WHO ARE YOU? Years, Jim Often Still Advent 3B; John 1:6-8, 19-28 Introduces Himself to Visitors and Friends of St

WHO ARE YOU? years, Jim often still Advent 3B; John 1:6-8, 19-28 introduces himself to visitors and friends of St. John’s as Pastor Christine’s husband. WHO ARE YOU? When asked who we are, most of us also assume It seems like a simple it’s about what we do: question. After all, when we lawyer, farmer, engineer, meet new people or even teacher mother, father, acquaintances, we often get retired, volunteer, painter. asked that question in some We state our activities, our sort of way. Asking who you hobbies, and the things we are is the beginning of some do that describe who we are. sort of familiarity or common It is instinct to answer this relationship and it is a way. question most frequently asked of a person: WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU? At the DMV, the Department of Motor Vehicles, they have …And the usual response to another interesting way of this question is also typical, finding out “who you are.” right? We usually start with When you get a driver’s our name and where we live. license, you must account for Some of us describe who we this in order to drive your are in association with car. Are you white, black, or someone else or something Hispanic? Do you have else. For instance, when at blond hair, blue eyes, or the University of Wisconsin hazel eyes? How tall are in Eau Claire, meeting people you? How much do you there, I describe myself as weigh and how old are you? Professor Boulter’s spouse or Who you are is described by Jim’s wife, and even though what you look like and how I’ve been at St. John’s for ten 1 you can be identified. And then when you die, Without this driver’s license, even your obituary describes it is often hard to prove you who you were : when and are who you actually say you where you were born, how are in many places. long you lived, what you loved to do, what you would Even On-line be remembered for, who companies and Web pages survived you, and what you want to find out who you are believed. so that they can sell things to you. Social Media would like When asked this to know who you are! In common question, “who are fact, their business is to allow you,” I, too, respond you to tell people who you typically. Who am I? I am a are and to design what that pastor of the Evangelical online person is. Who you Lutheran Church in America, are describes what coffee you I’m a white female, I’m drink, what car you drive, married to a Chemistry what you wear, and how you professor, Jim, and I love to travel. sing and do photography. My father is deceased and Based upon what you my Mom lives in Seattle. I buy, you are placed in have a twin sister. I love categories, which define you. nature, and I love coffee. It is Furthermore, the world the typical answer to the needs to define you this way, question, so that people may and we find ourselves in the begin to know me. same economic trap, defining ourselves by the kinds of WHO ARE YOU? things we consume and the political party to which we WHO ARE YOU REALLY? belong. When the Pharisees come to John the Baptist, they 2 have the same question, and Who John is, is not they have agendas when about him. He makes this asking the question, too. very plain to the hearers of They want to know who John this Gospel. John’s calling in is, or rather, who he thinks he life at first may seem like is; after all, the Pharisees something he’s got real talent have their own ideas upon for. Anyone who has that who John is or even who they much ability to get people to hope John is to be. come all that way into the But, John does not answer in desert to hear him and the typical way. When asked receive remission of sins essentially the third time: through water, well, certainly “WHO ARE YOU,” John he could make it about him. surprises us. He says, He’s got the potential and the charisma. John has the “I am the voice of the one resume. He’s got the crying out in the wilderness, followers. He’s got the make straight the way of the attention of even the Lord!” religious authorities. John doesn’t say, “I’m a Jew and I follow all the law” But, John says right or “I love eating wild honey here in this Gospel that his and locusts while wearing ministry and even WHO he camel’s hair clothing.” He is, is not about him. Who doesn’t describe his family; John is, is about God. His nor does he give his age. response is to tell the Lastly, he doesn’t tell them Pharisees that WHO he is, is what he does for a living as a a relationship to God and baptizer. He simply says: that, in relationship, it is God who is the One calling him “I am the voice of the one rather than John calling crying in the wilderness, himself. In fact, John’s entire make straight the way of the purpose in life is to prepare Lord!” the way for Immanuel, not 3 for his own sake, but for the declaring. Instead of saying, sake of the One who follows “My name is…and I live him, Jesus the Christ. at…and I am related to…and I have a home in…”, when WHO ARE YOU? asked, “who are you,” what would it be like to know that Imagine what life this truly is who you are: would be like if we answered the question like John the Child of God Baptist. What would be Marked with the Cross of different in the world? How Christ Forever would we startle people? Forgiven person How would God change us? Favored by God Serving Christ in word and But, it sounds difficult deed to do, doesn’t it? Well, it Proclaiming God’s Kingdom must be, for in order to Making straight the way of answer the question with the Lord… God in mind, we would have to answer people in a The point of all of shocking way, by telling this…the point I’m trying to them about our relationship make is…you are more than with God first, rather than what you do. You are more defining ourselves the usual than how people see you. way, by the world’s You are more than how standards. society defines you. Why? Because… God has formed It would be you . God has called you . uncomfortable and kind of God has given you weird to be like John the purpose…and that is WHO Baptist! Yet, let’s turn it on YOU ARE. Today, even now its head here by saying what as we continue to live in a it would truly mean to have pandemic world, God does the identity the Baptist is not give up on who you are. Thanks be to God. Amen. 4 .

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