John’s School of Discipleship - Third Sunday of Advent
Author: Pastor Scott Schul
December 14, 2025
Let’s begin this
morning with a little puzzle for the movie buffs. I’m going to list four famous movie
characters, along with the actor who played the character and the movie in
which the character appeared. See if you
can find a connection between them. Ready? (1) Doc Holliday,
played by Val Kilmer in the movie Tombstone. (2) Hannibal Lector, played
by Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs. (3) Jimmy Malone, played by
Sean Connery in The Untouchables. And
(4) Walter Sobchak, played by John Goodman in The Big Lebowski. What connects them? These are all supporting characters,
not the main characters in the movie, but characters so compelling and
actors so talented that they ended up stealing the show.
Now, when it comes to
movies, it’s a lot of fun when an unexpected supporting actor or small cameo
role ends up being the best and most memorable aspect of the film. But what do we do with John the Baptist? Every Advent we get a heavy dose of him in
the Gospel lessons. I’m often uncomfortable
with that. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t
have anything against John the Baptist. He is a saint, after all! But he
sometimes seems like a supporting actor who’s getting more attention than the star,
Jesus. In my own mind at least I’ve
questioned the wisdom of giving John so much “screen time” during Advent. I’d prefer to just talk about Jesus.
But this year I’m struck
by something Jesus says in today’s Gospel. “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater
than John the Baptist.” If Jesus says
John is worthy of attention, who am I to disagree? So let’s take Jesus’s endorsement of John’s importance
and merit as encouragement for us to dwell with John and reflect on his story,
because there’s much John can teach us about being a faithful follower of
Jesus. I’ll unpack just three of
those lessons for you this morning.
Here's the first
one. John the Baptist teaches us that
a disciple is always focused first and foremost on Jesus Christ. John is so memorable because he’s so quirky,
with his camel hair clothing and diet of locusts and wild honey. But what makes John special and holy has
nothing to do with appearance or appetites. It has everything to do with attitude. John sets the standard for being centered on Christ. Focused on
Christ. Always pointing away from
himself and pointing others toward Christ.
For example, when Jesus
came to the Jordan for baptism, John was the main character for everyone
there. He was the prophet boldly and
authoritatively calling everyone to repentance. But as soon as Jesus came on the stage, John knew it was his time to
fade away. Every scene of John in holy
scripture is saturated with humility. John
knew that Jesus was the Messiah, and John proclaimed that to anyone who
would listen.
But what about today’s
Gospel? From jail, John passes a note off
to Jesus. “Are you the one who is to
come, or are we to wait for another?” What should we make of this? Is
John doubting Jesus? As you can imagine,
theologians have thought about this for hundreds and hundreds of years. I’m persuaded by those who conclude that John
isn’t doubting Jesus but, out of humility, John is doubting himself.
You see, we humans tend
to see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear. We pin our hopes on charismatic charmers,
strong authority figures, and slick talking soothsayers. Why? Impatience,
an overly worldly outlook, or the big one – fear – clouds our judgment so we anoint
snake oil salesmen as saviors. John
recognized that potential blind spot in his own life and, even more so, in his
disciples. As he sat in prison, knowing
his end was coming, he wanted to make sure his disciples trusted in Jesus so
that they would become Jesus’s disciples. So out of humility, he put the question to
Jesus bluntly, vulnerably, and clearly.
Friends, this is our
call as disciples too. We cannot invest
our faith or hope in bishops, pastors, politicians, or celebrities. We trust only in Christ. We cling only to Christ. We place our faith and our hope only in Christ. And we encourage others to do the same. Look, we are only human, and sometimes we get
swept up in the excitement of very human things. We must always be prepared to test our own
motivations and rationales. John’s
question is a good one for doing that. Is this person, group, activity, or movement becoming my messiah, my
idol? Is it drawing me away from
Jesus? Follow John’s example. Always focus first and foremost on Jesus.
Our second lesson: John
the Baptist teaches us that a disciple is formed by scripture. In today’s Gospel, Jesus did not respond to
John’s question with logic, reason, scientific analysis, or the first century
equivalent of a PowerPoint presentation and a consultant’s report. Don’t get me wrong. Our minds, intelligence, and reason are God
given gifts that can be powerful and holy tools. But in our day and age I think we deploy them
too readily in the spiritual realm. Instead,
Jesus responded to John by using a language in which John was immersed. Jesus responded with scripture. In essence he said, “John, if you want
confirmation that I’m the Messiah, look at the sacred words of prophecy. Isaiah 35 in this case. Are those things happening? If so, then you have your answer.”
Friends, when the
Church is at its best, its collective mind has been primarily formed by the
stories of scripture. We’re in such a
strange time right now. We have
unprecedented Biblical resources at our fingertips. Computers, fresh translations, and study
bibles packed with centuries of scholarship. Yet we’ve never been more Biblically illiterate in history. We aren’t dwelling in scripture, and that has
adversely impacted our ability to understand Jesus and to follow Jesus. I fear there will soon be a time
when the phrase “prodigal son” means nothing to most people. Let’s learn from John the Baptist. For us to be faithful, effective
disciples, we must be formed by scripture. It’s time to take our Bible off the shelf.
Our third and final
lesson: John the Baptist teaches us that a disciple is
forged through the cross. John’s life didn’t end with worldly triumph,
power, prestige, or adulation. In a dirty
prison cell, far from the limelight, John would be executed so an incompetent
and prideful worldly ruler could impress a roomful of drunken guests and a provocative
dancing girl. Jesus would suffer and die
too, just like countless Christians throughout history and even in our
day. Following Jesus doesn’t earn us
wealth or acclaim or guarantee our lives will be easy or carefree. Like everyone else in a world tainted by sin,
Christians suffer abuse and unfair treatment. We have accidents, bad days, and broken relationships. We get sick. And eventually we die. The only difference is that our faith, formed
and informed by God’s Word, equips us to avoid defining ourselves by our
suffering. Our suffering does not have
the last word. Jesus does. He doesn’t cause our pain and for reasons
beyond my understanding he doesn’t eliminate it either. But he enters into it, alongside us, to help
us navigate it, to find holiness and transformation within it, and to keep our
hearts centered on his promise of hope and new life. John wasn’t broken by his crosses and his suffering. He was forged by it. That’s how a disciple lives well. And that’s how a disciple dies well.
And so for a few
moments today, Jesus has invited history’s greatest supporting actor, John the
Baptist, to take the stage, so that in this season of hopeful waiting and
preparation we might be pupils in his “school of discipleship.” John’s lessons merit continued reflection. (1) A disciple is always focused first and
foremost on Jesus Christ. (2) A disciple
is formed by scripture. (3) A disciple
is forged through the cross. Amen.
© 2025 Rev. Scott E. Schul, all rights reserved
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word
by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to
come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive
their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And
blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about
John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the
wind? 8 What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in
soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What,
then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a
prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen
greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he.”
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