Written by: Paul Niemiec - Church Army
Luke 3 v 1-2
It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod’s brother, the ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; and Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
Notes
Funny things - names - I've got an unusual name for someone in England. It's Polish by origin. I used to live in a village with an unusual name - Cockley Cley - which means crinkly bog which, in itself, is fairly unusual.
We don't know who the people with these names were particularly but we do know that God acted through them or, at least, round or despite them in some cases. There are many places in the Bible which are a list of names and it is often easy to wonder why they are there, but any list of names - a school register, members of a club, a family group - involve individuals and each individual is made in the image of God.
Take time out to look at a single fingerprint on your hand, any finger will do. Incredibly, there are over 6½ billion people in the world and you are the only person with that fingerprint and each curl and squiggle has been put there especially by God. God thinks that individuals are important. The individuals above all had particular positions of power and influence. We all do, and it is vitally important that we offer any power or any influence to God to find out how we can best use it.
Today, remember that every individual you come across is made in the image of God, every individual is special to God. Every individual has the opportunity to use power and influence in their lives. If the power and influence you use in your life is in line with God's commandments and desires, you could touch the lives of other individuals. It's a vitally important privilege we all have, to be very special to God and to be made in his image.
Luke 3 v 3-6
He went all over the area around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:
“This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.
Every valley should be filled in, and every mountain and hill should be made flat.
Roads with turns should be made straight, and rough roads should be made smooth.
And all people will know about the salvation of God!’ ”
Notes
So John was in an unusual place. Leastways, that's what lots of people must have thought about him. Not only in an unusual place, but doing unusual things and saying odd things. Sometimes, we are apt to think that people must conform to our idea of what is right or our idea of where they should be and what they should do, but God sees the bigger picture in all things.
This particular passage was used in a musical called 'Godspell' a number of years ago and, in the darkness, the voice of John the Baptist sang out 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord' and I was at a school presentation where the character of John the Baptist was on an enormous tower of blocks and, as the light went out, so he fell forward into the darkness. Unbeknownst to those watching, he was caught at the bottom but the faith that that young man put in his catchers was indicative of the kind of faith that John put in God, as he did and was, the unusual voice crying out in the wilderness.
Sometimes we are called to cry out, sometimes we are called to hear the person crying out, sometimes we are called to respond to the voice that is crying out. As you live today, consider - have you heard the voice of God?
Through another person, perhaps not that which you would expect, either in terms of person or message. Is God saying something to you during the course of today? If so, do you need to hear, do you need to listen, do you need to respond?
Luke 3 v 7-9
To the crowds of people who came to be baptized by John, he said, “You are all snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s coming punishment? Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks. The axe is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Notes
This is a tough passage. There are lots of tough things in the Bible.
There is a feeling in some environments that faith, belief, religion and, indeed, Christianity is somehow for whimps, for weak people looking for a crutch.
This is far from the case. To be weak, is to be strong. To be strong, is to be willing to be weak and to open oneself to God.
John had a tough message, a message that a lot of people didn't want to hear. Jesus had an even tougher message and there are lots of people who claim to have heard his message but haven't necessarily done the tough things to change aspects of their lives.
Are there tough things that need to be done in your life? Are there things which need to be sorted out? Are you being a snake, slithering around, trying to run from God, persuading others like the original snake persuaded Eve to go the wrong way other than God's way? Do you need to come back to God? Do you need to realise actually that, if you are having a soft ride, maybe it's because you're not actually getting to grips with what the Christian faith is all about.
John had a tough message, Jesus has a tough message. It's not easy being a Christian but it is very rewarding. So ....... what will you do today? It's really up to you. Are you going to run away like a snake, or are you going to make some tough, difficult decisions with God about your life?
Luke 3 v 10-11
The people asked John, “Then what should we do?”
John answered, “If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also.”
Notes
I live in a place where people have a lot of things, things that they don't make themselves, things that they don't grow themselves, things that they purchase from other people's sweat. People here don't harvest, they rather shop.
The word 'harvest' is a fascinating one and what this passage tells us is that we should share that which we have. Have is one of the many many words you can make from the word 'harvest', so is eat, share, tears, heart, rest. Why not take a piece of paper and find out what other words you can make from the word 'harvest' and reflect on some of those words?
God needs us to share what we have to eat. He needs to dry away the tears of those who have nothing to eat, or nothing to share. Take a look at those words and think what they're saying to you. Words from the harvest, our sharing in a simple seven letter word. How much more should we share in the broader things of life? Have you got things perhaps that you don't need?
Have you got too much of some things? Are there people you know who could do with something from you?
So why not reflect for a few minutes, perhaps play the word game, and then maybe do as God would have you do.
Luke
3 v 12-14
Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
John said to them, “Don’t take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take.”
The soldiers asked John, “What about us? What should we do?”
John said to them, “Don’t force people to give you money, and don’t lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get.”
Notes
The tax collectors said to John 'What should we do?' and John guides them in
the things to do as one who follows God.
Well, I find different kinds of Christians in life and I put them into two categories. I meet people who think it's all right just to be a Christian and they sing a song which just simply goes 'Be be be be be be be' all on one note, all in one style and they think it's enough. I am, and meet others who are, doers. We rush around like headless chickens, so busy that we have no time to be still and quiet and to reflect and, most importantly, to listen to God and our song goes 'Do do do do do do do', again all on one note, all in one direction.
I sometimes wonder if God isn't like an old fashioned singer, perhaps sitting with his head tilted, rather like a Frank Sinatra, going 'Do be do be do, be do be do be do be do be do'.
Well, life is a balance and John was trying to say to people 'Get it right - you've got it wrong.' Well, how many of us know that we've got it wrong. We're too much 'doers' or too much 'be-ers' and the answer is 'Do right' and 'Be right' and that's not easy. We need to be guided by God's word, by other Christians in the Church, by our prayers and by the actions of people who live their lives for God and that's a challenge.
So, whatever you do today and whatever you choose to be today, may the doing be of God and the being be of God and may your song be one which other people like the sound of.
Luke 3 v 15-18
Since the people were hoping for the Christ to come, they wondered if John might be the one.
John answered everyone, “I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is greater than I am. I am not good enough to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.” And John continued to preach the Good News, saying many other things to encourage the people.
Notes
Baptism in a river covers every part of you in water and whilst there are a variety of forms of baptism practised round the world, they are all reflective of a total indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Whilst it might actually be done by sprinkling or by immersion in different places and in different ways, baptism itself is about a realisation. It may be on behalf of a child by parents bringing them to baptism or by an individual choosing to be baptised. The crucial thing is that the Holy Spirit then comes into every corner of that person's life. Sadly, as we live our lives, we often drive the Holy Spirit from us through sin and other things get in the way.
I have a large inflatable cube, which is great fun to play with but it doesn't work very well if you don't fill absolutely every corner with air - it becomes saggy and the games are not nearly as much fun. Life is like that for you and me. Unless we let God into every corner of our lives, including our money, our habits, our gossip, our behaviour, our relationships, then sin will climb in and will take over. John says that Jesus wants to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff and he will put the good grain into his barn, that is those who have realised their need for God in every corner of their life.
So whatever you are doing today, wherever you are, don't forget that God wants to be part of it and that we need God to be part of it.
Luke 3 v 19-20
But John spoke against Herod, the governor, because of his sin with Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother, and because of the many other evil things Herod did. So Herod did something even worse: He put John in prison.
Notes
How many times have you been in a position where you have said something you thought was funny and somebody else has taken offence, a throwaway line has been misunderstood or, a perfectly innocent phrase has been misheard?
Throughout history, words have been very dangerous. We have to be careful, but sometimes we do have to speak out. John had a very important role to play in preparing the way for Jesus. However, it led him to prison and, to his death.
It may not be that we are called to be martyrs but we are all called to be, to do and to speak of our Christian faith. Now we do this as per God's calling it is important, particularly when we see injustice, that Christians take action and speak out. The world is rife with people who abuse their position, abuse their authority and who abuse other people, Christianity stands for justice and John spoke out against Herod as Jesus, spoke out about different groups in society. Throughout the history of the Christian Church, there has been a tradition of standing up for Christian values and speaking out against tyranny. It is important that this tradition continues and it may be that you have a small part to play in Christian justice.
Be careful with the words you use. They are dangerous things. They can be misunderstood and you can end up in trouble. Speak to others, reflect on where justice needs to be brought to bear and how you, as an individual/group, can be part of that process. It may lead to unexpected consequences, we must be aware of the power of words and the world must be aware of the power of God's Word. It is, the most powerful thing we have in our possession.
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken
from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by
Word Publishing Milton Keynes