Third Sunday in Advent
December 15, 2024
(Luke 3:7–18, NIV84) “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.”
John the Baptist preached a message of repentance.
The message of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2, NIV84) is always necessary. It may not be a popular message, but it is an essential message, so it is never uncalled for. As long as there are humans on earth – and that will be until Christ comes in judgement – there is a need for repentance.
Of course that message is not what people want to hear. People do not want to be told what God assures us is sinful.
But John’s message was a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And that very phrase contains both ideas of law and Gospel. For without a knowledge of sin, the Gospel is meaningless. If I don’t believe in sin, and especially, if I don’t believe in my sin, why do I need the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Jesus did not come to earth to preach a “social gospel” but to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, which is a Gospel for eternity, not just for this earth.
Lord, lead us to repentance, and preserve the true Gospel!
Prayer
O Lord, We beseech Thee to hear our prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts by thy gracious visitation. This we ask through Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord. Amen
