Text: Luke 7:18-36

It’s funny to me where sermon preparation and reflection on scripture will take me sometimes. This week, maybe because I’d just watched the Superbowl? This story had me thinking about the idea of being the GOAT. Does everyone know what I’m talking about when I say, ‘So and so is the GOAT?’

People definitely start having opinions about it, especially in the world of sports and hiphop, which is where the idea of being the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) originated. Muhammed Ali called himself the Greatest of All Time. The acronym caught on in sports and in 2000 LL Cool J used that phrase as an album title. And now there are internet battles and beefs over which heroes are the GOAT in their particular sport or genre.

But I put to you that Jesus basically used the idea first. And not to describe himself, either. 

This is why it’s been on my mind. Jesus describes John in these terms. He says, “No greater human being has ever been born.” John is the GOAT. Coming from Jesus himself, I think this is saying a lot. And this is putting him up against the other all-time hard hitters like Moses and Elijah. From Jesus, John gets the title. 

For a little context lets do a bit of a rewind. We met John all the way back in Luke 3 when he was living a stripped down life in the wilderness, barnstorming and blustering about burning up the chaff and warning his listeners to repent, to change their hearts and lives into equitable and just living. He’s also getting himself in trouble with political leaders by pointing out their ethical and moral failings, which lands himself in prison.

He has also been telling his followers that he is indeed not the GOAT, that there would be one to come after him who would blow everyone else away. But now that Jesus is out here, calling himself  the Human One or Son of Man, John isn’t so sure. His followers visit him in prison and tell him about the ministry of Jesus and the GOAT himself has questions. He sends his asking: Are you really the guy? Are you really the one I predicted? Should I still be waiting another? 

Well, Jesus can never give a straight answer. His message back to John doesn’t begin with words but with a demonstration. “Right then,” says verse 21, “Jesus healed many of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to a number of blind people.” Only after that does he reply to them. 

He reminds me of the quote famously mis-attributed to St. Francis: “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” And the words that Jesus uses are essentially a repetition of what he has already said before, and what the prophets have said before him. And – not for nothing’ – essentially the message of his mother Mary’s song of celebration.

I mentioned last week that when Jesus began his ministry – not long after he was baptized by John, actually – he stood in the synagogue and spoke what’s sometimes called his mission statement: 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because God has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

He’s basically quoting himself. I suspect Luke is doing this repetition intentionally. It’s almost like the classic essay technique you learn in middle school (middle schoolers, do you still learn this way of writing an introduction, a body and a conclusion?): Say what you’re going to say. Say it. Say what you’ve said. Jesus introduced himself and now he’s saying (and doing!) what he said in the introduction.

Jesus tells John’s messengers to look at the evidence:  

“Go, report to John what you have seen and heard. Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled now walk. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. And good news is preached to the poor.”

After John’s people have left, Jesus addresses the crowd that’s still around him. He elaborates on the relationship between John and himself. He assumes that they have some of the very same questions; they too seem to have been disciples of John at one point. This is when he calls John the GOAT. 

He also qualifies the title – putting it in context of his ministry and God’s Reign. In the Reign of God this kind of ranking system isn’t what’s important. John was indeed the greatest. He paved the way for Jesus, calling people to repentance – that is to turning their hearts and lives toward God – and making a way for them to accept a place in the Reign of God where being the greatest and least are all leveled out. Where even the greatest is servant to all, as indeed Jesus talked about himself.

When even the Greatest have questions, have doubts, stumble over what the truth of God’s message is. I don’t know about you, but I find this comforting. And Jesus’ response and invitation – to watch for healing and good news – is also comforting. Are you doubting the Reign of God? Are you doubting the presence of Christ? Do what Mr Rogers said: Look for the helpers.

Crises of faith, in my mind, are all the more reason to double down on the mission and message of God’s Reign. Both looking for it and participating in it: Healing and binding up the broken hearted. Good news to the poor. 

Menno Simon’s quote used to hang in my family’s dining room. Probably saw the same poster or one like it: 

True evangelical faith cannot lie dormant. It clothes the naked; it feeds the hungry; it comforts the sorrowful; it shelters the destitute; it aids and consoles the sad; it seeks those who are lost; it binds up what is wounded; it becomes all things to all people.

And that’s the shortened version! Menno introduced it by saying that true faith “spreads itself out in all kinds of righteousness and fruits of love.” And he added that it “it does good to those who do it harm;
it serves those that harm it;
it heals the sick;
it saves what is sound.”

I’m glad to know that those of us who bear his name continue to live as citizens of the Reign of God in this way. And that even now our church is joining with other Christians and Jewish groups to advocate for the destitute and preaching good news to the poor. You may have seen that MCUSA is joining in a lawsuit to protect the religious liberty of churches to be sanctuary spaces, free from harassment, arrest or detention by ICE.

Last week I heard a soundbite from JD Vance in which he claimed that deportation and heightened border security was not only American but Christian, that it is a Christian value to love family first, then country, then if we have the resources, people from other countries. I would personally love for him to try to find a quote by Jesus to support this.

Some of our leaders are stumbling and failing mightily and I won’t lie. I’m tired and overwhelmed and I’m wondering what I can even manage. But if the Greatest prophet and greatest human ever has questions and Jesus has space for them, then there’s room for me in the Reign of God too.

I will live in the hope and celebration of an ordination in PNMC of an out queer pastor yesterday. Of the city of seattle supporting social housing. Of people rallying outside children’s and writing their senators to demand trans care and protection. Of my local PTSAs working together to raise money equitably for underfunded schools. 

Of Mennonite Action – meeting this Wednesday evening to break out into areas of interest like arts, advocacy and action, mutual aid and hospitality, building coalitions. 

Like John, like his disciples, like the followers of Jesus we will encounter doubt. We will have questions. There is room enough in the Reign of God for all of us to heal, hope, love and preach the good news together with Jesus. May it be so. Amen.

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