Zeph. 3:14-20; Philip. 4:4-7; Lk. 3:7-18]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
“You brood of vipers!”
Whatever gave John the idea that insulting people would warm them to his message!?
Any advertising man or woman will tell you that that’s not the way to go about enticing potential customers.
What an utter odd-ball.
We met John the Baptist last week, and together with the prophet Malachi calling us to be refined, we heard him urging us to turn to God.
Today we read again about his invitation to a baptism of repentance.
In the Judaism of that time and in certain Jewish circles still today, baptism or ritual ablution called tevilah was/is meant to restore one’s liturgical purity -for instance when someone was considered impure after touching a dead animal or a corpse- before being allowed to participate in Temple worship.
The baptism John is talking about goes deeper than that: it’s a baptism of repentance.
It’s not enough to just go through the motions; when cleansing the body, mind and heart have to change direction as well.
So, when people came to John to be baptised, he insisted for them to not just wash themselves in the River Jordan, but to radically change perspective, to refocus we would say.
Our baptism too was the beginning of something new; we died with Christ and were risen to new life.
We literally are a new creation.
And because of this baptism and the promises God has attached to it, we can lead our Christian lives as lives of hope, of second chances, of forgiveness; hope and chances and forgiveness we can in turn offer others in their lives too, whether they’re Christians or not.
Martin Luther, the German reformer wrote:
“...and, again, a new man [and woman of course] daily come forth and arise; who
shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” (SC, The Sacrament of Holy
Baptism)
Insist on your baptism, Luther advised believers, you have a right to proclaim your baptism, and when darkness and evil surround you, you declare: ‘I’m a child of God! I was baptised!’
There’s no limit to God’s grace!
Critics might argue that that’s too easy. They might say that it’s all good and well, being baptised, but then what?
John anticipated this criticism when he castigated people over their sense of entitlement.
‘Don’t stand there, all self-righteous and stuck-up, and say that you have Abraham as you father. The whole world has Abraham as their father! Even the stones could be heirs of Abraham! It’s not the pedigree that counts!’
In the Church we’re very often like that: complacent, arrogant, with a sense of moral and religious supremacy.
We’re in and everyone else is out, because as human beings we do so like to belong to that special exclusive club.
So, the critics could potentially be right, baptism must mean the beginning of great things, not just a family tradition or a kids party (even if that’s important too).
Baptism is the beginning of a new creation.
God’s grace is an active verb, a continuous ing-form.
God’s grace is a wonderful, persistent, mighty force, and it shift us, refocuses us to other priorities and possibilities.
The tree must bear fruit.
It’s very true that good works don’t save, but what’s the purpose of a tree without leaves or fruit?
What’s the purpose of a faith that is stagnant, isolated, inactive?
“Thus you will know them by their fruits.” (Mt. 7:20).
Jesus is talking about the false prophets, the religious people and their quick judgements; he could just as easily have been talking about all of us.
The tree must bear fruit.
Our lives as Christians must bear fruit.
Christianity is a religion of reflection and action, of theory and practice.
It’s not enough to say yes and amen, we have to live accordingly.
We go through the waters of Jordan to come up again, to swim to the shores, and start living out a life of love in the name of the One who is love.
John offers very practical advice about this, it’s a practical charity.
Very often, all it takes is a small gesture, a small donation, a warm meal, a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on.
Everyone according to his or her own resources and competences and gifts.
And when the soldiers and tax collectors come to him, John doesn’t go off at them, he doesn’t dismiss them; no, he’s understanding of their particular situations.
“You brood of vipers!”
That’s not something we want to be accused of, now is it.
But it’s not about personal reputations, it’s about dignified human interactions.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Show us grace, as we show others grace as well, with understanding and empathy for their situation, in big ways and small, with interest and love.
Perhaps we could celebrate our baptism more, remember it more often, claim it more intensely.
Christ too was baptised, there’s even a Lesser Festival day on the calendar to commemorate the event, on the Sunday after the Epiphany.
So, if all those people who came to John the Baptist for baptism, including Christ himself, found it so very important, we too should take it very seriously as well.
(Hymn 121 by Isaac Watts,
Children devoted to God,
from Gen. 17:7,10; Acts 16:14,15,33)
Thus saith the mercy of the Lord,
"I'll be a God to thee;
I'll bless thy num'rous race, and they
Shall be a seed for me."
Abram believed the promised grace,
And gave his sons to God;
But water seals the blessing now,
That once was sealed with blood.
Thus Lydia sanctified her house,
When she received the word;
Thus the believing jailer gave
His household to the Lord.
Thus later saints, eternal King!
Thine ancient truth embrace;
To thee their infant offspring bring,
And humbly claim the grace.
And the love of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.