READING: Luke ch 3 v 1 – 8
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene 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 country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
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? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
SERMON
Have you ever wondered why God spoke to an uncouth fellow like John the Baptist rather than to the “great and good” like King Herod or the High Priest Caiaphas.
Conventional wisdom would dictate that God should have engaged the “great and the good” to get the Gospel out. So why didn’t he?
- HEROD
Let me give you a little background on King Herod – just to illustrate the type of man he was. The Jews hated Herod because of his successful alliance with Rome. He had been appointed king by the Roman Senate in 40 BC and had gained control of the country by 37 BC.
Herod was paranoid. He had three of his sons, his wife and his mother-in-law put to death – because he saw them as threats to his power. Even the Roman Emperor Augustus said, “It was safer to be Herod’s pig than his son”. His murderous streak didn’t end with his own death either.
Just before he died, he ordered some of Jerusalem’s most distinguished citizens to be arrested on trumped up charges and sentenced to death. Their execution was to take place the minute he died.
Herod knew no one would mourn his passing, but wanted to make sure that people mourned the day he died.
- CAIAPHAS And I don’t need to introduce Caiaphas to you.
As you all recall he was the High Priest primarily responsible for the judicial murder of Jesus – an event we remember on Good Friday each year.
He had power and he wasn’t going to jeopardise it by allowing a simple Jewish Carpenter to stir up a rebellion. As he infamously said: “It is better for one man to die for the people than the whole nation perish” (Jn 11:50).
Perhaps come to think of it, Herod and Caiaphas weren’t such a good idea after all!
- JOHN THE BAPTIST
But why, on a more positive note did God call John the Baptist? I believe there were three characteristic qualities of John that shine out of Scripture.
3.1 The first quality was John’s Humility
John the Baptist had a servant heart. He was humble. He didn’t claim to be anyone special and he pointed to Christ. Herod and Caiaphas on the other hand were keen to make a name for themselves.
Story: Herod was a marvellous builder. Between 19 and 11BC he re-built and beautified the Temple (ie the third Temple) – the Temple of Jesus’ day. He did that to curry favour himself with the Jews and to make a name for himself – not to worship God.
3.2 The second quality that commended John was his dedication to God
Scripture tells us John was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Lk 1: 8-17).
John gave up the comforts of civilisation to withdraw into the wilderness to spend time seeking the will of God. He was single-minded.
Story: When I was out in Israel, I found something really special in spending time as we drove on the edge of the Judean desert praying and thinking.
There is little to distract you and there is a ruggedness that helps you to focus on God.
I believe God spoke to John because John avidly spent time seeking God.
3.3 The third quality that commended John was his boldness and honesty.
John was bold and he was honest – he wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade.
His boldness and honesty eventually made him powerful enemies and cost him his head.
He rebuked King Herod’s son – Herod the Tetrarch for sleeping with his brother Philip’s wife and for his pains, he was thrown into prison and eventually executed.
Jesus described John like this: I tell you the Truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone great than John the Baptist. (Mt 11:11. Quite an accolade from Jesus.
So in conclusion; What commended John the Baptist to God? His humility, his commitment and dedication to God and his single-mindedness in following his calling, however unpalatable that may be at times.
Quite a challenge for us to follow in Advent isn’t it? Amen
PRAYERS
Come and renew our faith this Advent. Awaken our hearts to the message of the prophet Isaiah that we should make a straight path for you to re-enter our crooked world and our confused lives. Fill us with such confidence in your presence, always and everywhere, that we may live fully and gladly in your world, always facing towards grace.
Lord of our Advent, hear our prayer.
O come, O come Emmanuel. Come to a frightened world with hope and courage. Let us hear again your favourite words – ‘Do not be afraid’. We recognise the ferocity of humanity’s hatreds, and we pray for your mercy on all who suffer at the hands of others and also the refugees forced to flee from their homes. Equip peacemakers and politicians with wise judgement and a calm spirit and keep them ever hopeful of patient progress.
Lord of our Advent, hear our prayer.
O come, O come Emmanuel. Come to those who feel empty of love. Too many people are lonely in our crowded country; too many are unvisited and unknown. Enable us to love our neighbour with the kindness that goes the extra mile, that seeks out the lonely and notices the closed curtains. And enable our church to be a place of warmth, welcome and hospitality for all. We pray in a moment of silence now for people we may know who have been neglected.
Lord of our Advent, hear our prayer.
O come, O come Emmanuel. Come to a forgetful world and remind them of your endless love. We are born seekers, but many people pretend they ‘have it all’ and have no need of otherworldliness. Yet you leave your gracious footprints all over creation. May the dawning light of Advent steal across the minds and hearts of many in our community as Christmas comes. And help us, in our turn, to fill Christmas with Christ and help others to feel invited to your party.
Lord of our Advent, hear our prayer.
Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus as we prepare our hearts for your Advent. This week, give us time for reflection, space for prayer and a hunger for more of you in our lives.
So come, O come Emmanuel
Rev’d Kevin
Associate Priest at St.Wilfrid’s and St.Thomas’s
