“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Home Depot before Hallowe’en.
That bothers some people more than it bothers me
I figure even if the connection is tenuous that anything that gets people to thinking about Jesus is a good thing.
If people are even a little bit reminded about peace and good will, however they got there it is a good thing
At least Christmas has His title in it
Among groups who follow the ecclesiastical calendar it
seems like we talk about John called ‘The Baptist” more than about Jesus in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
If we think too much about a baby in a manger and angels shepherds and wisemen we tend to get sentimental
But John comes on the scene as a grown man and a pretty impressive grown man at that
No manger and sheep and cattle about him
Instead a camel’s hair garment and grasshoppers and honey for supper
He ate on the go
And his preaching was in his going
John preached an uncomfortable message
There was no sentimentality about it.
Repent!
The kingdom of God is at hand
“At hand” can mean either close with reference to time
Or close in relationship to space or location
By either or both meanings the people from all Judea who heard John preach were on the cusp of a new era
John was telling the people to flatten the hills, fill the valleys straighten the curves for the Lord was on His way – Nearby, at hand – just around the corner
But there needed to be a cleansing before the kingdom was inaugurated
Listen to Matthew’s description of what John said
Matt 3:7-12 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves,' We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 "And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 "And His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." NAS
To repent means to change direction
Not back to where you came from but away from where you are going
A change so radical it is as if making a U-turn but not on the same level it is going right over the top of where you have been
Not going over the same road again but leaving the old way so far behind you can’t even see it in the rearview mirror
Repentance is something that is visible
Something others can see
John gave some examples of radical repentance
It had to do with compassion. Generosity and honesty
If you have two coats give one away
If you have food share some
Tax collectors: don’t extort. Only get what the law requires
Soldiers: don’t shake down the people be content with your pay and rations don’t blackmail people
These are not exhaustive but enough we all get the drift
And you can’t ride the coat tails of your parents
In John’s time the Jews were proud that they were descendants of Abraham
John says that and $5.00 will buy you a cup of coffee
Abraham’s descendants were a dime a dozen
They must have something to show for being Abraham’s seed
And if Abraham’s descendants are not bearing fruit in keeping with their repentance, they are mere dead wood
The axe is poised –ready to swing – time is short
You can’t hitchhike with others who are on their own way back
You can’t trust the reputation of your parents for your salvation
John’s message was one of “out with the bad”
There is a separation coming
The wheat from the chaff
It is ready to start
All it takes is a wind and the wheat will be cleaned and stored
And same as dead wood, the chaff will be burned up
Good old John the Baptist, he reminds us to keep our feet on the ground in these busy, heady days of pre-Christmas
Take time to examine your life and motives before it is too late, and your selfish attitude betrays itself in the grabbiness of the season
This pre-Christmas season is a perfect time to look at your life and repent of the parts of your life that are out of alignment with Jesus’ example
What dead wood do you need to eliminate from your life?
What kinds of time and energy wasters?
Worry?
Envy?
Selfishness?
What chaff needs to be cast into the fire in order to make room for the good stuff?
Things?
Greed?
Deceit?
Gossip?
Suspicion?
This season of good will and generosity is a good time to replace those time and spirit stealers with productivity and thoughts of justice and righteousness, truth, and purity.
There will be time enough to talk about the baby in the manger
For now, think about how will you fare in the time of the coming judgment.
Lord God we thank you for the joy of the season we are in. Thank you for all the gifts of life and happiness that bubble forth this time or year. Thank you for the Indescribable Gift. Fill us with His spirit that we do not lose sight of the gift of your grace,
In Christ’s name we ask it, AMEN
Let me suggest some things you can do this pre-Christmas season to encourage your spirit
Play some Christmas music in the background
There are several radio stations that program steady Christmas music
Watch a movie “A Christmas Carol” There are a lot to choose from
Better yet Read the book
Read the Account of Jesus’ nativity
Matt. 1:18-2:22
Luke 1:1 – 2:40
Take a drive up Christmas Tree Lane or find Candy cane Lane in Clovis
Listen to or watch a performance of “Messiah”
Bake up some Christmas cookies or candy and mask up and take it to a friend or neighbor.
Engage in whatever traditions make the season special for you
Maybe you will have to adapt due to present circumstances. That is part of the fun.
Stay tuned.
