For those who trust: seeing is believing.
Advent 3
John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus a question, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we waiting for someone else?” Matthew 11:2-3 Jesus responded to John’s disciples saying,
Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. Matthew 11:4-5
What caused John to question what he had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears? John and Jesus were cousins. All John’s life, he heard and saw that Jesus was extraordinary. The Gospel of Luke records John leaping with excitement in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited Elizabeth, while she was pregnant with John. Luke 1:41 When Jesus went to be baptized by John.
John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?” Matthew 3:14
John witnessed the miracles that occurred around Jesus. After Jesus’ baptism
heaven opened, and ...the Spirit of God descending like a dove, alighting on Jesus. And a voice from heaven was heard saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Mary must have told the family that Jesus turned vats of water into wine at the wedding that took place in Canaan. John had heard and seen plenty. He had seen enough to believe. He understood enough about what God was doing to declare that he wasn’t even worthy to carry the sandals on Jesus’ feet.
What caused John’s doubt? The saying, ‘seeing is believing’ was no longer true for John. Why? John was in trouble. He had been arrested and was in jail because of his actions. John had insulted Jewish religious leaders.
He called them “broods of vipers” and considered them beyond redemption. John’s teaching about the Messiah threatened the Jewish politicians appointed by Rome to govern in Israel. The religious and political leaders jailed John to discredit him, frighten his followers into silence, and immobilize his disciples. The leaders sought to end John’s work. John’s circumstance caused him to question whether Jesus was the Messiah. John’s experiences had sewn doubts about his ministry and Jesus’ identity. How could Jesus be the Savior and John be in jail? Both these things could not be true! The One sent by God would redeem sinners and make the whole creation new. God’s redemption and restoration were to begin with the people and nation of Israel and then extend to all peoples and expand to all nations. This is what Scripture said. It is what ancient prophets promised. It is what Zachariah, John’s own father and his colleagues, taught in the temple and in synagogues. If Jesus was really the One sent by God, why was John, the Messiah’s herald, in jail?
Along with Jesus directing John’s disciples to inform John of what they saw and heard; Jesus reminded them of what they had seen and heard.
...the blind see, the lame walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. Matthew 11:4-5 Good News translation
Seeing is believing, but experience can sew doubt. Just like John, circumstances can cause us to doubt the purpose and power of God. Just like John’s disciples and follower life experiences can frighten us into silence and render us immobile. You’ve seen and heard what Jesus did. Each time we attend worship the words and deeds of Jesus are retold in the Gospel lessons. We can also see and hear what God is doing here and now. Donations and pledges from Christ Church members for the Parish Hall ADA Renovation Project now exceed $85,000. A few weeks ago, the church recently received a matching gift for the Parish Hall ADA Project. This means each donation after that date will be matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000. A $50 gift becomes $100, $250 becomes $500, and $500 becomes $1000! On October 20, the Village of Sag Harbor began extending the sewer system. When the sewer lines reach Christ Church, the Vestry will use the funds granted by the Town of East Hampton to connect to the sewer and apply for the permits to install a commercial kitchen. The Wardens and I recently meet with former members of the Community Café board. They agreed to transfer the $138,000 they raised into a Christ Church account. This decision allows those funds to accrue interest and the Vestry to use them to install a commercial kitchen. The commercial kitchen will address food insecurity, support our ministries of hospitality, and generate income for Christ Church. All of these are signs of God’s restoration and redemption. Signs we can see and hear.
We are also having experiences that sew doubt. Jon Baer’s death not only left a hole in our hearts, it left holes in the Vestry. The Vestry has a vacant term (of one year) to fill and Christ Church no longer has a Treasurer. Adding insult to this grievous injury, squirrels or raccoons have gotten into the sanctuary. The piano must be played because as these creatures made holes in the ceiling that allowed insulation to fall into the organ pipes. To protect the organ’s blower from being clogged with insulation that instrument cannot be played until the animals are caught, their egress located and sealed, the ceiling repaired, and the organ tuner cleans the pipes. Experiences can and do sew doubt.
Jesus helped John and his disciples to see what they saw, know what they knew, and call it by its right name. Jesus identified God’s work:
the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. Matthew 11:3-4
Jesus encouraged them, saying
Happy are those who (see and hear about God’s work) have no doubts about me! Matthew 11:5
Blessed are you who trust God even when circumstances frighten you. Happy are you whose faith in God to moves you to acts of just, mercy, and love. Blessed are you and I when we use what we hear and see about God to foster confidence, make us resilient, and generate trust. Trust, resilience, and confidence to help us cope with experiences that sew doubt.
