Tag: repentance

A Voice Crying Out In Our Wilderness Mark 1:1-8

The Gospel of Mark starts out with these words,

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 1:1

I like that it starts with those words. The good news of Jesus Christ isn’t reserved for some time in the past. The good news of Jesus Christ isn’t being set aside for some day in the future. We are told that the good news begins with Jesus Christ and that it continues on making it relevant for today as well. This year of 2020 is a year that we would all like to put behind us. The political turmoil, a raging pandemic and environmental impacts leave us with an urgent plea for good news to ring out, calling us to hope for today.

The reading cites Isaiah speaking of a voice calling out from the wilderness. The voice urges one and all to make the way for the coming of the Lord to be straight: take out the potholes and other obstacles in life that get in way. John the Baptist is presented as that voice. He wears clothing made from camel hair to bring to mind the prophet Elijah. He also ate a diet of honey and locusts which left him independent from others, except for his dependence upon God.

John the Baptist spoke from the wilderness and the people gathered from all around to hear him. The wilderness was a place considered inhospitable for people to live. Wild animals lived there and so did thieves and criminals. Demons dwelt there too. So why go out to such a place? The people had heard the speeches before from those living in mansions and places of political power but there was no good news to be heard, just the same old lines that kept the status quo. John the Baptist spoke in the wilderness news that was different. He told of the coming of one who will baptize not with mere water but with the Holy Spirit. The result is that we would be guided not by the edicts of the powerful but by God. Jesus was the one to whom John the Baptist pointed.

Jesus came preaching a word of liberation to those held unjustly in bondage by political systems. He fed the hungry and healed the sick: he paid special attention to the weakest of society. Jesus welcomed those cast aside by society. He spoke truth in the face of power. John the Baptist was that voice but he was pointing out to a greater voice; Jesus was and is the Word of God en-fleshed calling out to us in 2020’s wilderness which is good news to hear.

So what is John the Baptist telling us to do? He is telling us to repent. Repentance is more than simply saying that we are sorry. Repentance means to turns our lives around and take life in a different direction that Jesus lived out for us to see. Yes, we are living in 2020’s wilderness but a voice is calling out for us to take life on a new path. If we are willing to listen, then we’ll begin on a new journey that is good news for all in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Peace

An Uncompromised Voice Matthew 3:1-12

I have heard it said that preaching should bring comfort to the burdened while at the same time make those living at ease uncomfortable.  John the Baptist checked both off the list from the reading in Matthew.  God is not impressed with human power by whatever means it is gained.  God announces what is about to happen not through human power but in human weakness.  The birth of Jesus was announced first to shepherds (the witness of a shepherd wasn’t accepted back then).  The news of Jesus’ resurrection was first announced by women (their words were considered nonsense according to Luke).  The great prophets of old weren’t the ones echoing the words of the king.  They were the false prophets.  The great prophets were apparent nobodies who called the king to accountability.  John the Baptist was out in the wilderness and he spoke a word to be heard by the burdened and the ones at ease alike.

The people from the surrounding region came to hear John’s message to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  Repentance means to turn around.  The coming reign of God is to be embraced with lives that reject the current power structures in order to embrace God’s rule of justice and peace.  The poor and enslaved gladly received the news of God’s judgment on their behalf.  They were baptized as a way of preparing for the coming of God in their midst.

Religious leaders of the time, Pharisees and Sadducees, also came to hear John and to be baptized.  He called them a bunch of snakes.  They weren’t to put their confidence before God based on heritage, position or DNA.  Instead, they were to show lives of repentance by seeking God’s justice and not power.

John was in the wilderness announcing the coming of one who will establish the rule of God.  John baptized with water but this one of God will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.  This one will bring judgment where what is done for the kingdom is kept; what is useless is discarded and burned.  This one whom John the Baptist announced is Jesus.

John the Baptist’s words are still double edged for our day.  Jesus establishing the coming rule of God is good news for those enslaved and under oppression.  Jesus establishing the coming rule of God is judgment for those in power who show no compassion or justice for the enslaved and oppressed.  As the days draw closer to Christmas and welcoming of the Christ child, let us heed the words of John and show lives of repentance.  Let the news of Christmas be good news for all people.

Peace.