MPC 13th May 2007.May 13 - Luke 3:1-22 - "Getting Things Straight"
Phil Campbell MPC 13th May 2007.
It's been entertaining watching the Queen's visit to the USA the last few days. And all the fuss and the pomp and the ceremony and the white tie reception. And that even with all that, George Bush still can't get his lines right.
But you know, behind the scenes on a royal visit like that, there's an incredible amount of work going on. Teams working on the logistics; organizing the preparations. Tightening up the protocol. And making everything run smoothly.
Back when I worked for Main Roads in NSW, they spent millions of dollars re-ashphalting roads. For a visit from the Queen back in the mid 1980s. Every street in Sydney where she was going to be driven, they checked it out. And filled the potholes. And resurfaced it. Just because the Queen was coming.
We're in Luke chapter 3; and the point is, exactly those same kind of logistics are going on; for exactly the same kind of reason. It's John the Baptist. And it's time to straighten up some other kinds of roads. It's time to straighten up some lives.
But I wonder how you do that?
We've seen in the past few weeks the way the people of Israel have been groaning for hundreds of years since their exile from the promised land into Babylon. And that even now they've been back for over 400 years, it's just never been the same. And that's the historical situation John the Baptist is talking to.
I mean, Israel's gotta be feeling like the little burrowing mole in one of those whack a mole games you used to get at amusement parlors. Pops his head up. Whack him. Over and over again. The Assyrians. The Babylonians. The Greeks. Now the Romans. Slicing and dicing their kingdom. And there's a very firm reminder of that in verse 1; it's now the reign of Tiberius Caesar, and that Judea is firmly under the control of Governor Pontius Pilate; and the old land of Israel's sliced up in a four way split under the rule of the four Tetrarch's which basically means quarter kings; and in the midst of that, God tells John the Baptist that it's time to announce another kind of royal visit.
Because the thing was, there was always the promise of blessing again. The prophets kept saying, there'll be better days ahead. When God blesses us again just like he did before. In the good days of King David.
It's a long sad story, the Old Testament. And we covered the background a couple of weeks back. Of the way Israel was so long waiting for God's blessing again. When they should have known it was so easily fixed.
Because Moses said to them, right back at the start, these words. You Israelites, if every you get in a jam, if ever you find things in a mess, if ever you find you've been punished and scattered by God; what do you do?
Deuteronomy 30 verse 1 to 6:
When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
We knew a girl once, she ran away from her family. And lived on the streets. And things for her got worse and worse and worse. She had loving parents. Who wanted her back. And yet she was getting independence allowance because she was living away from home. Aged 14. And she kind of liked the money. And she liked there were no rules. And things got worse. And they got worse. And they got worse. I mean, she didn't have to keep going that way. Drunk; or stoned. And homeless. But she was stubborn. And she was breaking her mum and dad's hearts. They would have taken her back in a flash.
Now look, I know I've done Deuteronomy 30 verse 1 to 6 to death. If you haven't noticed that, then you haven't been listening. But it's because I think it's essential if you want to understand what's going on in the rest of the Bible, which is really a story of coming home to God. Verse 4. Moses says,
Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back...
and more than that, verse 6,
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
The issue is, if they want God's blessing, if they want God to change their hearts, they've got to turn back. And start doing things God's way. And they've got to mean business.
Which you'll notice in Luke chapter 3 verse 3, is exactly what John's telling the people of Israel they need to do. to get ready for the royal visit... when God's going to visit with his blessing. Or else with judgement. It's time to roll out the red carpet. It's time to repent.
And so the word of God comes to John the son of Zechariah in the desert, and he goes into all the country around the Jordan, verse 3, "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Which is doing, according to verse 4, exactly what Isaiah the prophet said the advance party would do when it was time to comfort God's people again. When it was time for the hard times to stop and the blessings begin.
As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 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 mankind will see God's salvation."
See, here comes the Lord himself. Straighten up the roads, fill in all the pot holes, move all the mountains away so we can roll out the red carpet. How? Not with trucks and D9 excavators. But by turning around their lives. Deuteronomy 30 verse 3. By turning back to the Lord their God with all their hearts. And living it like they mean it.
And yet in spite of the crowds coming out to be baptized by John, in spite of the hordes of dusty Israelites surging out of the townships to stand in the mud by the riverbank, there's still something profoundly wrong. And they just don't get it.
I mean, here's a neat little ritual they can go through. That everybody's doing. That's somehow going to guarantee them a slice of God's blessing. Just for getting wet. Who wouldn't?
And yet it's not that way at all.
Someone in our growth group the other day said we wouldn't want John the Baptist preaching in our church on Mothers' Day. Because he's pretty rude really, isn't he? But here's what he says. Verse 7. "Well, thanks for coming, and I'm glad I'm so popular."
No. You pack of snakes. "You brood of vipers!", verse 7. "Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?"
You're so complacent. You're so sure of yourselves. See, there's another Old Testament Prophet, Malachi, who we looked at last time, who said, when the Lord comes to visit, don't be too sure of yourselves. You think you'll get a pat on the back. But unless you repent, there'll only be judgement.
And John says the same. Verse 8. If you say you're repenting, you've got to produce fruit. If you say you're straightening some roads, you'll have to move some dirt.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And don't 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.
See, it's the things generations of Presbyterians say as well. Well, my grandfather was an elder. My mum did the flower roster for years. As if somehow the heritage credit points add up with God and rub off on you. Don't claim your proud Jewish heritage. If God wanted Israelites he could make them from rocks.
You know, in our back yard we've got an avocado tree. I love avocados. This year, the total crop was I think three avocados. None of which ripened properly. Just hung there like little green rocks. Until they rotted.
Disappointing really. But let me tell you, that's a whole lot better than last year's crop. When there were no avocados at all. And the year before when there were three.
I'm starting to wonder why we actually keep the tree. Because it's not very ornamental either. Maybe it's time it came down.
John says to Israel, "Start bearing the fruit of repentance. Or you won't be God's people at all."
See the Jews can trace the promises all the way back to Abraham. That they're the special people of God. But time's up. If they don't want to repent... then the waiting game's over. John says in verse 9, "the axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
When the king comes... Israel's going to get sorted. Like never before. And if they're not growing the fruit of repentance, they'll be cut down and thrown in the fire.
At which point the crowd starts asking, so what should we do?
It's a great question, isn't it? And one that I hope you've echoed yourself.
It's in verse 10. "What should we do then?" the crowd asks. Which is a promising sign of at least some humble hearts. And John tells them.
Now the interesting thing is John doesn't understand he's not being politically correct. John doesn't seem to realize you're meant to put up a concrete wall between your private beliefs and your public behaviour. Especially in the workplace. And so if you're a doctor or you're a lawyer or if you're a judge or if you're a politician, the thing you've got to do is leave your own ethics at the door and not let your personal beliefs about what's right and what's wrong interfere with your decisions.
So Tony Abbott is made mincemeat in the media because there's a hint that his view that there are too many abortions has been tainted by his Catholic faith. I mean, what a terrible thing. If your faith... somehow interferes with your thinking. About what's right and wrong.
Now if you're in a position like that, it needs some careful thinking. Because I'm not saying the thing to do is just impose Christian values on everybody else either. Because we're living under the rule of democratic law.
And yet in a profound way in the nation of Israel, John the Baptist says that the fruit of repentance isn't just feeling bad. It's in a very practical Monday to Friday kind of workplace way... doing good.
First of all, in practical compassion. The fruit of repentance will look like sharing your spare coat with the guy who's cold. Will look like making sure when you've got plenty of food that there's nobody else going hungry.
Fruit of Repentance number 1. John says in verse 11, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Fruit of Repentance number 2. And here's where he's moving into the workplace. In a profoundly challenging kind of way.
Because you see, you and I may not be all that fond of the Australian Tax Office at the end of the financial year. But in Israel, the tax collector was looked at with a combination of spite and fear. The tax collectors works hand in hand with Rome. And because of that, you'll notice he's driving the very best chariot and wearing the best Armani robes. The tax collector bids for a franchise for an area. And then systematically squeeze you for everything he can. The tax. Plus the standard commission. Plus everything else he can extract. Backed up by the Roman Army.
And the tax collectors have come to be baptized. "Teacher... what should we do?" What do we need to do to show the fruits of repentance?
Interesting. He doesn't say resign your position. He doesn't say the path to the restoration of Israel was start with-holding the Roman taxes. He says this. There's a fair way to do it. And there's a self serving way. There's a way of justice. And there's the way of greed. The fruit of repentance. Verse 13, "Don't collect any more than you are required to," says John.
And now some soldiers. Verse 14. Who ask him, "And what should we do?"
I was reading the other day about Camaroon. One of the poorest economies in the world. Locked in poverty cycle, says this economist I was reading, simply because of endemic corruption. And anyone with any kind of power is using it to extort money. Want your papers to go through immigration? Grease the wheels with a bribe. And they'll go through much faster. Get pulled over by the local police? Chances are you weren't speeding at all. But if you want to make it to your appointment and not be taken in for further questioning, there's a price to pay. All because at every level of the society people are not content with what they can earn - so they extort. All the way down the chain. And everyone's a victim.
With Israel, who are meant to be the people of God, it's the same. And instead of their military protecting the people... they prey on them. Soldiers doubled up as the police force. And instead of providing justice. They're dishing up injustice.
You know what the fruit of repentance is going to look like for those guys?
John says, don't abuse your power. Don't use your muscle to bully people. Look at his words. "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely - be content with your pay."
Which is very practical. And is what John's calling them to do if they want to keep calling themselves the people of God.
Repentance doesn't just mean feeling bad. Repentance means doing good. Which is only appropriate for the people of the righteous and loving God. In fact it means hating corruption and hating injustice. In the same way as God does as well.
But you know, that sort of repentance, you'll see from verse 15, it's just the beginning. John's just the guy organizing the roadworks and the red carpet. Because after John, comes the true king of Israel. After John... comes the Christ. Who's going to bring according to the prophet Malachi the long awaited blessing for the humble hearted. Who's going to bring according to the prophet Ezekiel the washing not with water but with the Holy Spirit.
And as a buzz goes round the crowd with the idea that maybe John himself is the Christ, John answers quite bluntly in verse 16. He says, I'm just the water washer. But one more powerful that I will come... and I'm not even fit to untie his sandals. I just baptize you with water. But he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit, verse 16... and with fire.
Which it seems to me is the point of Israel's choice. I mean, which baptism will it be? The Spirit that's going to wash them clean and turn their hearts so they delight to do God's will? Or the fire of God's very imminent judgement on Israel as a nation?
John says, this Christ is a farmer about to gather the wheat and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. And John exhorts them, verse 18; he urges them. He maybe even begs them with tears in his eyes. To make sure they repent. So they're baptized with the spirit and not baptised with the fire.
This is the moment of decision.
Which makes verse 19 a kind of a bad sign. Because Herod the Quarter King, Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee, who counts himself Jewish; Herod is having a sordid affair with his sister-in-law. Which is partly driven by lust, and partly driven by her ambitions to trade up a notch to the more powerful brother.
John rebukes him, verse 19. Because of Herodius, his brother's wife. And calls him to repent as well. Which sees John thrown in prison. And ultimately put to death. And just adds to the tally of evil things that Herod Antipas has done.
I don't know if you've ever found things going the same way. I mean, you kind of paint yourself into a corner. Starts with maybe some innocent flirting. Turns into an affair. And before you know it it's turned into a list. The lying you've got to do to cover it up. The deception. The excuses about where you've been and what you've been doing. Where does it stop? John the Baptist says, to Herod, and he says to Israel as a whole, enough's enough. Stop it now. And get ready to meet the real King. Who'll either baptize you with the Spirit and change your hearts. Or put the axe through the tree. Burn the chaff. In the fire.
Remember what God said to Israel from the start? When you turn back to me with all your heart and all your soul... that's when the blessing comes back. When you turn back to me with all your heart and soul... that's when I'll pour out my Spirit... and circumcise your hearts.
The question is, is that what Israel's going to do?
But you'll notice in verse 21 and 22 there's at least one Israelite who qualifies. And it's like in verse 21 and 22 he models it for them.
When all the people are being baptized, Jesus is baptized too. And as he's praying, heaven opens up and the Holy Spirit comes down on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice comes from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
The one who's going to wash with the Spirit, the one who's going to baptise with the Spirit, he's done exactly what all Israel is meant to do. And God announces his delight. Which is where we'll pick up next time.
But the point is, even though we're going to see Israel by and large ignored what's on offer and kept on in their hardness of heart and ultimately faced the consequences of absolute destruction at the hands of Rome in 70 AD, the offer still stands. As well as the choice.
And the call to be, if you call yourself part of the people of God, someone who actually shows your repentance by its fruit.
Maybe you're a complacent Christian. Who likes to fall back on your fine Presbyterian heritage to the fourth generation. The question is, where's your fruit. Not your grandfather's fruit. your fruit. The fruit of repentance.
Maybe you're a complacent Christian. Who likes to look back on the time you repented with tears in your eyes. And yet to be honest, you realize it was all just a sham. Because you look at your lifestyle now, and it's all selfishness. When there are others you should be caring for. And if that's not exactly an affair you're having with that girl at the office, it's awfully close. And even though you're not exacly breaking the rules in any legal ways, you'll certainly be cutting ethical corners if there's a corner to be cut. Instead of being the sort of Christian with a cutting edge that's going to change the world.
It's seen in the little stuff. Like the way you're fair to a customer and your word really is your bond. The way you use power with compassion. Instead of personal benefit. The way you transform the very public area of your workplace and your neighbourhood and your home with a kind of fairness and rightness and integrity that marks it out not just as the fruit of repentance. But the fruit of the spirit as well. As you live your life full of love, joy and peace, patience and kindness, goodness and faithfulness, with gentleness. And self control.