Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’
And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Reflection
God sets us up. God sets us up to do his will in the way he wants us to do it. Think of John in the wilderness. Think of his clothing, his food and his way of life. John was set up to speak his mind. Rather, John was set up to speak God's mind to the people. God's Word spoken, direct, to the point and with no strings attached. John held allegiance to God alone. John spoke to all types of people in the same way. John gave God's Word directly to the people. Rich, poor, powerful or humble; John spoke directly and with courage.
What John spoke of, probably went beyond what even he expected. Someone mightier than himself was coming. That he could figure out. But, I wonder if John had any idea how much mightier. Jesus, was mightier in spiritual directions. I wonder if John was thinking of someone mightier in earthly directions. Jesus is mightier in all directions and that's hard to fathom. But, maybe John did understand the vast realm of this kingdom being proclaimed.
Jesus came and showed all people what God really means by "life." Jesus demonstrated life and love to all of us. God demonstrated life and love to us and gave us his life and love in the very form of Jesus life and love. That's a salvation that you can't be spooked into by a powerful prophet. That's salvation that you are loved into by a Savior.
Jesus also came and brought us together in unity. Jesus showed us how to love one another in fellowship with one another. Jesus showed us a love that extends to God and extends to love for one another. Jesus taught us how to live together and thus we have the Church, Jesus Holy Bride. So, we have the Church of Jesus Christ our Savior gathered together throughout all time, reaching outside of itself to all people to call, gather, and unite in the love of God through Jesus. We go beyond ourselves and our earthly confines in love to those that need to know Jesus and what he has come to this earth to do and what he will return to this earth to complete. John had a call, an awesome call and you and I have a call also to reach outside of ourselves to those we are given each day in love and life.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the voice of John. Thank you for the ongoing life and love of Jesus. May I be a voice in the wilderness for you this day. Come, Lord Jesus, come... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment