Today’s Scripture

Psalm 72:1-7   Isaiah 11:1-10             Romans 15:4-13          Matthew 3:1-12

 

 

            Last week we read of Jesus’ Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem.  The people prepared his way on the spot.  There was no special preparation on their part.  Today we read how God calls on us and all of his people to be prepared for him, to be prepared for Jesus’ coming, to be prepared for the kingdom that is near.

 

            The Gospel and today’s hymn, “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” take us to the last and greatest prophet, John the Baptist.  John is another miracle birth in Scripture.  He was to Zechariah and Elizabeth as Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, Samuel to Elkana and Hannah, and Samson to Manoah and his wife.

 

            Each one was a miracle birth of a son who pointed ahead to God’s graces in Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist is the final one who proceeded the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist gives the final message on the banks of the Jordan River that prepares peoples’ hearts to receive the coming savior and God’s eternal kingdom.

 

            Repent is the message John shouted out.  Repentance prepares the heart to receive the savior.  Repentance does not save, but accepts what saves.  As the robes and branches prepared the road for Jesus to enter Jerusalem, repentance prepares the road for Jesus to enter the heart.  Repentance cuts the prideful heart open to be bandaged with the salve that heals that broken heart.  That healing salve is the forgiveness of the sins of that heart. 

 

            Without repentance there is a wall.  Without repentance there is a distance between the Savior and the heart.  It is like the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to watch but did not have repentance in their hearts.  They acted good enough.  They followed traditions that had started out well-intended but became self-serving works.  They wore a type of prayer shawl and prayed daily prayers and made a show of those prayers.  But they did not go quietly into a private place and break down, “Lord, have mercy on me a poor, miserable sinner.”              

 

            The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears knew how sinful she was and how great the forgiveness is that she received.  A centurion knew he did not need the show of Jesus in his home, but trusted that Jesus’ word alone would heal, even at a distance.  A very ill woman had faith that just touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak would suffice for her.  Blind Bartimaeus trusted in Jesus’ mercy.  Mary, Jesus’ mother, kept all that she knew in her heart.  All of these were repentant people.  Each of these knew they had no strength or ability except what God gave them and trusted God in his promise to deliver.  Each of them displayed hearts prepared in repentance to receive what Jesus came to bring. 

 

            John the Baptist cried out that word, “Repent.”  The prophecy in Isaiah 40 points to John the Baptist who is the one who prepares the way for the Lord.  As Jesus is prepared to begin his preaching and teaching ministry and ultimate sacrifice, John the Baptist leads the faithful to prepare their hearts to receive this great gift Jesus brings.  Without repentance, one does not receive the forgiveness offered.  Without repentance one tells God that Jesus is not needed in that heart.  Without repentance, the sinning soul dies because it is not prepared for the wonderful gifts Jesus brings.  Without repentance, the door to the kingdom is closed.

 

            There is a difference between repentance and penance.  Some teach that you must do certain things in order to qualify for the forgiveness.  That is penance.  Acts of penance include repeating certain prayers or sayings several times, demeaning one’s self in acts of denial or pain, making sacrificial gifts of wealth or work, and/or purchasing church services or items for credit towards heaven. 

 

            Repentance is acknowledging sin, trusting God for forgiveness, and moving on in life changing from a life of sin to a life of honoring and living according to God’s will and commands.  Repentance prepares the heart to receive Christ.  Repentance prepares the heart to receive forgiveness.  Repentance prepares the heart to walk forward in life confessing Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, our Lord, Savior, and brother.  Repentance prepares the heart in removing all pride and self-confidence, but opens the heart to receive God’s love, complete forgiveness and the gift of eternal life that only Jesus brings to that heart. 

 

            Today, the second Sunday in Advent, our hymns and readings focus on preparedness.  We are busy preparing our homes for Christmas with the decorations, lining up the gifts, sending out the greeting cards, getting ready to entertain relatives and friends, marking the calendar of what event happens where and when.  The stores and businesses we frequent, the internet, mail order catalogues are all geared up to provide those gifts and other articles.  The media overwhelms us with music, advertisements, news features and programming that tells a multitude of holiday traditions, cute stories, and on it goes.  Soap operas show the Christmas trees in the homes and workplaces as backdrops to the issues the characters struggle with. 

 

            But preparedness comes in the first commandment, “You shall have no other Gods.”  That includes yourself as a god.  Luther’s explanation to the first article of the creed reminds us that God has given all things of wealth, body, soul and ability.  Paul writes that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.  REPENT!  In repentance one confesses that he is not anything without God.  In repentance one lays himself out as nothing less than a miserable sinner unworthy of God’s earthly and eternal gifts.  In repentance one trusts God’s love and forgiveness given in and through Jesus Christ.  In repentance one believes that God created by his word alone, and forgives and gives eternal life by that same word alone.  In repentance one believes God’s judgment against sin and the only escape from that judgment is by Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

 

            My mother believed in being prepared for all things in the home.  She had and used the tools to clean, decorate, cook, and entertain.  She knew she could not make new draperies without a good sewing machine and quality material.  She knew she could not can or freeze vegetables, fruit and meat without the items necessary.  She knew her family and guests enjoyed the seasonal decorations and an orderly house.  Mom knew what she needed to be prepared.

 

            God knows you cannot receive his kingdom without being prepared.  And that being prepared is the true repentance he calls for through John the Baptist.  As the Baptist proclaimed, you will receive the blessings of the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Jesus who cleanses you as he comes to live in you.  You have received him in the waters of baptism.  You receive him again and again as he continues refreshing you, coming in the bread and wine.  And he will receive you in his arms on that last day when he comes again.

In his undying love.  Amen.