Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11, John 1:6-8,19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126
Advent and Lent have a lot in common. They are seasons of penitence in preparation. Penitence means awareness and confession of sin – knowing we’ve done wrong and admitting it. Into that time of penitence shines the shaft of light that promised that the darkness was ending and the light was coming. That naturally gives rise to a sense of joy, and today is often known as ‘Rejoicing Sunday’. The exiles described in Psalm 126 rejoiced because the night of their exile was over. Isaiah 61 looks forward to a day when sadness will be replaced by joy and praise because God has come.
The message of John, therefore, as he points to the light, is a source of joy to all who will listen. John offered the hope of light; Jesus was the light.
I want to highlight four destinations to which John wanted people to head. They speak of what John expected people to become.
1 We’ve already seen that John’s role was to make a straight path ready for the Lord and that this is about the way people live. John taught people how to behave, how to sort out their lives and how to straighten their crooked paths. He made this explicit for some of those who heard him, (see Luke 3:10-14). eg: everyone: share food and clothing (essentials), tax collectors: only collect what is legal, soldiers: don’t extort money from people, don’t accuse anyone falsely and be content with your pay.
John sought A reformed people – people who were prepared to turn and go a different direction from the one they were following – ie: change the way they were living.
2 John baptised people (hence his title). Baptism is a symbol of clean lives, the washing away of sin, and of becoming members of God’s community, (John 1:26). John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, in other words, by it people declared that they were committing to follow God’s way of living. The second thing John sought was A baptised people.
3 The place where John was baptising was on the other side of the Jordan, on the east bank, in Gentile territory (1:28). Most Jews travelling from Judea to Galilee would avoid Samaria. In order to do this they went to the Jordan valley and walked up the eastern bank across from the Samaritan western bank. Here travellers would be plentiful and John would meet many people. This means a third destination is to have A new people including non-Jews.
4 John makes clear his own humility. John says in verse 27 that he is not worthy to untie the thongs of Jesus’ sandals. This is a great statement of humility because loosing sandal thongs was a slave’s task. John does not consider himself worthy even for a slave’s task. The fourth destination is A humble people.
John’s signpost was pointing to a reformed, baptised, new and humble people.
With the arrival of Jesus it is clear who John had been pointing to. In Jesus we can arrive at the destinations John pointed to.
1 Jesus teaches that people need to be reformed. He also makes it clear that to try to clean up our lives by our own will power is as effective as trying to lift ourselves off the ground by pulling on our shoe laces. (Bootstraps in the original quote.) The only way to reform is with Jesus’ help through his forgiveness and the Holy Spirit’s power. In his teaching, of which the sermon on the Mount is a prime example, Jesus talks of a radical reformation – not just actions but thoughts are to be examined. Rightly so as all our actions are the product of our thoughts. With Jesus’ help we become a reformed people.
2 Jesus teaches the importance of baptism. Baptism is an act of cleansing and membership. We are a baptised people.
3 John had indicated that God’s plan would include non-Jewish people and ministry in non-Jewish lands. Jesus, in his ministry, did all of that. He visited non-Jewish places and met and healed non-Jewish people. He called non-Jewish people to follow him – and he still does. So a new people emerged and now includes people the world over.
4 Just as John taught humility so did Jesus. Jesus’ birth and his coming in human form are part of that message, and also his washing the disciples’ feet (and numerous other examples). Humility can’t be painted on the outside. It can only come from within. It starts in our perspective, becomes an operating attitude and shows in our actions. It takes practice with Holy spirit help to develop into humble people.
So John was the signpost pointing to Jesus. He is the royal herald preparing the way for his King. John is the messenger and Jesus is the message. John talks of Christ; Jesus is the Christ.
We conclude by reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24:
Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good and avoid every kind of evil.
May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being – spirit, soul, and body – free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.