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THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 21, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Opening Hymn is: 814 “O Bless the Lord, My Soul” Lutheran Service Book Confession and Absolution Page 184-185 The Introit – (Please be seated) Psalm 19:1, 4-6; antiphon: Isaiah 45:8a Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness. Let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout. Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And with thy Spirit. Our Collect Prayer – Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings – Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Psalm 111; antiphon verse 9 Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel: John 1:19-28 THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192 HYMN OF THE DAY: 357 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRY-KZLBECU&list=RDlRY-KZLBECU&start_radio=1 THE SERMON – Brothers and sisters, grace, peace, and mercy be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. On this Fourth Sunday in Advent, our Gospel text stands at the threshold of Christ’s earthly ministry. The promises are ancient. The expectation, intense. And yet, the Apostle John places before us not a manger, nor angels or shepherds, but a man standing in the wilderness being questioned. “Who are you?” That’s the issue posed to John the Baptist. And it is not merely curiosity. It’s an urgent, even hostile, theological interrogation. The priests and Levites come from Jerusalem because something is happening that can’t be ignored. A prophet has appeared. The Word of God is being spoken again after centuries of silence. And whenever God speaks, the point inevitably arises: Who is this really about? John’s answer is striking in its clarity and humility. “I am not the Christ.” He doesn't hesitate or soften the denial. He doesn’t allow even a moment of confusion. “I am not Elijah.” “I am not the Prophet.” John refuses every title that would place the focus on him. He strips away every false expectation. He empties himself of all significance so that Another can be seen. This is deep Advent preaching. Because Advent isn’t ultimately about worldly preparations or seasonal celebrations. Advent is about learning where not to look, so that we may learn who to focus on. John’s entire ministry is summarized in one sentence from Isaiah: “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” A messenger, not the Incarnate Word Himself. A prophetic finger pointing to the Son of God. This is where Confessional Lutheran theology hears the Gospel clearly. John embodies the distinction between Law and Gospel — the two primary ways God gives us His Word. The Law speaks through John’s preaching of repentance. The Law clears the way. It exposes sin, pride, self reliance, and false messiahs. But the Gospel is not John the Baptist. The Gospel is the One who comes after him. John knows his place, and that place is beneath the sandals of Christ. “I am not worthy to untie those straps,” he explains. These words are not false humility. They are theological truth. John understands the infinite distance between sinner and Saviour. Between creature and Creator. Between the voice and the Word made flesh. Here, Deuteronomy 18 quietly echoes in the background. Moses speaks of a Prophet whom the Lord Himself will raise up — one to whom the people must listen, one whose words are God’s own words. John explicitly denies that he’s the Prophet. Why? Because that Prophet is already standing among them, though they do not yet know Him. “There stands One among you whom you do not know.” That sentence should unsettle us. Christ can be present, active, speaking, and still unrecognized. Not because He’s hidden, but because human expectations are misaligned. They were looking for glory. He came in humility. They were looking for power. He came in weakness. They were looking for signs. He came with water and Word. This is why Psalm 111 matters today. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Not curiosity. Not speculation. Not secular enthusiasm or pride. But fear, reverence, faith that listens where God has promised to speak. John teaches us that wisdom begins with knowing who we are not. We are not the Christ. We are not the Saviour. We are not the solution. And that’s Good News. Because if salvation depended on us, Advent would be a season of anxiety, not joy. Here, the Apostle Paul’s words from Philippians become clear: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Not rejoice in progress. Nor in success. Or even in spiritual achievement. But rejoice in the Lord. Why? “The Lord is at hand.” That is not sentiment. It is proclamation. The Lord is near. He is standing among us. He is coming to you in concrete, earthly, objective ways. And therefore, “do not be anxious about anything.” Anxiety thrives when Christ is misunderstood or misplaced. Peace comes when Christ is received as He actually promised. John doesn’t baptize to impress. He baptizes to prepare. His water doesn’t save by itself… but points forward to the One whose baptism will be with the Holy Spirit. John’s ministry is temporary, but necessary. It must decrease so that Christ may increase. Martin Luther once wrote, speaking of John the Baptist: “John is a preacher of repentance, but Christ is a preacher of grace and forgiveness. John terrifies, Christ comforts.” That distinction remains vital for the Church today. The Law must still be preached. Repentance must still be called for. But the Church is never allowed to stop with John. If we conclude with John — with the Law — we leave people in the wilderness. If we stop with repentance, we deny the coming of Christ. John himself would protest such preaching. His entire purpose is to deliver us to Jesus. This Gospel text ends without Jesus speaking a single word. And yet He dominates every sentence. He is the center even when unnamed. The Lamb of God is already present, even before being revealed. That is how Advent works. Christ is coming. Christ is present. Christ is hidden under humility and ordinary means. And faith learns to recognize Him not by sight, but by Word. Dear brothers and sisters, the question asked of John is ultimately asked of the Church: “Who are you?” We are not the Christ. We are not the Saviour. But we are witnesses to Him. We are voices that confess. We are forgiven sinners who point to grace. We prepare the way of the Lord not by spectacle, but by faithful proclamation. By preaching the Law of God to its fullest, and the Gospel to its sweetest.. By administering Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper properly.. By confessing Christ crucified and risen. As Christmas approaches, the temptation is to rush past John. But the Church lingers here one more Sunday, because we still need him. We still need to hear, “He, Christ, stands among you.” And when Christmas dawns, the joy will be deeper because the way has been made straight. The peace promised in Philippians will guard hearts not through sentiment, but through Jesus Christ. The wisdom praised in Psalm 111 will be known not as information, but as faith. And the Prophet promised in Deuteronomy will be recognized not as an idea, but as the incarnate Son of God. Advent ends where John points. Not to himself. But to Jesus. And there, finally, our waiting is fulfilled. To Him alone be all glory and honour, now and forever. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Right-hand column) Page 201 OUR CLOSING HYMN: 820 “My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker”