Stephen Baldwin
OT: Isaiah 12.2-6
NT: Luke 3.7-18
Isn’t it
amazing that you can say the same words in a different tone and convey a
completely different meaning? We
typically read today’s passage in an angry, with John the Baptist almost
yelling at the people gathered around him for baptism! We assume he is angry, even disappointed with
them for their sinfulness. But that just
doesn’t make sense. Even for John. Would he really expect to recruit new church
members by yelling at them the first time they show up to church? I’ve never tried that…because I don’t think
it would work!
Now, I know
last week John was just born in our Bible reading. He was a baby. But by this week’s reading we have hit the fast
forward button. He’s all grown up. And he turned out to be a weird guy. He lives in caves and wears animals
skins. He yells in the forest. But… people adored him.
He was charismatic and popular and
beloved. The people gathered around him
that day were common people--soldiers, peasants, farmers, tax collectors,
widows, and orphans. They were dirt
poor. Society marginalized and despised
them. But John loved them. And they loved him. Why would so many people come to an adored
man for baptism just to take a verbal beating?
That doesn’t make sense. So, if
he wasn’t calling them names in an angry way, what was he saying? p
Well, my
wife can say anything, even something inflammatory or insulting or difficult to
hear…but she can say it with a big smile in a way people love her no matter
what. It’s a real gift. A gift that John has. A gift he uses in calling the people a bunch
of snakes.
He calls
them a brood of vipers not as an insult but to rib them. It would be like saying, “You dirty rascals! I can’t believe you came. Who convinced you to come get baptized?” They came in droves, and he was tickled pink. So tickled he made a joke out of it. “You dirty
rascals! I don’t know why you came, but
I sure am glad you did.”
And since he
has a captive audience of common people just like him, who get his humor and
have come to him for counsel, he gives it to them. He reminds them his job is to prepare them
for the coming Savior, and they tell John they want to be ready. “What should we do?” they ask him.
John gives
a speech that would make any kindergarten teacher, much less Jesus, proud. His message is simple: Share. If someone doesn’t have enough food, share
yours. If someone doesn’t have clean
clothes, share yours. If someone needs
money, share yours. The “coat” in verse
11 is more appropriately translated as “undergarment.” In a nutshell, that is John’s radical Advent
message: Share absolutely everything. If
you have more than enough, share with someone in your community who does
not.
I read a story this week about a poor man in
Ontario, Canada, whose neighbors suffered a tragedy. He lived beside a local mosque which was
burned down in the wake of the Paris attacks.
This man who lived beside the mosque did not attend it; he was an
inactive Christian. But he knew some of
his neighbors who did attend there, and he wanted to do something about
it. They wanted to rebuild, but they
needed $80,000. He didn’t have any
money. Well, that’s not exactly
true. He had 17 cents in his bank
account. So he started a fund with that
17 cents and asked his community to chip in and rebuild the mosque for their
neighbors. That was on a Tuesday
morning. By Tuesday evening, they raised
$80,000. A neighboring Christian
congregation offered their sanctuary for worship services, and a local Jewish
temple is hosting prayer services and potlucks during rebuilding. That is the spirit of Christmas.
Now, I know
it doesn’t feel like Christmas. I never
remember being able to comfortably wear shorts in mid-December! Time always flies this time of year
especially, doesn’t it? But make no
mistake: Christmas is coming. John the
Baptist’s job was to prepare us. Are you
prepared? Not for the gifts or the meals
or the events. Are you prepared for the
child who will expect you to share everything?
John said it’s not enough just to
say you believe. It’s not enough to have
an “In God We Trust” license plate. It’s
not enough to call yourself a Christian.
John said to be a follower of Jesus, we must act like it. We must live the grace given to us in the
form of the child. All year long.
It’s time
for us to get ready. So that one day
when we enter the pearly gates, John the Baptist can shout, “You dirty
rascals! You did it, and I’m so proud of
you.” Amen.
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