SANTA CLAUS, JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS
First Congregational Church of Evanston
December 10, 2006, Advent II
Luke 3: 2b-18
Rev. Dr James E. Roghair, Interim Pastor
Santa Claus is Coming – the Symbol of our Christmas
O, You’d better watch out.
You’d better not shout,
You’d better not pout,
I’m telling you why,
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Santa Claus is a great cultural figure for us. We know him well. Whether he has children sitting on his knee, whether he is driving a team of reindeer, whether his face is black or white, or maybe even a female figure, we know Santa. We know Santa – even drinking booze, driving a sports car, or sitting on a tropical beach – we know Santa.
His character and his habits, we recognize. We know what to expect. He’s warm and cuddly! He creates excitement and he is comfortable for us to prepare for.
Even though,
He knows when you are sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows when you’ve been bad or good...
we aren’t too scared. And we think we can make it when we hear,
So, be good for goodness sake!
We are not really afraid of the cuddly guy Santa. He is fat and dressed in soft clothing. He is better at blowing smoke rings than judging a human character or looking into human relationships.
He simply asks (and perhaps it is only for the record!) whether you’ve been “naughty or nice.” (It is hard to imagine that he really wants to know!) Santa becomes the perfect symbol for a secular celebration of Christmas.
God is Like Santa?
I am convinced that Santa is so well-loved that he may even become an image of what God is like! So often people picture God as an older male figure – beneficent – actually indulgent, not demanding too much. We prefer a God who is willing to take our efforts not to be naughty, but to try to be nice.
O you better watch out, you better not shout you better not pout...
When God comes, you want to be looking good! I saw that bumper sticker again last week: “Jesus is Coming, look busy!”
John the Baptist
Santa is such a common image for the Christmas season, we rarely think of the Bible’s central Advent figure, John the Baptizer. Would you like to compare John and Santa? I believe that Santa and John both have symbolic value for our thinking.
Santa Claus, although based on an historical figure, is largely fictional. John the Baptizer is, however, a Scriptural prophet. But we don’t know too much about him historically, either.
Picture John the Baptist in your mind. John was Jesus’ slightly older cousin. But they may not have known each other well. Although there was some overlap, their style of life and messages were very different.
Our only knowledge of John is what is found in the Scripture. John was a very rustic character. His clothing was of rough camel’s hair – leather clothes with the hair still on it – nothing fancy or soft for him! John lived far from the comfort of the cities. (If he were from Alaska we would say he came from the bush – you could tell from the way he dressed.)
And the way he ate! John's food was very crude: locusts and wild honey. He probably didn't take as baths as city people, so they probably thought he smelled bad. He was a strange person, just wasn't up to city standards!
From everything we know about him – his beliefs – his place of residence, Biblical scholars conjecture that John may have been part of an Essene community. Perhaps it was the very community where the famous dead sea scrolls were found. These Essenes were very simple-living very religious people. They were trying against tremendous odds to bring the Jewish nation back to its roots in worship and piety. It is thought that John may have gone to live in a religious community because he was orphaned. You will remember that his parents were quite old when he was born!
John’s urgent message found in the Gospels calls everyone to repent – even those who won’t listen. By repent John meant that people must turn their lives around and go in the opposite direction. John is very serious and sober. John is concerned about the end of time – about God’s judgement. He preached hell-fire and damnation, and reminded everyone to prepare for the worst.
John made people uncomfortable. He even called those who came out to listen to him a brood of vipers – snakes trying to escape from the judgement fire.
Compared
John and Santa – such different images: one fat and well-fed, the other eating sparingly. One winking away our naughtiness and asking us to be nice, the other demanding a whole life change through repentance. One laughing “Ho, ho, ho!” no matter what, the other shouting curses at his listeners! One spreading Christmas cheer and the other talking of doom!
It isn’t much of a contest. By default, we choose Santa Claus.
Jesus Christ of Advent
Of course, Santa Claus and John the Baptist are not the only ones we have to choose from when we are thinking of Advent. Jesus Christ perhaps stands in the middle way between the gaunt and frighteningly austere figure of John and the fat and frighteningly lenient Santa. And Jesus’ message is different from either of them.
Jesus had a great affinity for John. Not only were they relatives, but many of Jesus’ disciples had been disciples of John. John is described as Jesus’ teacher. And Jesus participated in John’s ritual of baptism – Jesus came to John at the River Jordan. John didn’t want to baptize him, but Jesus insisted. Even though they were very different from one another, Jesus and John were not in competition with one another. Jesus was as concerned about repentance as John. Jesus expected people to be serious about repenting.
But Jesus was a softer person. He was accused by his detractors of too much eating and drinking – especially with the wrong crowd. Jesus knew how to appreciate luxury as well as want – remember the woman who put the very expensive ointment on his feet? He thanked her and blessed her. He shielded her from the scorn of the disciples.
Jesus’ message is to turn our lives around, and to live in God’s Reign – the Kingdom of God in our midst. God requires us to love God, to love ourselves, and to love one another. We are to be concerned about our motivation. We are to keep the inside of things as clean as the outside.
When God sends the Jesus Christ, the Son into the world, it is not to scare people into changing – not to make us feel like the snakes John the Baptist saw fleeing from the judgement fires. But Jesus came to love people into new life.
The love that Jesus gives and the love that Jesus demands are not a sentimental or superficial love – not the sort of thing Santa exudes. Jesus does not look away and smile and pretend he doesn’t see. No, the love of Jesus is much deeper and more demanding – the kind of love that lays life down for sinners – a love which takes risks and suffers pain. Tough love.
Conclusion
As we celebrate Advent and go into Christmas, perhaps both Santa and John are important for us. Santa Claus can remind us to have fun and enjoy life. Children are good at this. Jesus was, too! How can we live in the joy of the Lord?
But, John the Baptist reminds us that there are very serious things which need to be corrected in our lives and in our world. The way of the Reign of God needs to be made straight! The rough places need to be made smooth.
But Jesus is God’s real message to us. Jesus is the living picture of what God wants the world to be. Jesus preached love among people. He healed the sick. He touched the lepers – he touches people with AIDS. He feeds the hungry. He gives his life for sinners and he is triumphant over death. Jesus incarnates the Reign of God in the world – dwelling among us. Jesus is Immanuel – God with us.
As we go into a congregational budget meeting in a few moments, some of us are going to feel like Santa Claus. Some of us are going to feel like John the Baptist. I hope and pray we can be led by Jesus.
Praise God for the wonder of the gift of Jesus Christ!
Amen.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008