Today’s Scripture

Psalm 66:1-12              Malachi 3:1-7b            Philippians 1:2-11            Luke 3:1-20

 

Illustration:  A young girl was frightened by a thunderstorm in the middle of the night.  As her father comforted her, he reminded her of her evening prayers and that Jesus was always with her.  “But I wanted someone with skin on,” she replied as she held on to her father.

 

            We are God’s people and not unlike his people before Jesus came.  At the time of Jesus’ birth, there had not been a prophet in Israel since Malachi, over four hundred years earlier.  The faithful people continued to hear God’s promises as well as his law.  They looked forward to the coming Messiah.  They knew God was going to send them someone with “skin on.”

 

            God sent John the Baptist into this world to prepare the world for the coming Christ, and to point hi m out.  His birth is one of those miracle births in Scripture.  It is one announced by an angel.  In that manner his birth is in comparison with Isaac (from Abraham and Sarah), Samuel, Samson, and the miraculous conception and birth of our Lord Jesus. 

 

            His birth was prophesied first in Isaiah, “A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken," [40:3-5].  Malachi, the last prophet repeats this message as we read a few moments ago.  Matthew writes of John quoting these prophecies in 3:3.  We also have the word of the angel to Zechariah in the temple which is the beginning of Luke’s gospel, an historical account of the life of Jesus beginning with John the Baptist. 

 

            John was a Nazarite.  A Nazarite was one who separated from others and consecrated himself to God for a period of time.  This was usually between thirty and hundred days.  According to Numbers 6, there were three essential things that marked being a Nazarite:

1. abstinence from wine and other strong drink
2. does not cut hair during this time
3. avoids contact with the dead.

The purpose of doing this was a symbol of a life devoted to God and separated from all sin, a holy life.

 

            There are only three recorded men who were Nazarites for life.  They are Samuel, Samson, and John the Baptist.  Paul took on this vow on two occasions during his mission trips.

 

            We do not know much about John and how he lived his life.  We do know he appeared as a rather eccentric person in his appearance and life-style.  The Holy Spirit worked through him in his preaching and baptism of repentance that multitudes came to hear and receive.  In his call to repentance, he boldly chastised those who were not repentant as he calls them a “brood of vipers.”  Jesus also uses that term with the unrepentant Pharisees.  Vipers are snakes that the young will eat their parents.  What a caustic term with that sort of message it is!

 

            God sent John to prepare the way for Jesus and to point the people to Jesus.  His preaching was such that the people recognized him as a prophet sent from God.  Many thought that he might be the promised Messiah.  His preaching was that of repentance.  Repentance is honestly confessing one’s sins and being truly sorrowful for them.  Without that acknowledgement and sorrow, you are telling God you do not need his forgiveness.  The repentant soul knows he needs a savior.  Not truly repenting is telling God you do not need that Savior.  So John prepared the way for Jesus in two ways.  The first was his preaching and awakening peoples’ anticipation of the coming Savior.  The second was preaching repentance which prepares the heart for the Savior.

 

            John pointed the people to Jesus.  He kept reminding them that he would be followed by one who would be far greater than he.  He told the people that the Christ would increase while he would step back.  God, by the power of the Holy Spirit told John that he would baptize the Savior.  John told of this baptism openly to others so they would know his eyewitness account how the Father spoke and the Holy Spirit remained on Jesus.  Then, he pointed Jesus out to his followers and sent them to Jesus.  “Look!  The Lamb of God!” he declares two successive days.  And he identifies the work of the this lamb, “Who takes away the sin of the world.”  Last week we learned that two of the Baptist’s disciples, Andrew and John left him to follow Jesus, and brought others (i.e. Simon) to meet Jesus too.

 

            What about you?  From John the Baptist do you prepare the way for Jesus and do you point the way to him to others?  In our services is an important moment.  It is when each confesses his sins.  It is a model moment for each day in your personal life, to confess your sins to God.  It is a moment when you hear God’s great promise through your pastor as he speaks those words, “In the stead and by the command of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, † Son and Holy Spirit.”  When all say, “Amen,” that is a joyous word that says, “Yes, Yes, it is so!”  We are no different than the people John the Baptist spoke to.  We need to come with repentant hearts and souls, humbling our sinful and egotistical selves before God, accepting his great love to each one as Jesus takes away your sin.  Removing sins is something we people just cannot do.

 

            Secondly, from John the Baptist, do you point others to Jesus as the Way and the Truth and the Life?  Are you ABLAZE in faith, being aware that at any time your life is there as faithful witness in your thoughts, words and deeds.  As people saw Jesus through John the Baptist, you are in that position today. 

 

            Today is the second Sunday in Advent.  Christmas is coming fast.  When there is discussion of the “Holiday” season, it is our joy to turn that term back to what our celebration is, Jesus came with skin on.  He knows your life from conception to the point of death.  Then, he suffered death for you so you will never really know death, but only the resurrection to eternal life with him.  Jesus knew that day John baptized him that he was confessing your sins for you.  Jesus knew that he would suffer and die.  He also knew he would rise from that grave and give that same new and glorious life to all who believe on his name.

 

            Repent!  Go in peace, your sins are forgiven in the undying love of Jesus.               Amen.