WE’VE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS, an Epiphany Hymn, 14 January 2025 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile).    Romans 1:16

 

            Epiphany Season is not simply beautiful in description, but also in its profound meaning to all nations. The story of the poor shepherds on the hills over Bethlehem who were visited by a heavenly​ ​angel is a wonderful account of the Jewish poor​ ​folk being informed of the birth of Christ; but the story of the Gentile Magi coming to visit, worship and adore Him is just as pleasing because it opens the gates of Heaven to all nations, tongues and people who are drawn to Christ. This hymn is the composition of H. Ernest Nichol (1862-1926) in both lyrics and tune, in ​published in 1896.

WE’VE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS

 

1 We've a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.

Refrain:
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noonday bright,
and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

2 We've a song to be sung to the nations,
that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
a song that shall conquer evil,
and shatter the spear and sword,
and shatter the spear and sword. [Refrain]

3 We've a message to give to the nations,
that the Lord who reigneth above
has sent us His Son to save us,
and show us that God is love,
and show us that God is love. [Refrain]

4 We've a Savior to show to the nations,
who the path of sorrow has trod,
that all of the world's great peoples
may come to the truth of God,
may come to the truth of God! [Refrain]

 

            1 We've a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right, a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light, a story of peace and light. [Refrain] Certainly, we have such a marvelous story to tell to the nations of the world that cannot be kept secret in the heart of every believer.  It is a story of the Gospel that serves as salt and light to the whole world, but of special treasure to the elect of God​ who follow the Light from on High. “¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Gospel of St. Matthew 28:19-20

            2 We've a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord, a song that shall conquer evil, and shatter the spear and sword, and shatter the spear and sword. [Refrain] The influence of the Gospel, well received by the people of God, has a comforting influence on all nations – even among those populations that have not yet believed. Public cursing, excess drink, and immodest dress are even limited by the moral grace of believers among a society. Can a song conquer evil? How about the song of Moses at the Red Sea, and of Deborah​, the prophetess​, before battle? Those songs stayed the glittering arms of pow​erful armies. On the other hand, songs of immorality and irreverence can also disarm a people before the enemy.

            3 We've a message to give to the nations, that the Lord who reigneth above has sent us His Son to save us, and show us that God is love, [Refrain] The same faith in the promise of a Redeemer to Abraham was made effectual to every man, woman and child of faith. The children of faith of Abraham are the true children of Abraham and not​reserved for any specific race and people. “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”  Galatians 3:7

            4 We've a Savior to show to the nations, who the path of sorrow has trod, that all of the world's great peoples may come to the truth of God, may come to the truth of God! [Refrain].  The message of the Gospel is hateful to the world. It is a message of love and not hate, of charity and not greed. Unfortunately, the whole world will never accept the Gospel​ until too late when Christ returns with great power and majesty. In fact, the portion of true believers may be the minority in the churches of our day. In my opinion, there are no atheists – only those who fear God unto salvation, and those who fear unto damnation.

Refrain:
            For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noonday bright, and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth, the kingdom of love and light. Truly, the​ ​nature of the Kingdom of Christ is light and love – of the world, darkness and hate. It is worth noting that Light heralded the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, and it was the bright morning of Resurrection that heralded His rising again. But His death was made manifest by a prevailing darkness that continued during the three hours prior to His giving up the ghost. But, praise God, Light was victorious over the darkness of hate at the moment of Resurrection morning.

Sermon Notes for 1^st Sunday after Epiphany, 12 January 2025 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

NOW his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.       Gospel of St. Luke 2:41

 

The Collect 

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Epistle 
Romans xii. 1. 

I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

The Gospel 
St. Luke ii. 41. 

NOW his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 

            “ . . . after the custom of the feast.’ Jesus, as a child, went up to the feast as was the custom, or the duty of those who kept the faith. Across the Gospel, Epistle and Collect today we see, as a common point, the aspect of duty as a salient meaning across the three. In our reformed faith, the age of Christ (twelve years), is the age of accountability. Therefore, the Christian child is normally confirmed in the faith at that age. If we consider seriously the single reason for our undivided service to God, it could be summed up by duty based on faith.

            One of my childhood role models (and still), was general Robert E. Lee. He described duty in this way: “Duty then is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more. You should never do less.” This also applies to our duty and service to God. We can never do more than is expected of a Christian believer, and we should strive to never to less even if we fail and falter from time to time.

            In the Gospel of St Luke, we see the very picture of Godly duty at home. Due to the greater distance from Jerusalem, it was not mandatory that Joseph attend the Passover feast, and Mary, as a woman, was never required; however, they attended anyway which was above the normal expectation. One point, we can never perform above and beyond the call of duty. The mother of Jesus, and Joseph (his step-father), had seen to the proper raising of our Lord to this point in His age. A good home, loving family, Godly living – these all point to dutiful parents which Joseph and Mary were to Jesus. And His mother, and Joseph, were very proud to have Him introduced to the beauty of faith in Zion at the age of twelve.

            But His mother, Mary, and Joseph (as was presumed to be His father), were not as aware as the boy Jesus was of his role and duty to it. When the couple departed Jerusalem for Nazareth, they presumed the boy Jesus to be in the company; but, after a day’s travel, He was nowhere to be found. They frantically searched everywhere but He was not along. After returning to Jerusalem and making diligent search, they finally discovered Jesus in the Temple conversing with the religious doctors of the time. Can you imagine the fear and dismay of losing such a fine son? Sometimes we feel that we have lost our wallet or purse and search every corner of the house. Finally, we discover them just where we placed them in a secure place. They were never lost, and neither was Jesus. He was precisely at the right place – the Temple – His Father’s House, for no other place could be more proper for the Son of God.

            Jesus was not being discourteous, but frankly true to faith, when He responded to Mary’s question of complaint in His not following them when He correctly stated, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? This answer represents the first occasion in which Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of God. The answer was confusing to Mary and Joseph. Joseph had treated Jesus as his own son, though he was not the real father. It is never the wrong path of service when we are about our Father’s business. 

            Nevertheless, we see Jesus, conscious of His duty also to His earthly parents, returning with them to Nazareth and was subject to them as a faithful son. But these things seemed a bit troubling to Mary, and she kept them in her heart. But in His dutiful regard for His parents, Jesus grew in stature, knowledge and grace.

            Now, in the Epistle to the Romans, Paul describes our duties to God in terms of full conformance with the Gospel text. What were these duties of our “reasonable service to God?” Frankly, it is with all our being. That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” There is no middle ground in that service – it is all to God or nothing else. We surrender our self-wills, that were in bondage to sin, by receiving the Mind of Christ. That is a soul-sacrifice. And we surrender our bodies as a living, holy, sacrifice to God which is only reasonable for one devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing less, and nothing more is possible It is our DUTY as believers!

            Paul uses the term ‘transformed by the renewing of our minds.’ That requires the abandonment of our old sinful minds to be renewed by the transforming will of God.  Paul concludes that we are all one body in Christ, and if one to God, we must be one to each other.

            My young friends, I encourage you to confirm your faith in Christ at your earliest opportunity just as our Lord confirmed Himself as the Son of God before the Jewish religious workers in the Temple. If you know Him as your Lord, then you must admit, as well, that you, too, are a son or daughter of God the Father.

            Now, the Prayer of Collect simply calls upon the blessings and grace of God to make known to us the terms of our duties to God and man, and for the grace and power to fulfill those duties through the workings of Christ in our members, bearing in mind that we can never go too far in that undertaking:

            “ So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”  Gospel of St. Luke 17:10

            Let us govern ourselves accordingly. 

W

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

             

 

BISHOP’S NEW YEAR’S GREETING – 2024 Anno Domini      

In biblical numerology, the number eight signifies new beginnings. Eight souls were saved in the Ark of Noah during the Deluge. These eight began the replenishment of the earth. The Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Bible and is like unto a garden of grace between the time of the judges and the time of the kings. It is filled with hints of the gospel and the Church.

            Jesus Christ rose on the eighth day following the historic computation of time as relates to the Sabbath (7^thDay). The birth and ministry of Christ represents the culmination of all that the Law and Prophets spoke of regarding a Redeemer. He did not change or alter the Word of God but fulfilled its hope and promise. He is the beginning of the new Creation of God as the first-born of all living. Though we celebrate a New Year on January 1, it is only a part and portion of the New Beginning in Christ. If that beginning is not in Christ, then it is not a beginning at all but simply a continuation of the old sinful ways of man.

            Christ is our only true beginning. So, instead of writing down resolutions of which we are incapable of keeping, let us simply resort to obedience of the Laws of God as we are enabled in the love of God, and love of one another.

            We have just hopefully ended a sordid period in the history of our American nation in which there was an open and enthusiastic promotion of the vilest sins of perversion and godlessness. We may consider that point to have past due to the election of a new President; however, the sins and depravity of any nation cannot be remedied by any new hero on the scene – Christ is the only answer for our nation and others around the world. No matter the proud boast, and even sincere efforts of man, a godless nation will never be blessed by Providence. The problem of the modern nations is not lack of effort or sincerity – it is a lack of the love of God and His Holy Word. Even the mighty lion is subject to the natural laws laid down by God. His moral law is just as commanding as is His natural laws of the Universe.

            On the positive side, we have been graciously given a second change to amend our ways and restore our moral decency in our land by putting our hand into the Hand of God as we march forward into a future fraught with uncertainties. 

            Perhaps we would be wise to heed the courageous faith of the English people when at the beginning of World War II, King George the VI spoke these words to the nation (taken from a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins, entitled, The Gate of the Year):

 

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown". 
And he replied: 
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way". 
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

 

            May this coming year prove us to be a people known for their godly faith and pleased to stand always for the right regardless the outcome.

 

Happy New Year and continuing Christmastide.

 

 † Jerry Ogles

Presiding Bishop.   

Here is a poem I wrote a few yMARY – MOTHER OF VIRTUE AND LOVE

           by Bishop Ogles

 

 

Here is a poem I wrote a few years back to honor Mary as the blessed Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: (J. Ogles)

 

MARY – MOTHER OF VIRTUE AND LOVE

A precious virgin, sweet and gracious

Lived in ancient Galilee.

She was by parents loved and precious

Praying oft on bended knee.

Virtue, love, and grace possessed her

As she dreamed of things to be,

Never guessing of the splendor

Of the visions she would see.

In the lonely hours of even

As she labored all alone

Came a glowing glorious Being

Whose brightness through the shadows shown. 

Lo, now Virgin, God is with thee

Spake the Angel, Gabriel

“Hail, thou that art highly favoured,” 

As with fright her face grew pale.

“Fear not, Mary.” Came the answer

As her soul drew comfort then.

You shall soon conceive the Savior

Gods own Son, and Son of Man.

The Holy Spirit shall o’er-shadow

And come upon you as you sleep.

Soon the promise of the Father

He shall in your Baby keep.

Blessed above all other women

Shall you be henceforth anon.

And angelic choirs of Heaven

Shall proclaim His coming soon.

Many years of love and caring

Did this blessed Mother spend

On her Son Most Holy, guarding

Until at Calvary came the End.

Twas not the End, but the Beginning,

As He died upon the tree.

His death assured His victory winning

As Mary’s heart was pierced with grief.

His disciples shared in sorrow

Those three days and nights of grief.

But the sunrise at the Garden

Brought a joy beyond belief. 

See poor Mother, bent and weeping

As this news is told her now.

Empty Tomb and Risen Savior

Proves the Truth of Heaven’s Vow.

Kindly Mother, gentle Mary,

How with love we think of thee

Now no longer need you tarry

By the open Tomb to see.

Were all mothers fair and lovely

And with virtue, love, and grace,

To nurture up their sons and daughters.

This would be a better place.

 ears back to honor Mary as the blessed Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: (J. Ogles)

MARY – MOTHER OF VIRTUE AND LOVE

A precious virgin, sweet and gracious

Lived in ancient Galilee.

She was by parents loved and precious

Praying oft on bended knee.

Virtue, love, and grace possessed her

As she dreamed of things to be,

Never guessing of the splendor

Of the visions she would see.

In the lonely hours of even

As she labored all alone

Came a glowing glorious Being

Whose brightness through the shadows shown.

Lo, now Virgin, God is with thee

Spake the Angel, Gabriel

“Hail, thou that art highly favoured,”

As with fright her face grew pale.

“Fear not, Mary.” Came the answer

As her soul drew comfort then.

You shall soon conceive the Savior

Gods own Son, and Son of Man.

Here is a poem I wrote a few years back to honor Mary as the blessed Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: (J. Ogles)

MARY – MOTHER OF VIRTUE AND LOVE

A precious virgin, sweet and gracious

Lived in ancient Galilee.

She was by parents loved and precious

Praying oft on bended knee.

Virtue, love, and grace possessed her

As she dreamed of things to be,

Never guessing of the splendor

Of the visions she would see.

In the lonely hours of even

As she labored all alone

Came a glowing glorious Being

Whose brightness through the shadows shown.

Lo, now Virgin, God is with thee

Spake the Angel, Gabriel

“Hail, thou that art highly favoured,”

As with fright her face grew pale.

“Fear not, Mary.” Came the answer

As her soul drew comfort then.

You shall soon conceive the Savior

Gods own Son, and Son of Man.

The Holy Spirit shall o’er-shadow

And come upon you as you sleep.

Soon the promise of the Father

He shall in your Baby keep.

Blessed above all other women

Shall you be henceforth anon.

And angelic choirs of Heaven

Shall proclaim His coming soon.

Many years of love and caring

Did this blessed Mother spend

On her Son Most Holy, guarding

Until at Calvary came the End.

Twas not the End, but the Beginning,

As He died upon the tree.

His death assured His victory winning

As Mary’s heart was pierced with grief.

His disciples shared in sorrow

Those three days and nights of grief.

But the sunrise at the Garden

Brought a joy beyond belief.

See poor Mother, bent and weeping

As this news is told her now.

Empty Tomb and Risen Savior

Proves the Truth of Heaven’s Vow.

Kindly Mother, gentle Mary,

How with love we think of thee

Now no longer need you tarry

By the open Tomb to see.

Were all mothers fair and lovely

And with virtue, love, and grace,

To nurture up their sons and daughters.

This would be a better place.The Holy Spirit shall o’er-shadow

And come upon you as you sleep.

Soon the promise of the Father

He shall in your Baby keep.

Blessed above all other women

Shall you be henceforth anon.

And angelic choirs of Heaven

Shall proclaim His coming soon.

Many years of love and caring

Did this blessed Mother spend

On her Son Most Holy, guarding

Until at Calvary came the End.

Twas not the End, but the Beginning,

As He died upon the tree.

His death assured His victory winning

As Mary’s heart was pierced with grief.

His disciples shared in sorrow

Those three days and nights of grief.

But the sunrise at the Garden

Brought a joy beyond belief.

See poor Mother, bent and weeping

As this news is told her now.

Empty Tomb and Risen Savior

Proves the Truth of Heaven’s Vow.

Kindly Mother, gentle Mary,

How with love we think of thee

Now no longer need you tarry

By the open Tomb to see.

Were all mothers fair and lovely

And with virtue, love, and grace,

To nurture up their sons and daughters.

This would be a better place. 

THE FIRST NOEL (#30 in 1940 Church Hymnal), a Christmas Hymn for 23 December 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

THE FIRST NOEL (#30 in 1940 Church Hymnal), a Christmas Hymn for 23 December 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.          Gospel of St Luke 2:14-20

 

            This is another beautiful hymn that we can ascribe to the Holy Spirit since no other author is known (the hymn writer being anonymous). Noel (or O.E. Nowell) is derived from the French for both Good News (bonnes nouvelles ) and birth day (natalis nouvelles). Of course, combining the two terms, the title fits perfectly to the “Good tidings of Great Joy” shared by the Angels at the birth of the Savior. This hymn was first published in 1833 with its present tune, Nowell, Nowell.

 

THE FIRST NOEL

 

1 The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

 

2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

 

3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

 

4 This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]

 

5 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]

 

6 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]

 

            1 The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. This beautifully expressive Christmas hymn relates the silent beauty of that first Christmas more than two thousand years ago. It is based on the Christmas story of the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 2. This was the first Noel, or first coming, of the Lord Jesus Christ. The reference to the first implies the certainty of a second coming as well. We read from Luke 2: 8 ^“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” These shepherds were the poorest of the common society in the days of that first Christmas. Many were very young and could only tend sheep to live – others were elderly and labored for the same reason. No one saw the Light of the Angel except these poor shepherds, and many who consider themselves righteous today may not see that Light of Christ either. The simple faith of the shepherds opened the doors of Heaven to them for a sacred glimpse.

            2 They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Perhaps it might have been the Star of Bethlehem that first attracted their interest, but that which came sooner was the glittering Light of a Heavenly Being which spoke from the Glory Cloud. The Star of Bethlehem would lead the gentile Magi to the Baby Jesus sometime later. 

            3 And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. The Angel first announced the birth of Christ to the poor Jewish shepherds. But, later, the gentile Magi also came to behold Him as Lord and King. This reflects the truth of Paul’s claim in Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (gentiles). The Magi were likely the Zoroastrian priests of Persia whose scholarly studies of the Hebrews led them to keep vigil for the Star.

            4 This star drew nigh to the northwest; o’er Bethlehem it took its rest, and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay. It seems likely that this heavenly body began its journey long before in the density of deep space. The prophecy of its coming was foretold by Balaam. “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” Numbers 24:17 There are reports of sightings of such a strange heavenly body by both Korean and Chinese observers around 4 B.C. To them, it was unlike any other star or comet in its behavior. Its movement was a steady east to west.

            5 Then entered in those wise men three, full reverently upon their knee, and offered there in his presence their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.  The coming of the Wise Men (Magi) combines the Christmas event with that of Epiphany at which time the eyes of the gentiles were opened to the hope of a Savior. This latter coming of the wise Men occurred up to two years after the actual birth of Christ according to many credible sources. It was for this reason that Herod inquired of the time of the Magis’  siting of the Star. Whatever answer was given convinced Herod to have all infants up to the age of two years to be slain in Bethlehem. It is amazing that Herod acted with full knowledge of the ancient prophecies of the Lord’s coming. The gifts of the wise men were also prophetic – Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Gold represented royalty, Frankincense stood for divinity (worthy of worship), and the Myrrh for the gloom of death in anointing the body.

            6 Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood our life hath bought. Perhaps it is this last verse that convinces the modern compromising church to avoid singing this hymn since the last verse points out the folly of the false science called evolution. It also stresses the inability of man to save himself – we are saved only by the grace of God through the shedding of the precious blood of His only Begotten Son and not by any supposed righteousness on our own part. Salvation is a gift and given only at the discretion of the Giver. 

 

 Sermon Notes for Third Sunday in Advent 15 December 2024 Anno Domini

“2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. (Matt 11:2-19)

John the Baptist has been imprisoned for a terrible crime – that of proclaiming the truth. He had told King Herod that to live in concupiscence and adultery by marrying his brother, Philip’s wife – Herodias. Can you imagine? Today, John would be accused of that disarming act of being “too judgmental” yet John simply proclaimed God’s judgment from His Word! We walk daily among many Herods and Herodiases who would, if they could, cast us into prison for revealing their sinful lives to them. “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” (Mark 6:17-20) If you cannot abide the message, then by all means kill the messenger. The messenger is killed today by accusations of being too judgmental; thus the church has become sterile and impotent in dealing with sin. Instead of being salt and light to the world, the church has heard the world and agreed not to judge against the sins of the world.

What is the first characteristic of John the Baptist that comes to mind when his name is mentioned? For me, I think of a Voice Crying in the Wilderness – “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Matt 3:3) What is this Wilderness?

Wilderness - a wild or uncultivated state. (Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary) The greatest and most desponding of wildernesses is not geographic, but spiritual. Bread and water are in short supply in a geographic wilderness, but so, too, in a spiritual one – there is lacking the Bread of Heaven and the Water of Life on the neon-lit streets of most American cities. As one walks those streets, he sees a wanton decadence and lust in the vacant faces of those he meets. There is no one with which he can fellowship concerning the riches of Christ for all are spiritually penniless. On those streets, the only mention of Christ is as a ‘Voice Crying in the Wilderness.’

The text today falls into two sections. The first: reveals a faltering faith of the great witness (John) and Christ’s gentle response to this man of faith. (verses 2-6) The second: Christ provides a witness to John of the truth of His ministry. We are not to consider John weak in faith for that is clearly not the case. John has been imprisoned and treated with dishonor. His life is in peril daily, yet he continues to believe under harsh conditions that exceed our ability to comprehend. But any of us have moments when we need a reassuring word, and this is the moment when John sends for confirmation.

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” This is not for the benefit for John’s disciples, but for his own comfort of reassurance. He is giving his very life on preparing the way for Christ’s ministry, so a reassuring word under these circumstances is reasonable. John is in prison in the gloomy fortress of Machaerus that Herod had built to serve as a sinful pleasure house and an impregnable fortress in the savage hills of Moab. The halls of pleasure and impregnable walls have collapsed, but the dungeon area is still discernible with the holes in the masonry to serve as witness of the chains of its victims (John included).

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Christ gently gives counsel to John’s disciples to go and give testimony of all that has been prophesied and fulfilled in the ministry of Christ. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.” (Isaiah 35:5-6) “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” (Isaiah 61:1) These are prophecies written seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, so we are emboldened in our faith to see their complete fulfillment – so was John. I love that phrase from Isaiah regarding the proclamation of Liberty to the captives. As a nation, God has favored our founding and our place as a nation among the nations of the world; but He has also made available to every man and woman of every land this Liberty from the captivity of sin if they will but come to Him. Jesus tells these things to John’s disciples so that John will have his faith confirmed, but to us, too!

“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.” These are all questions whose import is every whit as directed to us today as to the disciples around Jesus. When we go to prayer service, do we go to see some amazing performance of a man preacher? These services are seldom called prayer services today, but more often ‘Celebrations” or “Festivals.” Such terms describe experiences intended to uplift man, prayers and worship uplift Christ! Do we expect our clergy to wear the latest fashion in clothing? My father told me that nay man given to frequent changes of fashion in attire is also likely to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. We have evangelists today clothed in $2,000 suits, wearing great diamond rings, and sporting gold, Rolex watches appealing for “seed money” from widows and elderly who barely can supply their pantries with bread. I can almost smell the scorched fires of their punishment to come. John is no mere prophet, but the chosen messenger of God to herald the coming of His only Begotten Son!

“For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (see also Malachi 3:1) Christ extols the virtues of Jon after his disciples depart. He desires that no honor be lost of John’s character in sending his questions to Christ. The character of Christ is quite different from that of men: Christ gives acclaim to the Baptist after his disciples have departed. Man gives flamboyant acclaim to men to their faces, but often critical stabs to their backs. Though John stands high above the mark in the company of men, he is well short in the Kingdom of Heaven to which he aspires – as are all of us.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” The battle is hot and the mournful cries of the battlefield are full of the painful suffering of the saints. The path to the Kingdom is not a self-willed, demonstration of manly power (as is today in the modern church), but a gentle following of that Great Shepherd of the Flock. The wolves stalk the flock seeking every remunerative opportunity to shed blood and get advantage. This describes the Kingdom of Matthew 13:31-32. Those ‘birds’ lodging in its branches are demons, and they most often win the higher positions of honor in the tree.

“And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Christ is generous in sharing great mysteries to those whose ears are open in humble faith to hear. Amazingly, the worldly wise can never grasp the simplicity of truth uttered by Christ. But if we have ears (open ears, believing ears, trusting ears, hearing ears) to hear (not just the Words but the Spirit speaking) understand these mysteries. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal 4:5-6) Please note the last word of the Old Testament: CURSE. The law is a curse to those who do not believe. Note the last word of the New Testament: AMEN (hearty approval). “Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Rev 22:20-21) There is a glorious difference in our prospects from the Old to the New Testament. Jesus Christ makes ALL the difference!

“But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.” Donald Frasier wrote (Metaphors of the Gospel) that Jesus “pictured a group of little children playing at make-believe marriages and funerals. First, they acted a marriage procession; some of them piping on instruments of music, while the rest were expected to leap and dance. In a perverse mood, however, these refused to respond, but stood still and looked discontented. So the little pipers changed their game, and proposed a funeral. They began to imitate the loud wailing of Eastern mourners. But again they were thwarted, for their companions refused to chime in with the mournful cry and to beat their breasts.” These non-participating children are non players. They never like the tune or the narrative, but stand jeering on the sidelines. Have our churches become such dead events of observation?

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” The world will always find cause to condemn the people of God and to kill the prophets. Either they are too pious, or they lack piety; either they are too hot, or they are too cold; either they are too bold, or not bold enough; either they are too spiritual, or not spiritual enough. If we are the Children of Wisdom, we shall have ears that hear and know. We dare not stand on the sidelines jeering, but become active responders to the pipe. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.” (Isaiah 50:4-5) Are we rebellious children jeering those who labor, or are we those who, taking to the plow, never cast an eye right, left, or back, but plow a straight row for Christ? (Luke 9:62)

Jerry L. Ogles

+Jerry L. Ogles, D.D.
Presiding Bishop, 
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide & Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary