Sermon - Advent 2 - Luke 3:1-14

Luke 3:1-14
“Our Annual Visit with John the Baptist”

Like an old familiar friend, every year about this time, the Christian church recalls the unusual person of John the Baptist. He's one of the characters in God's salvation story that has really grown on me over the years. And not just because he's so eccentric. John is a voice crying in the wilderness, but a voice that it seems we need to hear ever more and more. John is the last of the prophets, and even Jesus calls him one of the greatest men ever born. John he died in Herod's dank dungeon, and his head was displayed as a trophy for the wicked. A prophet's reward, indeed. Today, we hear from Luke, and consider John the Baptist, not so much for his own sake, but especially in how he prepares the way for Christ.

Look at the parade of important men Luke details for us: Tiberius Caesar – Roman emperor and most powerful man in the world. Pontius Pilate, the very expression of Rome's power in Judea – the one who would eventually order the death of Christ. Edomites Herod and his brother Phillip, tetrarchs – local client-kings – a dysfunctional dynasty that would tangle with John ultimately to John's death. And Annas and Caiaphas, high priests of the Jews. You had all these men, so important in terms of the world, so that even time itself is marked and measured by their reign and rule.

And then along comes a voice. A voice that you can barely hear in the distance, out there in the desert. A voice that starts out squeaky and raspy but grows in tone and timber until the voice rings out loud and clear for all of Judea to hear, “Repent!” A voice that would reach the ears of Herod and Herodias, much to her own dismay. A voice that has rung out through the ages, through the centuries, and invades our Advent season even today. Predicted by Isaiah seven centuries before. Culminating in John, the forerunner of Christ. And continuing through the church in a mighty echo. This voice cannot be silenced by a beheading. It can't be stopped because it makes you uncomfortable. Like the nagging of our own conscience, John's call to repentance rings out to any sinner with ears to hear.

Prepare the way of the Lord! The Lord is coming. His Advent is at hand. And things aren't right. The paths are crooked and the valleys and mountains think they can stand in the way. But no! The voice says make them straight and level and plain. The status quo will simply not do when the Lord, the King is coming. So get your act together, even nature itself must receive him. And all flesh – those that like it and those that don't – all flesh will see the salvation of God. Because that's what Jesus brings.

He who would make straight the crooked and level the valleys has some rearranging to do in your life, too. In your heart, and in your soul. The task his harder than moving tons of dirt, it means removing the stain of sin, and the crushing burden of guilt. It means, in fact, salvation – from the same root as “salvage” - like an old rust bucket of a car that it completely restored and renewed. Or even better, a new creation that has already begun at baptism, and will sustain you even into the new heaven and new earth, on right to eternity.

But it all starts with a call to repentance. It seems like an insult. “You brood of vipers”. But the moniker fits. The original serpent who brought sin into the garden, and through Adam and Eve, brought sin into the world, has been brooding over little vipers at every opportunity. The same venom of wickedness spews forth from us all. The same slinky, slimy, slithery sin that lurks in my heart is squirming around in yours. Don't get insulted that John calls it like it is.

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? As if you could escape it anyway. No, there's only one way out of this predicament, and it's not through the back door. It's to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. In other words, to turn from your sin, to repent, and then let your lives and actions show that you truly have!

John takes away their fall-back excuse of being “children of Abraham”. No pedigree or special status exempts you from this call to repentance. God's not impressed with this claim. He can raise up children of Abraham out of the stones, or out of thin air if he has to. That's nothing so special. That doesn't excuse you. That doesn't make you good-to-go. It won't stop you from being snake-children, and sons of wrath. Nor can any claim you make of your own righteousness or your own worthiness. Your predicament is the same as theirs – caught in sin. Born in sin. Thoroughly corrupted and bought in to sin, hook, line and sinker.

There's no turning from sin without turning to Christ. There's no true repentance without Jesus. Without his Spirit working on you, and in you. Repentance has two parts, after all, first contrition – and that we confess our sin, and second that we turn to Christ in faith and receive the forgiveness that only he can give. That's what John preached – “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”

It's what some seem to forget about John's preaching and ministry. Sure he was a screechy voice of condemning law. Sure, he spoke the hard words. But he was also a preacher of Good News! He preached forgiveness. He baptized for forgiveness. And he pointed to one greater who was coming, who would not just proclaim this salvation but procure it and secure it. There's no John without Jesus! Without Jesus, John is just another religious kook, a crazy cultist making a spectacle of himself. But John is flashing neon sign and a big fat pointing finger that shows us Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

And repentance isn't really even about your work, your decision, your solemn promise to do better. It's not even mostly about feeling sorry or being guilt-ridden for your sins. It's a process that God works on you and in you to turn you around, about-face, from that to this, from sinner to saint, from wicked viper to beloved child of God. That's what John wanted for those who heard his preaching. To receive the salvation that comes in the Lord whose way John prepared.

And the fruits are what follows all this. Fruits are the effects. They are the out-growth of a tree, and the fruits of repentance and faith are the out-growth of the Christian. John calls for them. He wants our faith to be active and evident. “Produce fruits in keeping with repentance”. Show it, in other words, by how you live.

And how does John answer those who press him for more on that topic? Always according to the situation of your vocation:

If you have two tunics, give to one who has none. Likewise share your food. In other words, how we use and manage our earthly goods, even food and clothing, is a fruit of repentance. Having a drastically different view of life than the unbeliever, we see “things” for what they are – just “things”. Not to be worshipped or hoarded. Not things that we deserve or have earned. But all of life is a gift from God, and is to be managed for the good of others. So if God has placed you in the position of having much, from you much is expected. If God has given you an abundance, you have the great joy of sharing with those who have less.

Tax collectors, who were notorious for over-collecting. What do the fruits of repentance look like for them? Simply, do your job and collect what you are due. Don't exceed your authority, but exercise the authority given to you justly. Fair treatment of other people is a fruit of repentance. Respect for authority. Doing your duty. All of these flow from faith, and should be obvious, but to the sinful nature are not.

Likewise soldiers – are not condemned for being soldiers – but only the misuse of their office is condemned. So don't extort money by threats or false accusations, as so many soldiers must have done. Don't take advantage of other people for your own gain.

And be content with your wages. A fruit of repentance is contentment, that is, be satisfied with what God gives you. It's the opposite of coveting, really. Contentment and thankfulness also go together, as we see God's provision and his blessings for what they are.

But you could add your own vocation and the expectations proper to it. Are you a husband or father, wife or mother? Care for your family. Are you a worker? Do a good job. Are you a student? Study well. Are you a citizen? Do your duty. Are you a pastor? Preach faithfully and boldly. Are you a hearer? Receive the word of God with joy. Each vocation, every calling, comes with its own fruit that we are called to produce out of the faith that God has worked in us. Every Christian has the joy and privilege of doing what is right – not to earn salvation (for that has already come in Christ) – but as an expression of faith and for the love of God and neighbor.

So, John, thanks for your annual visit. We will see you again next year, if not before. Thanks for pointing us again to Christ. For calling us to both repentance and faith, and encouraging us to let our fruits show and grow. May we ever repent of of sins, and have faith in Christ, our coming Lord. Amen.