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Thinking about Prophets – True or False

December 7, 2025

Isaiah 11:1-10|Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19|Romans 15:4-13|Matthew 3:1-1

A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

We welcome Advent with these beautiful words from the prophet Isaiah – which may serve as an introduction to one of the most colorful and pivotal figures of the New Testament, John the Baptist.  John’s ministry is cited in all four of the Gospels and is even mentioned by the contemporary Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who comments on the crowds who massed about John (“The Dipper”) because of his words.  But what was the attraction?  John’s message was not soothing and comforting – it was challenging; it was a call to repentance, a call for justice.  In today’s Gospel from Mathew, John even refers to the Pharisees and Sadducees as a “brood of vipers”.   John lived in the wilderness, ate bugs and honey and – let’s be honest – he dressed kind of funny.

A little context may help to explain John’s popularity. 

The last prophet of the Hebrew scripture is Malachi and the period between Malachi and the appearance of John is described as the “Four hundred years of silence”, when no prophetic voice was heard in Judea.  Malachi concludes his book with a prophecy about the coming of Elijah the prophet before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord”. 

The camel-hair clothing and leather belt worn by John provide another link to Elijah:

The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?”
They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.”
The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.” 2Kings 1:6-8

The Essenes were a Jewish mystical sect who lived lives of ritual purity and separation near Qumran.  The Dead Sea Scrolls are believed to have been the library of the Essenes.  And while John was probably not an Essene, he was certainly influenced by them.  His ascetic lifestyle was very similar to theirs and helped present him as an authentic “voice crying in the wilderness”.

The Jewish people had been living under Roman oppression, and they longed for a prophetic voice to give them hope for the future.  They looked for the return of Elijah.  To this day, observant Jews will set a place of honor at the table for Elijah during the Passover Seder, in hopes of his return.  Waiting for Elijah is rooted deeply in Jewish tradition and culture.

In John the Baptist the Jewish people discerned an authentic voice of God rooted in their tradition.  Had Elijah returned?  John spoke with clarity and was not afraid to speak truth to power.  He had a vision for the future: “The Kingdom of God has come near.”  He knew his place: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  People were excited. People were energized.  The people may also have been a little confused – “What’s that you say, someone is coming after you?  Who?”  That story comes a little later….

How about us – today.  Do we long for a prophetic voice to give us hope for the future?  I don’t know about you, but I am inundated with voices telling me all kinds of things.  I am confused and I long for clarity and authenticity.  How do I distinguish between the voice that leads to hope and love and the voice that really just wants to sell me something or lead me into frustration.   I prefer my intelligence genuine, not artificial. Scripture is full of admonitions against following “false prophets” or “deceivers”, but what can I rely on to help me make good choices?

As followers of Jesus, we have a good model, but I’m reminded of the WWJD bracelets that folks were wearing back in the ‘90’s.  I always thought it was a little presumptuous of me to claim that I knew what Jesus would do in any given situation.  (I did not have one of those bracelets.)  But as a good Episcopalian, I am reassured that if I apply my knowledge of scripture, church tradition and a dose of my own reason (the good ole’ three-legged stool) I may be able to do some discernment of my own.

One test of a prophet is to see if his or her words reinforce the vows of our Baptismal covenant – most especially: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? And – will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?   I think that’s a good place to start.  (btw – I will with God’s help!)

A couple of years ago, I started carrying a list around on my iPhone – and when I’m troubled or confused or need a little clarity in making a decision, I pull out the list and read it.  It’s from Galatians 5:22-23 and is a list of the gifts of the spirit, which are: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  If my choice can promote any of these gifts, then I feel as though I’m heading in the right direction.

As a community of faith, St. Luke’s is blessed with many voices of wisdom, imagination, insight and compassion, and I am very grateful for the willingness of people to share their gifts.  As we learned in the calling of our new Rector, discernment is a process.  When done prayerfully, seriously, and joyfully, the result can be amazing. 

Certainty makes me uneasy.  In this Advent season, let us be open to new voices and discern with open minds and open hearts – in hopes of gathering in all the fruits of the spirit.

A prayer by Thomas Merton

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. 
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Paul Brookes