Matthew 3:1-12, Isaiah 40:1-5
Do you know those moments in life when you suddenly realize you are so very wrong about this or that? …Or that your actions have turned out to be utterly destructive either for your own life or those around you?
The time in which we live does not encourage such moments. It might be true that this isn’t different than any other time in history. But it seems that there have been some times in which people are encouraged to reflect not simply on what is wrong or unjust, but just how it is that one’s own life might be a contributing factor.
All sorts of reasons exist for which people are slow to admit wrong-doing. Who wants to be wrong? Who wants to admit wrong-doing? Who wants to admit wrong-doing in front of others?
Our text below makes clear a number of things about John the Baptist, but here are two notable for today: 1. His job was to make the way for the coming of the Christ; 2. He believed that way was made by people stopping their wrong-doing.
But God’s plan in Christ does not stop with the cessation of wrong deeds. It begins again with a love, compassionate, and justice-filled life.
Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said:
The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.”
John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire. I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.”
Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort, comfort my people!
says your God.
Speak compassionately to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her that her compulsory service has ended,
that her penalty has been paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins!
A voice is crying out:
“Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!
Make a level highway in the wilderness for our God!
Every valley will be raised up,
and every mountain and hill will be flattened.
Uneven ground will become level,
and rough terrain a valley plain.
The Lord’s glory will appear,
and all humanity will see it together;
the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.”
Prayer:
God,
Search me. Look for any wrong in my life, anything that opposes your grace-full and loving mission. As much as I can look around and pretty easily pick apart what is wrong with other people in the world, I know that my most immediate opportunity to make change is in my own heart and action.
So help me if there is anything, God. Give me your wisdom and grace to have such a perspective to see the need for change and the get-go to make it happen.
For your Kingdom, by your Spirit, and in Christ, Amen.