“Getting things ready”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Thursday, April 20, 2023

Luke 3:1-14 (Forward, p. 81) CEV p. 1058

We all know what it is like when a ‘big day’ is coming, whether that day be a festive holiday season, like Christmas or Easter, the birth or birthday of a loved one, or something as phenomenal as a wedding. Just recently Carol and I have been involved in getting ready for a little one’s first birthday, and memories of all the decorations around our house for Christmas—and, to a lesser degree, Easter, are still very much in my mind. Around here, those preparations, especially for the former holiday, are quite extensive and quite detailed.

But, what about getting ready for God? For the Messiah? That is what John the Baptist was all about. And his preparations, the matter of getting things ready, were no less involved or specific.

First of all, there were the more general things as spelled out in the prophecy by Isaiah:

-the King’s Highway in Palestine was notoriously in bad shape most of the time, often being covered with the debris from rockslides or flash floods, or from the bad habits of the local farmers. (They had a tendency to pile their unwanted fieldstones on the relatively unused thoroughfares);

-also, it tended to wave around any natural obstacle, things like sloughs or hills, rather than tackle the obstacle head on. This meant that the road weaved around disastrously; And, of course, any serious incline, a hill perhaps, or a deep ravine, made travel all the more difficult, especially if the traveller was heavy laden.

All of these images had a relevance to the lives of John’s listeners, and to us as well:

-we can easily leave various kinds of ‘crap’ in our lives, whether it be outright sin itself, or something seemingly less serious like bad habits or misplaced priorities or activities. All these can get in the way of any serious ‘move’ by God;

-in like manner, we can weave all over the place in our efforts to avoid, or evade, the clear instructions of God, God’s will for our lives, hoping somehow—vainly, I must say—that God will ‘change His mind’ on the matter. Let me tell you: He doesn’t;

-or, we can allow ‘lofty thinking’, pride that is, or just the opposite, negative thinking about ourselves or God, get in the way. Both of these God wants us to deal with.

With those general things having been addressed, John then goes into specifics:

-repent: that is, turn back to God, do an about face, a 360 degree Turn. Instead of setting your own agenda for your life, let God do It.

-and then, to prove that you mean it, go through the humbling and un-Jewish rite of baptism. (Baptism was normally reserved for outsiders, Gentiles who converted to the Jewish faith.) Yes, allow yourself to be treated as a pagan, an infidel, a recent convert to the faith rather than being a cradle believer.

-don’t count on your ancestry, or on who your grandparents or parents—or spouse or aunt or uncle, or anyone else—to see you through. The action you take must be your own.

-and in practical terms: if you have ‘more than enough’ (food or clothing) be sure to share with the less fortunate, and if in a position of power—like a tax collector or soldier—don’t abuse that power by throwing your weight around.

So much of what John says still have a relevance for us today. We can all too easily ‘go through the motions’ or say ‘all the right words’ but not put that faith into action. Or, we can ‘rest on our laurels’, thinking that our past performance or our ancestral faith will ‘see us through’. Or, we can avoid dealing with the very real obstacles in our lives that hinder or inhibit God from working the way that He would like. Or, we can stick to our own place in society, our privileged position, our comfort zone, and not take the less easy or comfortable actions that we need to take.

Given the state of our church, society and world today, there is a great need--just as much as at the time of John the Baptist--for a fresh move of God. And, just as much as those folks back then, we can be part of those who will help get the world—and ourselves—ready for it. Amen.

Forward notes: “The word of God came to John” (verse 2b).

“The story of John the Baptist is familiar, but I have often skimmed over this first part that says the word of God came to John. What does that mean? Has the word of God also come to us?

“We believe that in the beginning was the word and that God spoke the world into being. Yet, human words can often be painful. They can cause much divisiveness, of taking sides and cutting down others who are different from us.

“John spoke words he heard from God, and they were not very gentle words: ‘You brood of vipers!’ But John spoke urgently and roughly because he wanted to get people’s attention.

“Have we lost that sense of urgency today? Have we forgotten the necessity of hearing—and responding—to God’s word? Yes, many of us have been baptized, as John called for, but do we continue to expect the word of God to come to us? If not, why not?”

Moving Forward: “Consider what it means that the word of God has come to you. Are you responding urgently, like John, compelled to share with others?”