The story of John the Baptist is included in all four gospels and his disciples appear on several occasions in Luke’s story of the early church (Acts). But what does he have to say to us today as we prepare for the celebration of the baby’s birth? He spoke out with words of accusation and instruction, just what do they have to do with us today?
Luke 3:7-9 When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”
• How do you visualize him as he speaks to the crowd? What is his demeanor, appearance, and what are the characteristics of his speaking voice? What would your reaction be if you had trudged all the way out into the desert to hear them?
• One of foundations of the faith John’s listeners was being a descendant of Abraham and heirs of God’s covenant with him. What does John say about that and what would their reaction have been? What does he say really counts? Can we fall victim to the same kind of assumptions? What really counts for us, do we hold onto things that effect our ability to be truly repentant (change direction)?
• We are told that large crowds came out to hear John, what might have motivated them to trek out into the desert to hear this man? What message or speaker might motivate you to go out of your way to listen to in person? Has anyone you have heard speak influenced your faith life for better or worse?
• John is prominent in the Gospels with two beginning with his story. What do we know about John, who were his parents and was his relationship to Jesus? Here are some links to Luke 1. His parents Connection to Jesus His Birth Unlike Jesus who has one or two possible references, John the Baptist appears in recorded history. The following passage in the first-century Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, is especially valuable as all our other descriptions of John come from Christian sources.
[116] Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him. Antiquities of the Jewish People, 18.116-19: Perseus Digital Library
John’s message had an impact on the crowd and they began to ask questions:
Matthew 3:10 The crowd asked him, “Then what are we supposed to do?” 11 “If you have two coats, give one away,” he said. “Do the same with your food.” 12 Tax men also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them, “No more extortion—collect only what is required by law.” 14 Soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He told them, “No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations.”
• What is the crowd’s reaction to John’s admonition? How profound is John’s direction to them? Is this some esoteric or mystical life he telling them they must embrace? How do we find out what we need to change? Is it really something we always want to hear?
• Have you ever changed direction for the better in some aspect of your life? What kind of things motivates us to make these changes? What are some feelings we have after making them?
• How do you feel about hearing this scripture in Advent when we focus on joy and celebration?
John now both speaks to his role and of the coming of someone and something even greater:
15 The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, “Could this John be the Messiah?” 16-17 But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” 18 There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message!
• What kind of baptism does John offer? What is it intended to do? How does he describe the impact of the messiah’s baptism – what will happen, what will change?
• What your memories of you baptism? Did you feel that it was an act of repentance as well as a spiritual moment? Has it taken on more or less meaning over time?
• What does John make clear is his status as opposed to the coming Messiah? If you read the Gospels you will see repeated instances of this clarification which speaks to the stature of John whose influence could be felt up to the time of their being written. See this example of his influence in Acts:
Acts 19 1-2 Now, it happened that while Apollos was away in Corinth (about 20 years after the resurrection), Paul made his way down through the mountains, came to Ephesus, and happened on some disciples there. The first thing he said was, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?” “We’ve never even heard of that—a Holy Spirit? God within us?” 3 “How were you baptized, then?” asked Paul. “In John’s baptism.”
• What do you take away from this, does this discussion fit into your idea of Advent preparation?
Closing Prayer
Enter my heart, O Holy Spirit, and set me free. Throw open the locked doors of my mind, cleanse the chambers of my thought for your dwelling; light there fires of a new understanding of truth. Amen. From a prayer by Eric Milner-WhiteNext Week’s Scriptures: Luke 2:39-45 (45-55), Micah 5:2-5, Luke 1:47-55 or Psalm 80:1-7, Hebrews 10:5-10
