A Branch Of Righteousness Series

A Branch of Righteousness

I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose scandal strap I am not worthy to loose. - Luke 3:16

Nicholas was born of wealthy parents in A.D. 280 in a small town called Patara in Asia Minor. He lost his parents early by a pandemic, like covid-19, but not before they had inspired in him the gift of faith. Then little Nicholas went to Myra and lived there a life full of sacrifice and love and the spirit of Jesus. Nicholas became so Christlike that when the town needed a bishop he was elected. He was imprisoned for his faith by Emperor Diocletian and released later by Emperor Constantine. There have been many stories of his generosity and compassion: how he begged for food for the poor, and how he would give girls money so that they would have a dowry to get a husband. The story most often repeated was about how he would go out and give gifts to poor children. He gave away everything he had. And in the year 314, he died. His body was later moved to Italy where his remains are to this day.

But the story of Nicholas has spread around the world. There are more churches in the world named after St. Nicholas than any other person in all the history of the church. Oh, people have done strange things to him. The poet, Clement More, gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. And Thomas Nast, the illustrator, made him big and fat and gave him a red suit trimmed by coat. And others have given him names—Belsnickle, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus. But what's important about him is that he had the mind of Christ. Because of his gentle selfless love, he touched the whole world. He lived as a righteous man. He was inspired by the love of Jesus and His righteousness. And this same mind of Christ is to be in us.

John the Baptist's first and foremost preaching was repent and the kingdom of God is near. He preached the gospel of the righteous. Roman 14:17 says, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Each believer is instructed to hunger and thirst for righteousness by Jesus himself. Righteousness is transformed into right living through the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, let us meditate on the part of righteousness in life. Repentance, conviction, and responsibility are the part of the repentance life.

Repentance: a part of righteousness

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. - Luke 3:8a

The people of John’s day were in need of what he was preaching…repentance and living right. John knew their sins for they were obvious. Their need for God was also obvious and the prophet was there to point them to the remedy.

John’s message didn’t die when he did. His message spreads the timeline to today. Our world is still in need of turning from sin and receiving the gift of salvation.

John’s message was that Jesus was coming to cancel their spiritual debts and remove their sin obligations from the book of justice. Sin, placed on Jesus, would never be held against anyone who accepts Christ into their life. Why? It is because Jesus Christ died for us and paid the cost for our salvation.

The story is told of a young man who entered a bank in New York City attempting to get a loan from one of the bank officers. After completing all of the paperwork he was a bit surprised that it was taking so long for a reply. He anxiously observed that the loan officer kept going back and forth to his manager’s desk.

Finally the paperwork was completed. He was surprised when he turned to leave because he was met with the flashes of cameras going off in his face and people began to crowd around him. It struck him that he must have done something wrong and the fear was written on his face.

Quickly he was relieved to discover that instead of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was in the right place at the right time. The manager of the bank handed his loan papers back to him and told him that he would not have to repay the loan! He was fortunate enough to have borrowed the money that included the one billionth dollar that the lending institution had ever loaned out. In honor of that fact, his debt would never be recorded in the books.

John the Baptist preached to the people around the Jordan and beyond that a redeemer was coming to cancel their debt of sin. The Messiah was coming to take their debts and remove their sin obligation from the books. At Christmas we rejoice in the knowledge that the Messiah is Jesus who entered this world to pay the price for our sin. The shadow of the cross always lies across the manger scene. The Bible says in Jeremiah 23:5, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. He is the branch of righteousness raised from the root of David. And He will rule the earth with righteousness.