The Voice

Mark 1.1-8

1 Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [υἱοῦ θεοῦ].2 Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ, Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου·3 φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ4 ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης [ὁ] βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.5 καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.6 καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.7 καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων, Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ·8 ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

NRSV

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;

3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight” ’,

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

[ADDENDUM following Sermon — various translations of Mark 1.1-8]

+ In nomine Domini. Amen.

The Year was 1972.

The Place, Los Alamos.

This Congregation, Bethlehem.

At that time I had the immense privilege of being the Associate Pastor of the congregation of St. Luke’s in Albuquerque and I have deep memories of our two congregations sponsoring overnight Youth Group Retreats in those early years.

Furthermore, I have a very special memory of one of those events [in cold and dark December] when during a youth retreat I was given the task of being the “Pastor in Charge” by my dear friend Pastor Parker Anspach [of blessed memory] who planned to be away for that weekend and left me with the oversight of the entire combined youth group — who were — shall we say, youthful — full of excitement, joy and loud, very very loud!

One of the youth answered a knock at the door of the parish hall where we were all gathered and coming up to me said, “Pastor, the Police are outside and they want to speak with you.”

I went outside. The two officers of Los Alamos’ finest explained to me that they had received numerous phone calls from neighbors about the noise being produced from within the Church. I explained that it was a joint retreat of the young people of Bethlehem and St. Luke’s.

The officers explained that if I did not do something about the noise, they were prepared to gather up all the “kids” (the term they used) and take them to their homes and explain this to their parents. What I did with the “kids” from St. Luke’s was my problem.

I promised to take care of things so that the local police would not arrest any Lutheran youth that night. I recall saying something like, “Look, they’re young; I’m a Pastor, I’ll take of it.” And in an act of great and abundant mercy the police left and I went back inside the parish hall and explained to each of the young people from St. Luke’s and Bethlehem that if they ever wanted to receive Holy Communion again during their lifetime, they would immediately go to sleep.

And they did!

I have loved this congregation ever since that December evening, and the young people, some of whom in their adulthood ended up as members of our parish in Santa Fe.



I am telling this story to make a couple of points: First, because it is one of my favourite Advent Memories as a Pastor; but Secondly and most importantly because it is a story that is best told and heard aloud. I mean you could have a copy of my sermon and go home and read it to yourself, but how much better to be here (or online) and experience it in living glory‽

The Gospels, the stories of the Life of Jesus were intended to be spoken instruments, told aloud to a listening audience. Actually much of what we call Holy Scripture is intended to be read and heard aloud.

Those who heard the story, in this case the Life of Jesus, would remember most of what was said, and then repeat the story to others. And of course over time the story was changed a bit, other parts of the life of Jesus were added, and like any good storytelling, the tale changed and in the minds of some got better — parts that seemed to be missing were added, even things that never really happened, but could have, were added.

That’s why we have Four Gospels in our Christian Scriptures. Actually there are more than four, but these are the canonical Gospels, the ones given the most authority over time.

But they change. Beginning last Sunday, the First Sunday in Advent, we started with the Gospel of Mark. From now until the Feast of Christ the King next November, this is where we will spend our liturgical and homiletical time – reading through the stories of Mark. Next November, Advent I, we will begin Luke.

However we need to remember a few things as we do this: Mark is the earliest of the Four we have in our Bibles, forged in a time great chaos and pain in Israel — at the time of the end of the Jewish and Roman war that ended in 70 CE with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (the second time it was destroyed), with thousands of bodies hanging from crosses lining the roads to Jerusalem, bodies of Jews and bodies of followers of Jesus — such the horrible nature of the Roman Empire. Mark (we do not know who he or she or they were who wrote the story down so it could be passed along to others) — Mark gives hope in a time of terror, proclaims that the Empire of God is greater than the Empire of Rome or any other Empire and will indeed be coming into the present through the messenger John the Baptizer, and Jesus, the one he Baptized.



Imagine now that you are one of those early followers of Jesus (long before anyone was called Christian). You are a follower of Jesus and you are sitting in the home of one of your friends along with other followers. You are gathered there having the shared experience of surviving the recent Roman Terror and wondering if that Terror will continue and how many more loved ones will die and how can you possibly believe in a God of Hope now, and is it worth continuing to follow this Jesus who was himself killed by the Romans?

And someone stands up, someone good at telling stories (we call that today preaching) someone who can read Greek pretty well and where necessary quickly translate that now common language in your local version of spoken Hebrew, called Aramaic (the language of Jesus).

And he or she or they begin at the beginning: Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [υἱοῦ θεοῦ].

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

I have provided for you these first 8 verses of this earliest Gospel in various translations for you to peruse and use. Because I want you to see and read (aloud if you can and will later at home) these versions — to understand just how different languages and translators see the story, which words are emphasized, how the story “comes to life” — because dear friends, that is what we do each week when we come here to worship — we make the story “come to life” we give it a living breathing experience when we read it aloud. We enter into the Story, the Story enters into us, We become part of it, and it becomes part of us.

Who can ignore that John the Baptist embodies the spirit of the Prophet Isaiah, when you hear the words:

φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ or,

Thunder in the desert! Or,

The voice of a crier in desert, Or,

Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste, Or

Se oye una voz: alguien clama en el desierto, Or,

On entend la voix de quelqu’un |qui crie dans le désert,  Or,

En röst ropar i öknen!

We are drawn into the story, we are listeners of the Voice. And as we listen, as we hear, as the Story comes to life in us, we ponder anew that there is this one Voice that thunders above all others — this one Voice that is (in the year 70 CE) louder than all the voices of the Roman Soldiers plundering and burning our city and our homes and murdering our families; that there is this one Voice that cries out, wailing for a change in a world immersed in the throes of War and the Holocaust in the 1930s and 40s; that there is this one Voice that bellows and beckons us here and now in this time in this day in this age in this Advent — giving us a summons to step into the Story and make it part of our stories, that we will prepare the way for God to come to us, to be with us, to be the one who (in the words of Eugene Peterson) “will change you from the inside out” turning hate into love, anger into forgiveness, isolation into community, and loneliness into compassion.

May it be so among us this day, this Second Sunday of Advent. May we listen to the Voice and join our voices together. And let us say: AMEN

Deo Gratias (+)
The Rev. Benjamin Larzelere III
Retired

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Mark 1.1-8

(Readings from various translations)

GREEK NEW TESTAMENT

1 Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ θεοῦ.2 Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ, Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου·3 φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ4 ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.5 καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.6 καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.7 καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων, Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ·8 ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.

NRSV

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’, 4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

LATIN VULGATE

1 Initium Evangelii Jesu Christi, Filii Dei. 2 Sicut scriptum est in Isaia propheta: Ecce ego mitto angelum meum ante faciem tuam, qui praeparabit viam tuam ante te. 3 Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini, rectas facite semitas ejus.4 Fuit Joannes in deserto baptizans, et praedicans baptismum poenitentiae in remissionem peccatorum. 5 Et egrediebatur ad eum omnis Judaeae regio, et Jerosolymitae universi, et baptizabantur ab illo in Jordanis flumine, confitentes peccata sua. 6 Et erat Joannes vestitus pilis cameli, et zona pellicea circa lumbos ejus, et locustas et mel silvestre edebat.

7 Et praedicabat dicens: Venit fortior me post me, cujus non sum dignus procumbens solvere corrigiam calceamentorum ejus. 8 Ego baptizavi vos aqua, ille vero baptizabit vos Spiritu Sancto.

THE MESSAGE (Eugene Peterson (1932-2018)

1 1-3 The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Watch closely: I’m sending my preacher ahead of you; He’ll make the road smooth for you. Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! 4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey. 7-8 As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.”

WYCLIFFE BIBLE (1382)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Esaias, the prophet, Lo! I send mine angel before thy face, that shall make thy way ready before thee. 3 The voice of a crier in desert, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, make ye his paths right. 4 John was in desert baptizing, and preaching the baptism of penance, into remission of sins. 5 And all the country of Judaea went out to him, and all men of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the flume Jordan, acknowledging their sins. 6 And John was clothed with hairs of camels, and a girdle of skin was about his loins; and he ate honeysuckles, and wild honey, 7 and preached, and said, A stronger than I shall come after me, and I am not worthy to kneel down, and unloose his shoes. 8 I have baptized you in water; but he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost.

LUTHER BIBLE 1545

1 Dies ist der Anfang des Evangeliums von Jesus Christus, dem Sohn Gottes, 2 wie geschrieben steht in den Propheten: “Siehe, ich sende meinen Engel vor dir her, der da bereite deinen Weg vor dir.” 3 “Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste: Bereitet den Weg des HERRN, macht seine Steige richtig!” 4 Johannes, der war in der Wüste, taufte und predigte von der Taufe der Buße zur Vergebung der Sünden. 5 Und es ging zu ihm hinaus das ganze jüdische Land und die von Jerusalem und ließen sich alle von ihm taufen im Jordan und bekannten ihre Sünden. 6 Johannes aber war bekleidet mit Kamelhaaren und mit einem ledernen Gürtel um seine Lenden, und aß Heuschrecken und wilden Honig; 7 und er predigte und sprach: Es kommt einer nach mir, der ist stärker denn ich, dem ich nicht genugsam bin, daß ich mich vor ihm bücke und die Riemen seiner Schuhe auflöse. 8 Ich taufe euch mit Wasser; aber er wird euch mit dem Heiligen Geist taufen.

LA PALABRA

1 Principio de la buena noticia de Jesucristo, el Hijo de Dios. 2 Así está escrito en el libro del profeta Isaías: Mira, yo envío mi mensajero delante de ti para que te prepare el camino. 3 Se oye una voz:

alguien clama en el desierto: “¡Preparad el camino del Señor; abrid sendas rectas para él!”. 4 Juan el Bautista se presentó en el desierto proclamando que la gente se bautizara como señal de conversión para recibir el perdón de los pecados. 5 La región entera de Judea y todos los habitantes de Jerusalén acudían a él, confesaban sus pecados y Juan los bautizaba en las aguas del Jordán. 6 Juan iba vestido de pelo de camello, llevaba un cinturón de cuero y se alimentaba de saltamontes y miel silvestre. 7 Y lo que proclamaba era esto: — Después de mí viene uno que es más poderoso que yo. Yo ni siquiera soy digno de agacharme para desatar las correas de sus sandalias. 8 Yo os he bautizado con agua, pero él os bautizará con Espíritu Santo.

LA BIBLE DU SEMEUR

1 Ici commence l’Evangile de Jésus-Christ, le Fils de Dieu, 2 selon ce qui est écrit dans le livre du prophète Esaïe : J’enverrai mon messager devant toi, il te préparera le chemin. 3 On entend la voix de quelqu’un |qui crie dans le désert : Préparez le chemin pour le Seigneur, faites-lui des sentiers droits.

4 Jean parut. Il baptisait dans le désert. Il appelait les gens à se faire baptiser en signe d’un profond changement, afin de recevoir le pardon de leurs péchés. 5 Tous les habitants de la Judée et de Jérusalem se rendaient auprès de lui. Ils se faisaient baptiser par lui dans le Jourdain, en reconnaissant publiquement leurs péchés. 6 Jean était vêtu d’un vêtement de poils de chameau maintenu autour de la taille par une ceinture de cuir. Il se nourrissait de sauterelles et de miel sauvage. 7 Et voici le message qu’il proclamait : Après moi va venir quelqu’un qui est plus puissant que moi. Je ne suis pas digne de me baisser devant lui pour dénouer la lanière de ses sandales. 8 Moi, je vous ai baptisés dans l’eau, mais lui, il vous baptisera dans le Saint-Esprit.

SVENSKA FOLKBIBELN (2015)

1 Här börjar evangeliet om Jesus Kristus, Guds Son. 2 Så står det skrivet hos profeten Jesaja: Se, jag sänder min budbärare framför dig, och han ska bereda vägen för dig. 3 En röst ropar i öknen: Bana väg för Herren, gör stigarna raka för honom! 4 Johannes Döparen trädde fram i öknen och förkunnade omvändelsens dop till syndernas förlåtelse. 5 Hela Judeens land och Jerusalems alla invånare kom ut till honom, och de bekände sina synder och döptes av honom i floden Jordan. 6 Johannes var klädd i kamelhår och hade ett läderbälte om livet, och han levde av gräshoppor och vildhonung. 7 Han förkunnade: “Efter mig kommer den som är starkare än jag, och jag är inte ens värdig att böja mig och lossa remmen på hans sandaler. 8 Jag har döpt er med vatten, men han ska döpa er i den helige Ande.”