The Forerunner
Last
week we looked at John as a prophet sent by God after 400 years of prophetic
silence. This week we pick up from verse 7:
‘Crowds up people came out to John to be baptized by him. “You snakes!” he
said to them, “Who told you that you could escape the punishment God is about
to send?”’
Not
from a manual of popular preaching technique !!!
Other
translations have brood of vipers. Why snakes? It seems John see’s right through
many in his congregation. They’ve heard that a prophet has been commissioned by
God,.... that might mean that God is about to do something again ......and the one thing
He does is.... judge,....... so, to escape judgement let’s do what everyone else is
doing......Let’s be seen to be doing the right thing – let’s go to John the baptiser
John
the Baptist says:
“Do those things that will show that you have turned from
your sins. And don’t start staying among yourselves that Abraham is your
ancestor. I tell you that God can take these stones and make descendants for
Abraham!”
Just
confessing is never enough, it’s important of course to name your sins, but it’s never enough – changed behavior is
essential. Then he says – don’t think that because you are a Jew, God’s chosen
race – that this doesn’t apply to you. In the modern Church we would say – don’t
think that because you are a Christian that you don’t have to change - God
is looking for the fruit of a changed life – otherwise He’ll chop you down and
throw you into the fire. As I said earlier, this is not from the manual of popular preaching technique
A
changed life is important.
Verse
10 is pivotal to the section of Scripture before us today and is central to the
process of growing in holiness in this life.
When
confronted by prophetic “judgmental” preaching....by this I mean preaching which
says: "that kind of behavior is wrong and will bring Gods judgement on you unless
you change".......when
confronted with this kind of preaching we can do one of two things – we can choose to ignore it and say "everyone does.. it" OR.... we can choose to change.
‘The people asked him, “What are we to do then?”’
They
cannot ignore the conviction which God the Holy Spirit is bringing upon them as
the word is preached – and then from being general – you snakes, don’t think
you can escape, do things that show you’ve turned from your sins, don’t think
you have special status.......From
general John moves to specifics – because our sin is always specific.
John now addresses specific people with specific sins.
‘He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who
has none, and whoever has food must share it.”
John
here repeats a message that Scripture is full of, The Haves must share with The
Have-Nots. That is a message for us today.
‘Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him,
“Teacher, what are we to do?” “Don’t collect more than is legal” he told them.”
Another
universal message of Scripture – be honest.
That
too is a message for us today.
‘Some soldiers also asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?”
Another
universal message of Scripture – don’t abuse your position of authority – in
the home, workplace, school, church (and also be content with the salary you
agreed to work for).
The next verse is amazing:
‘People’s hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether
John perhaps might be the Messiah. So John said to all of them, “I baptize you
with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good
enough even to untie His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. He has his winnowing shovel with Him, to thresh out all the grain and
gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn the chaff in a fire that never
goes out.”
’
Why
does a locust eating preacher who lives and preaches in the wilderness and makes
people travel long distances and then tells them that unless they change they
are going to hell ...... Why… does… He… cause… peoples… hopes… to rise and wonder
whether he was the long awaited Messiah.
Why?
I suggest the following as possibilities:
They
experienced the joy of sins forgiven – have you experienced the joy of sins
forgiven? The lifting of the load/the burden of guilt which ongoing sin causes
in our lives – have you?
They
experienced something new in their
relationship with God because the barrier of un-confessed sin was removed by
their sincere repentant confession and now their prayers could flow into God
and His answers into them, ......the Scriptures now came alive for them, their fasting opened flood
gates of blessing and their fellowship took on new meaning............. you see all these
things happen when sin is cleaned up in our lives. They experienced something new in their relationship with God .......have you? Have
you experienced the joy which flows from the forgiveness of sins?
And
they ask – is he the Messiah, because this is what we expect the Messiah to do
for us when He comes; and John says: No, but let me point you to Him. He’s coming. I’m not
worthy to untie his sandals. I baptise with water, He will baptise with fire and the Holy Spirit.
And
friends, I want to do the same as John did (not call you a viper, but yes, if
that’s what you are)..... I want to point you to Jesus, the forgiver of sins, who has come, is with us right now, and who will come again.
Confess
your sins.
Do
things that show you have turned from your sins.
And
look to the one who came that you and I might have life, abundant, Holy Spirit
inspired and empowered life.
Turn
your eyes upon Jesus – as individuals, as families, as a Church, oh LORD, please let us do this as a nation.
There’s
a gift for you and I to give this Christmas.
Your
face turned… towards Jesus.
