Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” ’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume 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.
‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
Reflection - Wilderness
Here we have John in the wilderness. The wilderness of land not useful for much more than grazing. The wilderness which wasn't suited for cultivation of crops but useful for the feeding of animals. John, seems to me to be a plain, down to earth, maybe even a crude man. But John was a man with a message. A message of the coming Messiah. John had a message about the coming Savior of the world. A message to repent, to turn around and go another direction.
John called the people in the wilderness and he called the people out of the comfort of the city into the wilderness to receive a message and a baptism. A baptism of repentance and change. A message that calls each one of us, out of the comfort in which we live, to join John in the wilderness to wait and watch for a Savior.
It almost seems to me that John was called out of the earth. Called out of the common people who wear nothing fancy for clothing and exist on a diet of what is available at the time. Called into the wilderness and away from the gleam of the city. John called out of the earth to announce the coming of one who is beyond this earth. To announce the coming of God from heaven to earth. To prepare the earthy people like me and perhaps you to repent and change.
Something great and wonderful is taking place. We are receiving a Savior. Yes a Savior. Repent, even in this day, repent and prepare to change. For this Savior will make all the difference in you and your life and in the realm of heaven and earth. Something big is happening. Something for all people, the rich, the poor, the free, the prisoner, the sick, the healthy, the powerful and the lowly. Something big is taking place. Yes, even today. Prepare and get ready! Something great and wonderful is taking place.
Prayer
As I hear the baptist speak, I repent and prepare to change... Come, Lord Jesus, come... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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