John the Baptist - Preparing the Way

Luke 3:7-14
Length: 10:35

This is a message given on December 6, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.

John the Baptist – Preparing the Way
With the ministry of John the Baptist, the Messianic prophecies start to take shape. The mystery of God starts to be revealed, that is the Good News of Jesus Christ. As I am sure we all know, it was John’s duty to introduce the Messiah, to prepare the way for Christ.

He did this along the banks of the Jordan river. People from all over the area came to hear John’s preaching. John had a simple, yet profound message. The Kingdom of God is coming. In order to prepare for the Kingdom, people must repent and be baptized.

This is the same Christian baptism that we celebrate today. However, when we are baptized we look back at the cross whereas, the Old Testament saints looked forward to the cross. But we are all saved by faith, by trusting and believing in God’s promise to us.

In our Scripture, we see a quote from Isaiah here pointing to John. The idea describes the preparation made for the coming of a king or some other dignitary. When a king or some other important dignitary was coming to visit your town, the road crew would go out and fix up the road.

In a spiritual sense, John was calling the people of Israel to prepare, to clean up, their hearts for the coming of their Messiah. John did this through his preaching and teaching. He introduced many Messianic concepts as well as a baptism of repentance, which would prepare the hearts and minds of the people to follow Jesus.

John was a rough looking guy. He wore a camel haired coat with a leather belt. He ate wild honey and locusts. We would probably refer to him as a hermit or mountain man today.

John’s preaching was both practical and penetrating He was preaching to the Jews, in particular to the scribes and Pharisees. People from all over were coming to be baptized, even some of the scribes and Pharisees.

Unfortunately, their motives were wrong. What they needed was a repentance that produced fruit As we have looked at before, the word repentance means a change of mind. It is a change of your thoughts and your behaviors.

Just as faith without works is dead, so is repentance without the corresponding change in your actions. This does not mean we are sinless, it simply means that our direction in life is moving toward God in a Holy manner.

John warns them not to simply trust in their heritage. We are justified before God not because of our parents but because of our relationship with Him. Repentance is all the more important when you consider the imminent judgment against nonbelievers.

As we saw last week, the next big thing God does will be His second coming. John mentions the judgment here to the Jews as well. He says God’s ax is ready to chop down any tree that does not produce fruit.

What then should we do? Three groups come and ask John that same question. There is the Jewish crowd, the tax collectors and the soldiers.

First, John talks to the Jewish crowd. He says if you have more than you need, then share it with others. He is talking about the basic necessities of life: food and clothing. We are not to build our earthly treasures to hoard for our own selfish desires. Rather, we are to share with others the things that they need.

Second, John addresses the tax collectors. No one really liked the tax collectors, so it is likely that people wouldn’t accept basic necessities from them. Tax collectors were considered traitors and were looked upon as being no better than prostitutes and murderers.

The tax collectors were hired by Rome to collect a certain about of taxes for Rome. Anything they collected above that amount they were able to keep for themselves. So the more taxes they collected the more they were able to keep and make a profit. No wonder they were despised.

What is John response to the tax collectors? “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” In other words, taxes are a part of life and people are to pay them, but the tax collectors should not abuse their positions of authority.

Finally, John addresses the soldiers that were there. He tells them not to rob anyone and to be content with their wages.

The things that John tells the people of his day, still apply to us today as well. We are to show compassion, especially to the disadvantaged. We do this not because we want to look like or feel like good people nor do we do it simply because that is what we are supposed to do. We do this because the Kingdom of God is at hand. We do this for God!

God is about to show up and we better be prepared. We need to clean up our act so that when He does appear we will avoid the judgment that is cast upon the unbelieving world.

John lived a life away from distractions so he could hear God’s instructions. The purpose of his ministry was to prepare the people to accept Jesus as God’s son. When John called people to repent, he started a new way of relating to God individually.

Is change needed in your life so you can hear and understand God’s call to you? You have to admit your need for forgiveness before you can accept it. To prepare to receive Christ, repent. Denounce the world’s way of living and follow Christ.

Remember, to share what you have with others, and not just physical needs, but spiritual needs as well. Whatever job you do, give it your best and honest effort. And be content.

God has no use for people who call themselves Christians, yet don’t do anything for Christ. If others can’t see Christ in you, then maybe Christ isn’t in you.

Let’s make sure people see Christ in us, especially this Christmas.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank you again for our time in your word this morning. Help us to bring others to Christ as John prepared the Jews so long ago. Give us the courage and strength that we need to be your followers in this world today. Be with us this morning as we commune together. AMEN.