John the Baptist was in prison. He had made the prophecy that the Messiah would come. Was Jesus of Nazareth the true, promised Messiah? It is an honest question. What was John's vision of what the Messiah would be like? Did he think the Messiah would be a political figure to bring change to Israel? If so, why was he, John, still in prison? Did John think the Messiah would bring political and social and economic and ecological change as well? He wondered, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

And when Jesus answered, he gave the correct definition of the work of the Messiah. Jesus replied, 4 "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

We may not be in prison like John, but sometimes we wonder about Jesus in the same way. If Jesus is really "King of kings and Lord of lords,” where is the political, social, economic and even ecological leadership and change that we want? Is Jesus really my personal Savior, or as John said, "Should we expect someone else?"

And Jesus tells us the same as he told John. It is a report of what we hear and see. We see the love and charity of Christians, especially at this time of year. This love and charity even spills out into secular society and even into the hearts of non-believers at this time of year! It is like the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the sick cured, and even like the dead being raised. It is because the good news is being preached to the poor. Preached to the poor in spirit, the poor in heart, the poor in health, and the poor economically. And blessed are those who believe in Jesus as their Savior.

And we have a sign that is even greater. It is a sign that John the Baptist was not blessed to see. In the scriptures we have seen the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this Good News that has been preached to us who are poor in spirit, yet rich in the Holy Spirit.

And because we have seen that great sign of the cross and resurrection, we know that we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Because we have seen and believed this sign, we see the work of Christ in those other signs that were given to John the Baptist. We see the work of God in the love and charity shown to others, especially at Christmas. Therefore we share in the hope that Isaiah prophesied to the Israelites in Exile in Babylon. They were like John the Baptist in prison. Had God forsaken them? Should they look for another god or savior? And the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed the love and forgiveness of God. He proclaimed hope.

And this is why we celebrate Christmas with hope and joy and faith. Should we look for another? No! We have found the Messiah: in the manger, at the Sea of Galilee, on the cross, in the Garden of the Resurrection, and in our own lives and hearts. He has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in the scriptures and in the sacraments.

And yet the world asks, “Are you [Is he] the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” There are many people in the world who are looking for a Messiah-Savior-Rescuer. They are looking for someone who will help them because they are blind or lame or deaf or diseased or dying or poor or hear nothing but bad news. They may have tried doctors and cults and religions and counselors, but have not found their savior. And so they look at the church; and they look at Christian believers. They think that the church equals Christ, and they think that Christians should be the same as Christ in their love and actions. And they are right; people should see Jesus Christ in the followers of Christ. And that is why seekers are often disappointed and turn away from the church.

Many of the complaints against Christians are because individual Christians can sometimes be hard hearted and seem to be hypocrites even if they are not. All Christians are still sinners who rely on the forgiveness of Jesus. And when seekers see our sin, they think that Jesus must be a bad sinner, too. Of course he was, when he took our sin upon himself on the cross. That also must be proclaimed to seekers.

Many of the complaints against the church have political and social justice issues. Why does that Church or those Christians support such and such? Why don’t they support such and such? I, too, wonder about that! For example, what political or social system would Jesus support? What is the Kingdom of God really like? St. John the Baptist would probably say, “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel.” In the midst of the problems of this world – political, social, justice, ecological, medical, inter-personal – only Christianity gives hope through Jesus Christ. Hope for the blind or lame or deaf or diseased or dying or poor or disillusioned.

And this is why we celebrate Christmas with hope and joy and faith. Should we look for another? No! We have found the Messiah: in the manger, at the Sea of Galilee, on the cross, in the Garden of the Resurrection, and in our own lives and hearts. He has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in the scriptures and in the sacraments.

I may not have all my Christmas shopping finished, but I am ready for Christmas. I believe I have found the Christ. He is Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Amen.