May I speak in the name of the Living God whose power can open our hearts and minds. Amen.
We’ve just heard what it might have been like almost 2000 years ago when John the Baptist began preaching in the villages around the River Jordan in southern Palestine.
Imagine yourself there - maybe you’re bringing up a family, or collecting taxes for the Romans, perhaps you’re a teacher or a small businessman.
You’ve heard stories about John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth who’ re both now dead. John’ s spent years alone in the bleak Judean wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey. You’ ve heard tales of his great spiritual strength - some have even compared him to Elijah. You know few have ever survived years of solitude without going crazy but John’ s different. Some say he has a hot-line to God.
And now in A.D. 28 in Pontius Pilate’s governorship everyone is flocking to hear John. You wouldn’ t find John in the synagogues though - the Pharisees would have turned him away. And for once no one was listening to them or the scribes. It was all ‘ have you seen John, have you heard him, have you been baptised yet? ‘ Strange really because John was such a prickly guy but he gave us hope.
You see at home we reminded the children every Sabbath how God had rescued our ancestors from slavery in Egypt. We told them too about our people’ s exile in Babylon and the prophet Isaiah’ s message of hope that John was now proclaiming ‘ Prepare the way for the Lord.’
And now when we were despairing again - wanting to get rid of the Romans from our land - John was lighting up our lives, making us see things differently. He reminded us God had NEVER deserted us. We didn’ t always believe this you see. John had no doubts - he told us we should prepare for the coming of God’ s kingdom. Then he talked of someone even more powerful - the Messiah we longed for who would baptise us not with water but in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We needed to hear this I can tell you. We’ d had years of the Pharisees rules and pettifogging laws. John was different. He didn’ t care who he offended - he was his own man. You could see that - rock-solid integrity.
So we told all our family, friends and neighbours and any visiting travellers to find out where John was - get there fast - drink in his words and be baptised in the Jordan.
I’d been baptised. Don’t we all want a new beginning? Don’t we all want to be forgiven? John really made us believe all things were possible. He was quite a guy I can tell you.
But we’re not in Palestine are we? We’re in the UK in the 21st Century. So what is John’s message for us? Is there one?
Yes there is. More than one. This is the first. God is in charge - not us. He has always had a global plan. John knew this and it’s what made his teaching radical ‘all people will see God’s salvation.’ Nothing, nothing at all will deter God - he’ll get rid of all obstacles - never ever stop reaching out for us and although ‘all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face.’
This is the second message. God is always active in our lives, in our world, across cultures and across history. John knew this but do we know it? Do we believe God still communicates with us? Are we ever still enough or silent enough to notice? Are we looking in the wrong place? Or do we as Jesus said ‘ see and not see, hear and not hear nor understand? ‘ And if the word of God does come to us as it did to John do we take any notice or do we make excuses like Moses did - people won’t listen to me - find someone else.
The third message is that God is the God of never-ending new starts - of unfailing love and a mercy and forgiveness we can’t comprehend. Isaiah knew this ‘my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.’ This means we’re not to go in for character assassination - on ourselves or others - nor to imagine God will. Instead during this Advent Season we need to look honestly at ourselves, our lives and our relationships - get right with God and with other people. That’ s John’s great wake up call borrowed from Isaiah ‘ Turn to me and be saved.’ Can we who are more used to giving than receiving accept such unconditional love ? Love with no strings attached? Can we open our minds, our hearts and our lives? Do we forgive ourselves? And what about forgiving others ? Do we bear grudges, nurse resentments, seethe with rage, sulk in silence or cut people out of our lives? John is calling us now across the centuries to let all this go - the message never ever changes - repent and be forgiven.
The final message is one of hope - one of salvation - one of transformation - a new beginning. John prepared the way for Jesus and Jesus promises ‘ whoever comes to me I will never drive away.’ 2000 years may separate us from John the Baptist but if he walked into this church now it’s likely as Archbishop Sentamu says that his message would be - ‘wake up, clean up, grow up!’
So as we approach Christmas let’s not forget John the Baptist - his courage - his proclamation of God’s goodness - his passion to tell everyone. Can we learn to be a bit more like him?
Finally I’ d like some volunteers to give these out* before we listen to a song. This is a live recording from a church service. The words you will hear are different from John the Baptist’ s but the message IS the same. It’s the message of Advent - ‘Come to the Father. Because of his great love, he gave his only Son: everything was done so you would come.’ It’s an open invitation - always.
In the name of Christ our Living Lord: Amen
Bible reading: Luke 3 v. 1 - 6
Music: Before the world began - lyrics and music by Russell Fragar
* Words of above song
© Christine M Shilling UK 2006