VII.
As we close this week with John the Baptizer, what do you think of John?

Are you impressed by him or put off by him?

VIII.
Luke 3:2-18 (NRSVue)

… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
     make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
     and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
     and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and 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 ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be 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 strap 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.

IX.
We’re told he came “… proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins … So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.”

Then there is that “brood of vipers” comment and his talk of an “ax,” “winnowing fork” and “fire.”

Then as he is asked “What, then, shall we do?” He gives very direct replies that are specific to the questioners’ life and work.

One more thought – we hear again and again the words of Isaiah about the one who is “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord …’”

I wonder as he was growing up how many times his father told him of the words of the angel and Zechariah’s own realization of the path his son was called to. Did he ever have questions about what his life might become? Did he ever consider a different path? Maybe the life of a priest like his father?

I wonder.

And then he displays such humility in face of his own fame, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

What kind of model does he offer for us today of how Jesus’ disciples can be both resident in the Kingdom of God and invite others to journey the Kingdom path?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}