Rev. George Miller
Jan 23, 2022
John 3:22-30
One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Albert Einstein, intellect
supreme.
Supposedly he said “Everyone is a genius.
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its
whole life believing that it is stupid.”
I love that quote…but alas Einstein never said it, but it does not change
the truth of the quote’s intent.
A fish is not a failure because it can not climb a tree, nor is a chimp a
chump because it cannot swim the sea.
Fish are made for the water; chimpanzees to climb towards the sun.
What a gift to know who you are, who you are not; the joy it brings and
the grief it avoids.
Last week we discussed the topic of fitting in and belonging.
The author of John and his peers did not fit in. They were kicked out of the Synagogue, kicked
out of the Temple, but this did not stop them from forming an identity.
And their identity became clear- they were followers of Christ, and as so,
they saw themselves as living in the light and identified as Children of God.
Because of their faith, they did not try to climb a tree they weren’t
part of, nor did they swim a sea they couldn’t navigate.
They embraced who they were.
Though the Religious Bullies tried to tear them down, they found a way
to stand strong in their faith and find joy.
That’s part of what makes today’s reading so delightful. Here we witness John the Baptist being a
busy, busy man, preparing people for the Messiah. He’s preaching, teaching, leading, baptizing.
All so that when Jesus arrives on the scene people will be ready.
John has amassed a large group of followers. Folk are flocking to him.
John is so good at what he does, people begin to assume he’s the
Messiah. John corrects them.
Today both John and Jesus are in the same space at the same time doing
the same work- both are Big Dawgs drawing big crowds.
Someone comes up to John, trying to start some mess- “Bro- the new guy in
town is across the way and his crowd is HUGE.”
John does not take the bait; he’s secure in his role and identity.
John simply states “You all heard me say ‘I’m not the One.’ My role is to
be his best-man, bringing folk to him as one brings a wedding couple together
at the altar.”
John says “My joy has been fulfilled.”
My joy has been fulfilled.
Don’t you love that? Wouldn’t that
be the coolest last words to say before we leave this world?
Can you imagine Betty White and Sidney Poitier saying this very thing?
“My joy has been fulfilled.”
Why? Because John the Baptist knew
who he was, what he was called to do.
When people began to flock around Jesus and not him, John knew his
ministry was not in vain.
Beautiful.
There’s something else you may have noticed; a possible other reason
John the Baptist found great peace at his friend’s fortune-
The water was abundant.
Chapter 3:23 tells us that just as Jesus and his disciples were baptizing
folk, so was John.
The water was abundant.
There was plenty; enough.
Neither John nor Jesus operated under a sense of scarcity or “mine, mine,
mine” but ministered with a sense of abundance-
The waters would not run out, the rivers would not go dry, so there’s no reason
both Jesus and John can do what they do.
How refreshing to see the lack of competition. How wonderful to see 2 grown men share the
same resources, and not feel like they must compete.
How wonderful that John the Baptist found joy in who he was and the role
he played in the Kingdom of God.
John wasn’t out to overwhelm himself by doing too much, working too long,
or trying to be all things to all people.
Instead John did John, he let Jesus be Jesus, and we are all the
better for it.
Joy.
Such a big theme of today’s reading; such a big theme for John’s Gospel.
Even as the people of John’s day wrestled with what it means to be
different, what it means to be uncool, they still find joy.
Joy in accomplishment.
Joy in keeping the commandments.
Joy in birth of a new creation.
Even joy after a night of weeping.
Joy in knowing who you are.
Joy in knowing who you are not.
Joy in knowing we follow a mighty, mighty God.
For that, let us say “Amen.”
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