I would not be concerned about economics, politics, the weather, the size of house or the type of car. At such a time I would want to dwell on the profundities, on what life was all about and what things were absolutely essential.
John in the desert was in the great tradition of the Hebrew prophets. He was aware that time was running out. In his burning message he had no time for peripheral matters. He was not playing Trivial Pursuit nor was he prepared to splash about in the shallows. Soon the sword of Herod’s guard would flash and his tongue would lie silent in the grave. Superficial people came out from Jerusalem to see him. They were intrigued by this strange phenomenon of a wild man preaching repentance. They were fascinated by frivolous things such as his dress, his diet and his fierce declamatory oratory. They wanted to interview him and then tell all their friends about their remarkable experience. “Who are you?” they asked. His answer was curt: “I am not the Christ.” “Are you Elijah?” “No!” “Then who are you?” they persisted. They had their doubts about who he was but his message to their ears was clear: Repent.
There comes a moment when the preacher longs for his hearers to lose sight of everything except his message. “Don’t listen to my accent. Don’t look at my clothes. Don’t comment on my style. Don’t search my biographical details for my University pedigree. Just listen to what I am saying. Repent!
I would like to suggest this morning that Repent was the first component of John’s message. There are two others. Let’s take a look at the first.
A) REPENTAll too often this is our story. Yet, John the Baptist calls upon us to take our sinning seriously. Why? Because God does?
Repentance is not just changing our minds, or feeling sorry for something that we have done, or even making bold resolves that we will never participate in certain conduct again. Instead, repentance means to turn around and go in another direction. What John the Baptist wanted his audience to hear was: Turn your life toward this one called Messiah. This is not negative or down-faced. Rather, it breaks the chains of oppression and death that hold us back.
Several years ago I had one of my parishioners tell me after a sermon during Advent: The problem with John the Baptist is that he takes all of the fun out of Christmas. He couldn’t have been further from the truth. I submit to you that it is this weird eccentric called the Baptist who puts the joy back into Christmas. For he is the one who calls us not to Christmas the way it is, but to Christmas the way it is meant to be.
B) SHAREFirst, John admonished his listeners to repent. Second, he told them to share. In Luke 3:10 & 11 we read where a crowd approached John and asked of him: “What shall we do then?” In other words, what is expected of us. To this John responded: He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; he who has food, let him do likewise.”
Sharing is so basically fundamental to our faith that anyone who somehow has not grasp this principle will miss a major thrust of this Advent Season.
One of my favourite Christmas stories is O’Renry’s short story The Gift of The Magi. You are all familiar with it. A story about a desperately poor young couple living in New York around the turn of the century. Neither had money sufficient to buy a gift for the other so they each secretly went out and sold something of worth. He sold his prized pocket watch to get her a braid for her long hair. When he presented it to her she removed her scarf to reveal that she had had her hair clipped and sold to purchase a chain for his pocket watch. The thrust of the story is obvious. It is not what you give that is important, but the sharing spirit of love in which it is given.
One of the messages of Advent is that we are called to be a sharing people. Not just at one special season of the year, but to live a life of sharing.
SHARE ABOUT SARAWAK TRIP
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
Repent. Share. And the third thrust of John’s message was serve. In Luke 3:12-14 we learn that tax collectors came to John to be baptised and said to him: Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them: Collect no more taxes than is appointed to you. And soldiers also came and asked: And what shall we do? And he said: Rob no more and do not make false accusations.
In other words, whatever your role or task is in life, do it ethically to the best of your ability. If you are a tax collector, then be an honest tax collector. If you are a soldier, be a good soldier and not a cruel, corrupt one. In whatever role you are in, do what you can where you are. Christian service is not just a missionary in a foreign land. Indeed, sometimes it is easier to go to a far away land than it is to go next door. You may serve God in whatever situation you find yourself, in the home, in the market place, in school, by doing the best that you can for God where you are.
John was a great man and he preached a great message. But Jesus was a greater man and he delivered a greater message. John’s message was one of glad chiding. Jesus’ message was one of glad tidings. There were differences in style. But John laid forth the fundamentals. Someone once asked the late Vince Lombardy what was the secret to his coaching career. He responded: I had my team constantly concentrating on the fundamentals. What are the fundamentals of our faith: Repent. Share. Serve.