Matthew 3:1-12
Every year, on the second and third
Sundays of Advent, we read about John the Baptist. This week, he issues
invitations to those who want a fuller relationship with God, and challenges to
those who object to his message. Next week, John sends messengers to Jesus to
clarify who Jesus really is. Both weeks, John points to Jesus. In a few weeks,
we’ll hear about John again, when Jesus is baptized.
Maybe we should start with who John
is, since he is so important to the story. On Wednesday, we talked about Angel
Gabriel’s visit with John’s father Zechariah. Gabriel says that John will be
the one who announces the coming of the Messiah.
When baby John is born, Zechariah
sings a song to him. It will be the Hymn of the Day, which we’ll sing in a few
minutes. Some of the words go like this:
You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for
you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. You will tell his people how to
be saved through the forgiveness of their sins.
[Luke 2:76-77]
John
will go before Jesus to prepare people for his coming. John will tell people
about God’s forgiveness.
…
About thirty years later, John is living in the wilderness, preaching about
Jesus, and he is drawing a crowd. Some are happy to hear they can be forgiven and
some want him to shut up.
To
symbolize the forgiveness of sins, John uses a common ritual of the time –
baptism. Many ancient – and modern – Jews used ritual bathing as a method of
purification. Imagine an ancient hot tub called a mikveh. Priests would immerse
themselves in a mikveh before leading worship involving sacrifice. Women would
immerse themselves in a mikveh each month at the end of their menstruation and
after childbirth. Men would immerse themselves in a mikveh after sex.
The
problem the Jewish leaders have is that John is offering this baptism free of
charge, and away from the temple on the banks of the Jordan river. He is not a
trained priest, so he is not authorized to offer this service. He is usurping
their power. In the end, his message will cost him his life.
In
today’s text, his words clarify his position. He is the announcer of something
better still to come. John baptizes with water, but the one to come will
baptize with fire.
I
assume you are all baptized, most of you as infants. You have known God’s
forgiveness all your lives, because we frequently talk about baptism and the forgiveness it brings. This is why Pastors stand near the font during the confession and absolution portion of worship.
When we
are baptized promises are made: we will learn the catechism; learn to trust
God; proclaim Christ through word and deed; care for others and the world; and
work for justice and peace. In our baptism, we promise to always point to
Jesus.
…
What do you think? Were you baptized with water, or with fire? Or both? Sometimes
our lives are easy, and baptism by water is an easy swim through life. Other
times, our lives are a challenge, and baptism by fire is a more appropriate
metaphor.
I
love the water, walking near it, listening to it, swimming in it. Last week,
Mike and I made an overnight trip to St Augustine. We checked into the hotel
and went straight to the beach, where we walked along the wet sand and picked
up shells. As usual, I stood and watched the waves roll in and out, constantly
in motion, constantly baptizing the shore. It was too cool to want to wade or
swim, but I thought about it. Baptism by water is for me like breathing. It’s
easy to point to Jesus when life is easy.
I
have also been baptized by fire. You know what I mean. Raising children is
often baptism by fire. So are many jobs. Some days, just driving on local roads
and highways can be baptism by fire. Making the money stretch far enough to pay
all the bills is baptism by fire. Sometimes, being black or brown or a police
officer or an immigrant or a Muslim or young or chronically ill is baptism by
fire.
…
When Robbie was born, I was fourteen. He was like my first son, because Mom
trusted me to care for him when I came home from school. He was a joy to be
with, creative, fun-loving, sometimes aggravating. When I was in college, Mom would send me letters filled with Robby-isms. He loved to take things
apart, but he could not always put them back together again.
At
about age 12, he started using marijuana. Someone gave him some PCP (a drug
also called angel dust) and his life changed forever. The drug made changes in
his brain, and he became paranoid schizophrenic. He heard voices. He could be
violent. He was depressed. I remember one evening he was laughing with us over
a TV program; he left the room for a snack, and came back angry and sullen. It
was baptism by fire. How could God let this happen to my beloved Robbie? In the
end, he chose to end his own life after 6 tormented years.
We
can give in to the fire and turn away from our baptismal promises, or we can
remember that we are God’s children and face the fire and allow it to help us
grow in trusting God.
…
As I was walking the beach, I picked up a number of shells. They are all
different. They have all been baptized with water. Some are in great condition.
Some are a little beat up. Some of them look like they have been baptized in
the fire of wave and sand and rocks.
I
offer them to you. Choose a shell that speaks to you today. Choose a shell that
is perfect, to remind you of Jesus’ perfection. Or choose a shell that is a bit
imperfect, like you. Or, choose a shell that has been baptized by the fire of
tumbling in the ocean, like some of the times of your life. And, yes, after all have chosen a shell, you may take
shells to give to others.
Place
the shell where you can see it for the next few days. Remember as you
look at it that it points to Jesus. If you choose a second shell for someone
else, tell them that the shell points to Jesus.
Please
pray with me. Thank you, God, for people like John the Baptist, who pointed to
Jesus so long ago. Help us see you in the water and the fire of our lives. And
lead us to point others to you each day. Amen
