Göttinger Predigten im Internet, hg. von Ulrich Nembach und Johannes Neukirch


5th Sunday after Trinitatis
July 4th 1999
Text: John 1:35-42
Author: Doris Graeb

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed."

St.Luke, the Evangelist whom we know from the Christmas story, informs us of a meaningful, arousing and at the same time consoling message.

"In the seventh year of Bill Clinton`s presidency, as Gerhard Schröder has just become Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Glogowski, Ministerpresident of the State of Lower Saxony, Bishop Lehmann, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference and Präses Kock, chairman of the board of the Protestant Church in Germany, it came to pass, that the word of God, which had been given to John, the son of Zacharias, in the Parish of X (Friedenskirche Hannover)...." Total fiction, of course.

I notice that you are somewhat irritated and ask yourselves what is this all about?

Well, the first readers of the Gospel of St.Luke will have reacted in a similar way on reading or hearing the first sentences. They were told when and under which political and religious Leaders this strange person and prophet John appeared and spread the word. Why? Because it was very important for St.Luke to show that the word of God is not a general truth that spans all time and is often indifferent. The word of God submits to a much more concrete historical person, that of John, the son of Zacharias, in an exactly described historical situation and St.Luke describes John as somebody who did not voluntarily spread the word, but of someone who latched onto an old prophetic tradition, took it and updated it for his time.

And he came into the entire country surrounding Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of Essaias the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God".

The prophetic Godly voice speaks, not in the chambers of emperors, kings, priests and bishops, nor in agencies of power, but in the hopelessness and wilderness of the desert where the people can hear God's message, Salvation is coming, prepare yourselves! And the people went into the desert of Jordan to hear John. It was a fearful period of time, the Romans had taken power in the land, the people were politically and religiously torn and the gap between the poor and the rich, who were collaborating with Rome, was great and the longing for deliverance and liberation even greater. No wonder John was popular when he proclaimed "All people will see the Salvation of God"
Even today, people are susceptible to proclamations that seem to promise to solve all our personal, private and public crises, where one can leave behind the mess of our lives , the confusions of the world, perhaps also the constant repetitive rhythm of our workaday lives. I fear that up until the turn of this century in two years time, these utterances and messages will be easily accepted throughout the world.
But St.John is a different calibre to that of the self-proclaimed prophets who either claim to solve all the world's problems, or who allege the end of the world is near.

"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."

He should have been pleased that so many came to him in the desert. Does he not, in the way of certain preachers, past and present, who in a Christmas service in a Church full of people, who otherwise would not be there, throw out harmful accusations? Should he not have appealed to their inner souls? St.John knew something of the holiness and greatness of God. His experience of God was bitter, his anger was not a strange imagining but rather a painful truth. He was worried about the men and women who didn't realise the seriousness of the situation. To allude to being a child of Abraham was not a guarantee of safety and the baptism in Jordan didn't make one invulnerable.
Very enlightening, is my spontaneous reaction, but at the same time I am shocked. St. John is not only a historical figure who had his time and place, he is also a part of the chronicle of Jesus, he carries the divine message of conversion.
After such curt language follows the amazing answer to the question from the people: "What shall we do then?"

"And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
He answereth and saith unto them, 'He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.'
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, 'Master, what shall we do?'
And he said unto them, 'Exact no more than that which is appointed you.'
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him saying, 'And what shall we do?' And he said unto them, 'Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.'"

These are really not radical or utopian demands. Here, "conversion" means doing the obvious, ethical thing.
It`s partly about the unanimous behaviour even of those in society who were notorious, the tax collectors, collaborators with the Roman garrison and the mercenaries of the princes favored in Rome, they too could be converted. They needed only to adhere to the rules of decency and fairness, not using their positions to gain an unfair advantage over others, tax collector and soldier alike. No sign of ethical stress here!
In February 1997, both churches proclaimed their "Commentary Concerning the Social and Economic Situation in Germany". In doing this, they have declared themselves the protectors of the unemployed, the poor and all who suffer under the injustices of our society. Their comments were certainly neither radical nor revolutionary. They were simply understandable, as demands that would not damage the overall economy of our financial society, as long as they were kept within acceptable limits. An ethical, natural, matter of course. This was accepted and praised by almost all, regardless of political beliefs or social position. But then, it was just filed away! Possibly this situation might change, due to the new configuration at this moment in time, comparable to the situation in our fictitious St. Luke report. Then maybe, the message of St.John might reach a new audience, us!

Amen.

Postscript:

St.John proclaimed, during his time, that all mankind would see the coming of God. He had envisaged this happening in a completely different fashion to the way St.Luke described it, which is still the accepted version today; the crucified and risen Christ. Because God acted in this way, because He sacrificed His only son for the sake of all mankind, we are able to attempt a return to ethical matter of course much more easily - as our thanks to God? I for one, would like to try.


Doris Graeb
Pastor at the Klinikum Goettingen
Raseweg 2
D-37124 Rosdorf
Tel.: ++551-78 13 72


[Zurück zur Hauptseite] [Zum Archiv] [Zur Konzeption]