The Gifts John Gives All People

The Gifts John give all Humanity | Luke 3:7-18

1. John the Baptist he is the one who will prepare the way for the greatest Gift ever given to us.

• Matthew and Mark. They say John wore “clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist”

• In describing John in this way, Matthew and Mark are comparing John to Elijah

• . 1 Kings 1:8 describes Elijah as “a hairy man, with a leather belt round his waist.”

• Elijah was a preacher of such power that even King Ahab trembled at the mention of his name.

• John ate locusts and wild honey. John lived off the land: free and independent, beholden to no one, he was a self-made man I say He was a God Made Man.

2. John gives us the Gift of Truth

• John was passionately devoted. It’s this devotion to God that kept him preaching a harsh and demanding call to repentance, which risked him his life.

• John’s message, of course, isn’t exactly feel-good religion: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” John confronts the people we don’t measure up to Gods standards

• With an inspirational message like that, you’d think John wouldn’t have any followers left —

• . The crowds just keep coming. They scramble down the muddy riverbank, wade out into the water and cross their hands reverently before their chests, before this shaggy- wild man

• Why did people listen to this type of preaching because John preached the Truth

3. John gives us the gift of Repentance When we repent we are given the gift of forgiveness

• “7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by , 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”

• John says, “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut and thrown into the fire.”

• Repentance involves doing what you’re supposed to do, If you have two coats hanging in your closet, give one away.

• Some tax collectors come up to John and ask, “What should we do? “His reply: “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you. “Some soldiers come up and ask, “What about us? What should we do? “John answers, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

4. John has Given us some unusual gifts like Truth and Repentance, but he also apparently give the gift of Hope. Their Idea is this the One?

• 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.

5. Who is it that receives these gifts? John offers these gifts not just to nobles but to all humanity everyone in the Christmas story to whom an angel appears is a nobody. Folks like us

• John’s father, Zechariah. Now, Zechariah does happen to be a priest — a position of some influence — but he’s not the high priest.

• An angel appears to Mary: a poor, peasant girl, a person of low social status. “Greetings, favored one!”

• Next, a whole company of angels appears, to a pack of shepherds on a hillside outside Bethlehem. Shepherds, in that culture, are more than just common folk.

• What gift can I give him poor as I am ? If I were a shepherd I would bring him a lamb, If I were Wise man I would do my part, Yet what can I give him my heart