful princes, presidents, and prime-ministers will become dry, dusty dates in unopened history books. Movie stars, rock stars, television stars, radio stars, cannot escape being shooting stars. For a brief instant they light up the lives of their adoring fans and then they fall from the sky, disappearing from sight, unremembered and unrecalled.
Greatness. Ask someone under 30 years of age to tell of the work of Alexander Fleming. They’ll be hard pressed to speak about the man who is responsible for many of them being alive. They can’t imagine a time when the prick of a pin or a tiny cut might have been lethal; when hospitals were places people went to die from simple infections; when graveyards were filled with memories of children who had succumbed to, what today would be, a minor malady. They cannot remember the man, who when asked to describe himself, said, “I can only suppose that God wanted penicillin, and that this was the reason for creating Alexander Fleming.” Greatness.
Ask those under forty who were the men who became famous for creating the vaccine which prevents polio. Will they be able to name Salk, Sabin, or any of their helpers who gave parents a preventative against polio? Understand, what I’m saying isn’t meant to be a criticism of any age group. Every generation forgets. Which of you listening to me today, can give the first, middle, and last names of all four of your own grandparents? What I’m saying is this: it is our nature to long for the world’s praise, applause, and approval; to hope that our lives will be remembered, recalled, and respected; but it is the world’s nature to forget and fade all human accomplishments, to wilt and wither our legacies.
Greatness: it’s an illusive thing. People argue about who was the greatest president or prime minister; what was the greatest movie; the greatest song; or the greatest sportsman. They want to know which is the greatest restaurant, the greatest car, the greatest deodorant and the greatest gift to give for Valentine’s Day. Indeed, there is more than one catalogue whose sole appeal is that it offers only the greatest products that money can buy. So, please don’t be surprised when I ask, “Who do you think is the greatest person who has ever lived?” Dale Earnhardt might be the name of those who follow NASCAR, while Ty Cobb could be the name submitted by baseball fans. Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Caesar, these might be the suggestions of those who are military-minded. Art aficionados and fans of the Teen-Age Mutant Ninja Turtles might list: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.
Giving an answer to the question, “Who is the greatest?” would see music fans locked in a life-and-death, take-no-prisoners struggle as each subgroup fights for the supremacy of their own particular balladeer. Who’s the greatest? Is Mohammed Ali really the greatest, or would Rocky Marciano or Joe Louis have done him in? Who is the greatest? How do you compare Mother Theresa with Babe Ruth; Albert Schweitzer with Babe Dedrickson; Julius Caesar and Sid Caesar? “Who is the greatest?” It seems to be an impossible question. Before a person gives an answer he has to ask, “Greatest at what?” And then, after he’s given his answer, he has to be prepared to protect his nominee against a great many people who hold equally sure, albeit completely different, opinions than he.
So, can the question, “Who is the greatest?” ever really, truly be answered? It would be a foolish thing for me to bring you this far in the message if I didn’t have an answer. I do: the greatest man in the history of the world was… (may I have a drum roll please)… John the Baptist. Disappointed? Some are. But John was the greatest. Before he was born, a prophesying angel said about him: “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” (Luke 1: 14-15) To be “great in God’s eyes” is no small recommendation. But the claim for John being “the greatest,” doesn’t stop with the words of an angel made before his conception. The angel’s promise is certified by Jesus Himself. In the Gospel of Matthew the Savior says: “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John…” (11:11) There you have it. Jesus says John is, without question, the greatest person who has ever lived.
Years ago when I first read Jesus’ words, I wondered, “What? Why? Why is John the greatest?” Maybe you’re thinking the same thing. I mean, after all, he wasn’t the father of nations like Abraham; he didn’t separate the Red Sea like Moses; escape the lion’s den as did Daniel; call down fire upon a sacrifice as did Elijah; or manage to avoid being roasted like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. I mean, exactly what did John do to earn the title “greatest?” He didn’t write psalms like King David; he didn’t build a temple like Solomon. What did he do that was so right? I mean if I want to be like John, and great in God’s eyes, what should I copy? It’s a hard question. Hard, because when the Bible tells of John, it gets pretty stingy with details and sparing with verses.
Still, as a voice calling in the wilderness, John caused some profound reactions, created some lasting responses. Some, having heard and seen him, said he had a demon. Others didn’t appreciate his clear, concise messages of repentance. Long after he had been martyred by a wine-besotted, and braggadocios king, Jesus asked, “Who do men say I am?” It didn’t take but a few seconds for the disciples to blurt out: “Some think You’re John the Baptist.” One of the ones who thought John had come back in the person of Jesus was none other than the king who had murdered him. So powerful was John’s influence, that decades after he had died, when Christ’s apostles made it to the Asia Minor city of Ephesus, they were met by believers who had received the baptism to repentance which John had used. Yes, John was the kind of man who made an impression. That’s why, although I gladly agree that Jesus might call the Baptizer impressive, interesting, or intriguing; commanding, compelling, and convincing; but the greatest? I want to know why.
John can’t be called the greatest because of his eccentric looks, eating habits, or clothing. Go to Hollywood Boulevard and you will find a plethora of people who would, in each of these areas, beat him, hands down. While John’s message was captivating and convicting as the Lord communicated the need for repentance before the Christ would come, John wasn’t the greatest because he always said things which people found appealing. While all of us definitely need to hear God’s call to repentance, sermons which say, “you’re a sinner and are headed for hell” are not usually over popular. Nor could John be called the greatest merely because he was a prophet. True, he did foretell the coming of the Christ, the Savior of the world, but there were others in the Old Testament whose ministry lasted longer and whose words, giving guidance to those in the far-off future, were equally direct.
“So, Pastor,” I can almost hear you asking, “I’ve stayed with you this long, what’s the answer? Why was John the greatest?” Now before I give you my reply, I have to tell you that there are many scholars, wiser men than myself, who will disagree with me. Still, I’ve spent some time thinking about the matter, and I’m not ashamed to share my conclusion: I think John is called the greatest because he never forgot who he was. Just as importantly he always remembered who Jesus was. Would you like that one more time? John never forgot who he was; and he always remembered who Jesus was. Read through Scripture, study history or the people all around you. How many can say they never forgot who they are, and always remember who Jesus is?
Look at Scripture… Adam and Eve forgot. In their desire for greatness they tried to usurp God’s authority and ate of the forbidden tree. Abraham thought he could do a better job at providing an heir for himself than God could. Famous men, well known people like Moses, Samson, David, Solomon, and others, a who’s-who of famous names from Scripture, forgot who they were. But John never did. He never forgot that his job was to prepare the way for the Savior’s coming and to call people from their sins. Years ago, when the conductor, Leonard Bernstein, was asked, “What is the hardest instrument in the orchestra to play?” he said, “Second violin.” Then he added, “I can get plenty of first violins, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm – that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.” John knew, from the beginning his job was to be second fiddle to the Savior.
It was a job that John did with integrity. He didn’t pretend he was an inconsequential nobody. Long ago the prophets had described and defined his role: he was to be the forerunner, God’s appointed voice crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Redeemer.” John knew that he was fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies which said he would cultivate hearts for the forgiving grace which would be planted by the sacrificing Savior. Knowing who he was, John boldly told people to be turned from their sins and their shortcomings so they might humbly beg the Lord for forgiveness.
By the Spirit’s will, people came to hear what John had to say. They came from Jerusalem, from Judea, from all over. They wanted to hear John’s message which was always the same: Don’t forget who you are: you are sinners. You have violated the Lord’s command in thought, word, and action. If you are to be saved it will only be by the grace of God and through the sacrifice of the Savior. Even the Scribes and Pharisees, people whom we would call respected and honored pillars of the community, were warned: Don’t think, when you stand before God that you are superior, or are doing God a favor. You are beggars, lepers, sinners. You need what the Savior offers: forgiveness and faith, pardon and peace. John never forgot who he was.
It’s tragic that so many of today’s pastors and priests, pulpits and parishes, no longer proclaim God’s call to repentance with the same enthusiasm as did John. Too many pulpiteers have forgotten that they, and their people, are in desperate need of the forgiveness that only Christ can give. Too many have forgotten that only through Christ’s sacrifice, through His suffering, His crucifixion, and His resurrection can repentant hearts be forgiven; can broken hearts be made whole; can troubled consciences find peace, can souls once damned to hell be lifted up and be brought into heaven. Christians, I invite you, this day, to pray for those who have been called to be undershepherds of Christ’s flock. Pray for them so they might remember who they are, and who Jesus is. Pray they will join with the Baptizer and, point to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Pray that they might echo his words and say, “Jesus must increase, while I must decrease.” Pray they be joined with John and humbly say, “If you think I’m somebody, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. Look to Jesus. He’s somebody who is somebody. He’s alone is your Savior, your Redeemer, your heaven-sent Friend.”
Yes, may we all stand side-by-side with John who never forgot that he was a sinner in need of a Savior. Sure of his sins and shortcomings, when Jesus appeared at the Jordan and asked John to baptize Him, John honestly, and with humility replied, “I need to be baptized by You.” Truer words have never been spoken. John may have been the greatest man who ever lived, but that day God’s prophet stood before God’s Son; God’s spokesman looked upon the world’s Savior. That day, at the Jordan, John knew he was in the presence of the Christ, true man, born of a virgin, and true God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. John knew He was looking into the face of God’s Son, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, had called the universe into being with a word; who had reached out to fallen humankind with the promise of salvation; and who, even though it meant He would face unjust accusations, unfair punishments, and an unearned death, was fulfilling that plan of redemption which would buy humanity back from sin, death, and Satan. Like John, we need Jesus’ blood-bought baptism, His forgiveness, His reconciliation, His power, and His peace.
Like John, we need to remember who we are, and who Jesus is. And who is Jesus? He is everything we are not. Some of you who are regular listeners have heard me speak of my father and the special kind of man that he was. For those of you who are listening for the first time, let me share that he was a blacksmith, a prisoner of war, a man of principle and conscience. Although I had a college education and he did not, he was still the man I to whom I went for advice. When he, quite unexpectedly, went home to the Lord, at his request I preached his funeral sermon. After the funeral, at the house, my brother turned to me and said, “Well, Ken, you’re the oldest, you’re the head of the family now.”
Those words shook me then; they frighten me now. You see, I’m not ready to be head of anything. No matter what I look like on the outside, I’m still a frightened little boy. My beard is gray, and each week the Lord allows me to speak to you. I’m supposed to be wise, but I know I’m not. When my children and others ask me for advice, I don’t have the answers. I can offer, at best, educated guesses. When people think or speak kindly of me, I know the sad sinner I am inside. Do you know yourself well enough to say the same? Maybe you know who you are: helpless, hopeless, and harried; defeated, discouraged, and despairing. If you do, I pray you also know who Jesus is: the Lamb of God, who takes away your sins. I pray that you believe on Him who has the answers to your difficult questions; that you trust Him who gives the right advice when you reach the forks of life’s unpredictable path; that you lean upon Him who has sacrificed His all so that you might be forgiven, so that you might have all. If you remember who Jesus is, I give thanks. But if, this day you don’t know the Savior and the salvation He has won for you, if you have, for some personal reason, forgotten His love and forgiveness, we would like to help you remember. Call us at The Lutheran Hour. For 75 years we have helped people remember they are sinners who need a Savior. Today we stand ready to help you know the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for January 8, 2006
TOPIC: Tradition–Good or Bad?ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus answers questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer. Today’s question is based on something you said in last week’s broadcast.
KLAUS: That’s always scary.
ANNOUNCER: Well, it came about when you spoke of pastors and priests performing weddings; you said that this was a “time-honored tradition” in the Christian Church.
KLAUS: OK, so far, so good.
ANNOUNCER One of our listeners wants to know about the role that traditions play in the church. And they’re not specifically referring to marriages. It’s more of a general question. “Is tradition a good thing or a bad thing?”
KLAUS: OK, I can give that a try. The answer to that question would be, “Yes.”
ANNOUNCER: “Yes,” good, or “yes,” bad?
KLAUS: Yes to both.
ANNOUNCER: And so it begins…
KLAUS: I think so, too. Tradition can be a very good thing. The word tradition comes from a Latin word which means “to hand over.” And that’s what traditions do. They hand over something from the past. In the church there are some very good traditions, things which have been handed down to us from those Christians who came before us; to make our lives better, deepen our understanding, enrich our worship.
ANNOUNCER: Could you give us an example of this?
KLAUS: Surely. Our Creeds-the Apostles, the Nicene, the Athanasian Creeds are traditions that have been handed down to us. You won’t find the words of those three universal creeds anywhere in the Bible, but-because they correctly state the doctrines of the Bible-they are a good tradition.
ANNOUNCER: OK. Any other examples of good traditions?
KLAUS: There are liturgies, which when Spiritually based, provide a depth, an historical perspective, that are absolutely beautiful and worthwhile. And help to keep our worship centered on Christ and His cross and resurrection. Traditions can be good when they help us find our way through problems. There are a lot of powerful and positive uses for traditions.
ANNOUNCER: But you also said there were some bad uses of tradition.
KLAUS: Yeah. First, let’s be specific in how the Lord’s church functions, or ought to. We get our directives, our doctrines, our guidelines first, foremost, and always from the inspired and inerrant Word of God. In His Word, the Lord gives us what we need to know in order to be saved… and He gives us what we need to live our lives in thanks to Him. In this, the Scriptures are unique.
ANNOUNCER: How are they unique?
KLAUS: Everything else that the church uses which is not found in the Bible is man- made.
ANNOUNCER: Does that make it bad?
KLAUS: Being man-made means, since it comes from sinners, it has the potential for human error. Everything that is man-made cannot be, nor should it ever be, placed on the same level as God’s Word. That’s what makes the Bible unique.
ANNOUNCER: So you’re saying the Bible supercedes everything and is unquestionable. But human traditions although they might be good as guidelines, should never be endorsed or regarded in the same way.
KLAUS: Exactly. Matthew records in his Gospel how people came to Jesus and criticized the disciples for not following the traditions of the people. Jesus dismissed their judgment and came back with one of His own. He asked the accusers how come they were following men’s traditions over God’s command. And Jesus concludes with these words, He says: “Thus you nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Matthew 15)
ANNOUNCER: Did Jesus have anything else to say about traditions?
KLAUS: Oh, He did. The 22nd chapter of Matthew is almost entirely devoted to putting tradition in its proper place. Jesus is warning the Pharisees, men who had elevated tradition to the same level as God’s Word, He said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, cumin; but you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
ANNOUNCER: So to sum it up, tradition can be either good or bad.
KLAUS: Exactly. It is good when it is based on God’s Word and will; it is good when it adds depth to our spiritual life and helps us see our Savior more clearly. But it’s bad when it stands along side of, or takes the place of, God’s directives and His gracious plan of salvation in Christ.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. And thank you, the listener, for making this program part of your day. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“From God the Father, Virgin-Born” by Kenneth Kosche. From Now Praise the Lord! by the Choirs of Concordia University-Wisconsin (© 1991 Concordia University-Wisconsin) GIA Publications
“Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized”arranged by Henry Gerike. Used by permission
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” by J.S. Bach. From The Wind of Heaven by K. Lee Scott (© 1991 K. Lee Scott) VQR Digital, Needham MA