Bible Reading:
LUKE 3:1-22
HEBREWS 1:1-12
Two men. Born within months of each other. Their mothers were cousins. Both play an important part in God’s plan for Israel, and the world. Both prophesied about in the Old Testament. John the Baptist and Jesus. Two very familiar names. I want to look at the Message of John and the Greatness of Jesus.
It’s not difficult to spot what John’s message was. It has two basic elements:
“Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”
And:
“I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.”
- THE FIRST MESSAGE OF JOHN - “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near.”
Also expressed as, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized and God will forgive your sins.” John’s baptism was so the sins of the repentant could be forgiven.
John was set apart by God for this. When he was a baby his father prophesied over him: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:76-77). It’s reasonable to think his father would’ve talked to John about this as he grew up and John would’ve thought about it. John came to understand he was fulfilling Isaiah 40:3 - A voice cries out, “Prepare in the wilderness a road for the Lord! Clear the way in the desert for our God!”
If we read Isaiah 40:6-8 we find:
A voice cries out, “Proclaim a message!”
“What message shall I proclaim?” I ask.
“Proclaim that all human beings are like grass;
they last no longer than wild flowers.
Grass withers and flowers fade
when the Lord sends the wind blowing over them.
People are no more enduring than grass.
Yes, grass withers and flowers fade,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
John came to expect an imminent judgement from God to punish sins. Sinners would wither, fade and die, so they needed to repent, be baptised and forgiven.
Hear John’s method of evangelism. “You snakes! Who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.” Are we so desperate to get people into church nowadays that many present a “nice” message offering everything with no need to change? John seemed like he was trying to put people off! Crowds were coming to him, so maybe he was making sure their motivation was right? “If you’re coming to get baptised you’d better change your ways! This isn’t a religious tick box exercise!” The people responded. “What are we to do, then?” His words were striking home. “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.” Some tax collectors came to be baptized, who asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?” “Don't collect more than is legal,” he told them. Even soldiers asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?” He said to them, “Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay.”
John made it clear what repentance looked like, with bespoke answers to different people. What might John say to our generation? Pretty much the same, I think. And maybe: stop saying “I’m offended! I’m offended!” to get your own way; consume less and donate the savings to charity; be nice to strangers on social media instead of vilifying them; take more interest in your character than your appearance?
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/church-st-john-the-baptist-new-ulm-1637450/
Powerful word then and today!
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