JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY

Reading from Luke Ch. 3 vs 1-22

Are we faithful when the time comes for us to do our part? Do we change when our problems are highlighted or when we are advised on ways to be better? I’m not sure what your response might be but it’s something we can at least contemplate because the answer does say something about ones attitude and behaviour. One might even discover where they need to change and put in more effort. The Passage begins by mentioning that Tiberius Caesar was in his fifteenth year of reigning it mentions the various tetrarchs and the high priests that were serving. And it was during this time that John the son of Zechariah received a word from God in the wilderness. He begun to act on the same and went to the region around the Jordan and proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. So like when you get baptized it was symbolic of you getting truth and coming out of the water repentant (turning from ones former ways) and this would bring about forgiveness for sin, at least from my understanding. I know it’s probably more complex and John later highlights the difference in the baptism that Christ would be doing but what I want to draw your attention to is the actions of John.

What he proclaimed was lovely and was the beginning of what was prophesied about him by Isaiah the prophet. What I also see is the fact that he received the word from God and begun to act on it without hesitation, John did live in the wilderness and I believe in that time he was preparing and waiting. He was the one who was supposed to prepare the people for the kind of things Christ was going to be teaching and proclaiming. This was important because there was going to be a shift from the traditional way the people worshipped and viewed God and the issues of sin and they needed to be walked through it. I like how he was faithful to his part in this process and mission of God, he was confident, full of personality and never afraid to speak the truth. It’s so great to be able to read of his ministry after knowing the story of his parents and all they were told about his life, he was now fulfilling it and the people were responding. I do hope we can be proactive like him when we receive instruction from God.

The crowds went to him to be baptized and I appreciate how they responded, they heard of forgiveness for sin in a different way and they were open to it. They knew they had sin and now there was an easier or more user friendly way to be right with God and they took it, I think about today and how often people don’t know of the truth. Many walk around not knowing that Christ made it even easier and one needs only ask and they will be forgiven and so whenever we can let us tell someone about it. I love how he didn’t just say be baptised and your sins will go, he proclaimed repentance from sinful ways. It’s not enough to just want to be forgiven for sin, we must change and turn from the things we do that are wrong. He gave the example of those who give the excuse of being Abrahams children and how God can raise children from the stones for Abraham. We can’t ride on or be entitled to the benefits of the faith of others or just the fact that Jesus died for us doesn’t mean we should take the forgiveness for granted and keep sinning. We must of course rely on his righteous and transformational powers to help us actually change and be renewed but also actively apply his word and teachings to our life to help that change happen in us and it needs to be deliberate.

There is consequence to a life that does not change or bear fruit, they will be thrown into the eternal fire, the crowds understood this and they asked what they should do to actually bear fruit and change. It’s such a good attitude to have when you actually want to change from old ways, sitting and thinking about what you can do differently or what you can start doing and John gave the great instruction and advice that we today can follow. From sharing with those who have nothing whether it be clothing or food, to not taking advantage of people; stop charging beyond what is fair for the Tax collectors and not threatening people for money under false accusation for the guards. We can relate this to our modern day situations but I like that he says be content with your wages, sometimes we end up sinning and doing wrong because we are not content or grateful for the things we have. I believe we need to start to appreciate what we do get given or have and try to make the most of it, Good will always provide our needs.

John was doing a pretty good job in his ministry that the people begun to question and think he might be the Christ or promised Messiah and he noticed and was quick to clarify things. He exalted the Christ to come with humility and gave him credit for things he was going to do that were greater than what he did. They’d be baptised with the Holy Spirit and he says something similar to what he said before with regards to the unfruitful (chaff). That the Christ has his winnowing fork and is clearing the threshing floor to gather the wheat but the chaff he will burn. The chaff is dry covering of the wheat, that which is not fruit, so those unfruitful would be burned in the unquenchable fire. Hell is real and the place that is referenced, those who are unrepentant will be sent there, the wages of sin is death, and there is consequence to sin. Even if you don’t see it in this life, it is coming in eternity for those who reject the truth of Christ.

Now John carried on with his exhortations and preaching of the good news and one of the tetrarchs that was mentioned at the beginning of the passage Herod disliked John. He had been going out with his brother’s wife and the confident and bold John had rebuked him for this thing, so he was against him because of that and other wrongs that John called him out on. He counted these preaching’s as wrongs and he had John imprisoned and you must understand from this that not everyone will take the highlighting of their sins and issues kindly. You may mean well and just want to help so someone can change but some will feel hated and judged for it and might retaliate. We can’t control how people respond to the good news or the invite to change or turn from sin, all we can do is try to share the word and let the Holy Spirit and Jesus work out that change in them.

Before John was imprisoned he also got to baptise Jesus and when Jesus prayed the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove and a voice from heaven said, “you are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased”. We see God confirm Jesus and I think John was glad to have seen all that and just baptise Jesus. I think he could somewhat see that he had fulfilled his part because Jesus was about to start his ministry and he had prepared the way for that., and how great was it that Jesus actually took part in receiving from Johns ministry. There’s nothing that is in vain when God does instruct us, he has great plans for each of us to fulfil and I hope we all get to do so. May we pray for his guidance and instruction on what to do but if you don’t hear anything know he wants you to work on repentance, on showing love to others, helping those in need and most importantly sharing the gospel. It’s not always easy to change from the things we’ve always done that are wrong but if we can make the intentional effort to change and trust in him he will help us change and get closer to him. Remember you are love by God in whatever and right where you are!