" A Life of Celebration"

Luke 3:7-18

We are looking today at the message of the man Jesus calls the "greatest of all prophets." In the face of that claim, it seems odd that we have so little information about John and his message. According to the New Testament witness, his greatness was recognized in his own time - many compared him to the prophet Elijah. Some even thought he was the reincarnation of this greatest of all prophets. Even after Jesus' death and resurrection, we find the disciples of Jesus running into disciples of John. So the paucity of information we have about John is not due to his insignificance, but rather is an attestation to the greatness of the one who was to follow, the one whose ministry came to overshadow John's - the one of whom John said, "I am unworthy to even untie his sandals."

I want to begin by recalling the three basic elements of John's message:

(1) First of all, John declares that it is in the field of our everyday life, in the arena of the political, economic and religious world that we live in that God works out his purposes and brings in his kingdom.

(2) Second, John says that God is calling his people to holiness, in preparation for his coming. He calls us to be in the world, but "set apart" for God.

(3) Third, John recalls the Jews wilderness experience with God, a time they looked back to in much the same way that Americans look back to the days of the Wild West, a time when they considered themselves more pure, living in direct response to God. John calls them to remember that time, and to see it as a baptismal lifestyle, a lifestyle of continued repentance and renewal, so that they may become fitting instruments for God's use and witnesses to his glory.

Today, in the lesson, John lays before us God's requirements for "righteousness" for those who would prepare their hearts for the coming of the Messiah:

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 ax 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."

In John's day, as in ours, there were many who had that kind of misguided religion that relies on something else other than a faith-walk with God as the foundation of their life. The crowd that John is talking to isn't that unlike most people today - some came out to just see what John was about, some came to be inspired, some came for the entertainment value - there were all kinds of reasons people came out to see John. Some of them were what we’d think of as outright, obvious sinners - John simply tells them to stop cheating, lying and whatever else they are doing. Some are searching for faith - John takes them to take the next step, explaining that righteousness is not just about being moral – it has to do with caring for one another, sharing what we have with others and being content with what we've been given. Some came out who thought that they were already good, religious people. They probably felt a bit in league with John, kind of the “Amen” crowd. As he was preaching to the others, they were in the back of the crowd, shaking their heads: “You tell, ‘em, John!” They were the folks who went to church, maybe heads of the altar guild, council members, the choir. Their grandparents built the synagogue - in fact, they could trace their religious heritage back through Abraham! You'd think John would be impressed with them - but he wasn't. In fact, it is these, particularly, that John is most concerned about, because faith has to be renewed every generation. We can't rely on the faith of our parents, or their parents, or their parent's parents. The walk of faith is OURS to walk. The message of the Gospel is addressed to each generation. If we refuse its call, then faith is lost. That’s what most concerned John.

That is a great question for us today. One of the greatest strengths of our church is also our greatest weakness - we have the traditions of our faith to guide us, the "testimony of the saints." That is a great benefit - one that even Jesus' followers did not have. We can see, in many respects, much more clearly than the disciples could - after all, we know the story from beginning to end. We can see the whole forest, so to speak - they could only see part of the story - they could only see the trees as they came upon them. But does that benefit us? With all of our theological acumen and one hundred percent hindsight, are we more faithful than they? Is our faith-walk better than theirs? Is our faith more vibrant? Or has our walk with God become old hat to us? Are many in the church more concerned about what hymns are sung, or whether it supports whatever their personal agenda may be, than they are about growing in their walk with Christ and maturing in the faith? I think we know the answer to that question.

That is the problem John was facing in his day. And John presented the crowd a solution for that problem - the realization that Messiah's reign was imminent – he told the crowd that those who stood before him were on the cusp of the coming kingdom.

That is just as true today. Jesus is coming soon. If not in our lifetime, then certainly no later than the end of it. We don't know when it will be, but for most of us, it won't be that long. That's not being morbid - it is an occasion for rejoicing for us. In fact, as John was preaching, Jesus was standing in the crowd. And the truth is, that he is present here today. So, in light of his presence, this is the time to challenge ourselves, an occasion for change - the biblical word is repentance - it means to be headed down one road, and suddenly realize it's not the right road, and so go off in a more appropriate direction - one headed toward where you want to go.

John said that, in his time, that direction should be leading people in the direction of "righteousness." That doesn't mean keeping our noses clean - in fact, it may mean getting a little dirty. "Righteousness," in the Bible, refers to "the demands of a right relationship." He was answering the question for the crowd, “In light of Jesus’ coming, what does that relationship demand of us?” What does a right relationship with God require? What does a right relationship with our neighbor require? What does a right relationship with our world require of us? That is what John asks us today.

Now, we do have an advantage over John and the people of his time. John talked about the flame that would consume them if they remained in their present state. Historically, that’s what happened – the Jewish people, as a whole, did not opt for a different way – Jesus’ way. And Jerusalem was leveled and Israel destroyed. There are a lot of folks who like to proclaim fire and brimstone today as well. But we have a greater reason for righteousness - as Paul would say later, "the love of Christ constrains us." Jesus is coming and, in fact, is present among us, and those who love Him are anxious for His presence - so anxious, that even here, even now, we are beginning to live out the presence of His coming kingdom. Even here, even now, we want to know the kind of relationships awaiting us in the coming kingdom. Even here, even now, His kingdom is, in fact, beginning - in our hearts, in our minds, in our lives. Even here, and even now - and it will continue growing until it comes in its fullness.

While the world awaits Messiah’s return in fear, a child approaches his birth in a rude cattle stall. Wrapped in rags and laid in a manger, soon enough He will exchange His swaddling cloths for a funeral shroud, and the rough wood of the manger for a cross. In that act, the world will come under judgment for its lack of readiness and disbelief. But also, in that act, He will defeat death and the devil and set us free. In the weakness of the manger, in the humiliation of the cross, He will bring us to our heavenly Father and make us His beloved children. And his kingdom will come. And his will shall be done.

This is a time for celebration. Not the kind of empty celebration we see around us so much this time of the year - a celebration borne of hopelessness and despair. This is a time to celebrate with renewed faith. May the Word of hope, planted in your heart, lead you to follow Him, bearing the fruits of righteousness. And may His peace, which passes all understanding, keep your mind and heart in Christ Jesus your Lord. Amen.