The Shepherd’s Voice
Archive for December 6th, 2009
Readings for Sunday, December 6th
Mal 3:1-4
Lk 1:68-79
Phil 1:3-11
Lk 3:1-6
Preparation For Life – The Shepherd’s Voice from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Vimeo.
First, let’s set the stage so we can see who the players were on this platform in time upon which John the Baptist emerges. At times it’s fun to do this through newspaper headlines. Here are a few.
Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off after age 25. Really – who knew…
Next ‘Apprentice’ to be shot in California – Sounds like times are really tough in California
Police begin to run down jaywalkers….At times our police go out of their way to stop crime
If we look at the cast of characters presented to us in our gospel text this morning we could also come up with some headlines –
Caesar Augustus, gloomiest man alive celebrates 15th year of reign
Pontius Pilot – not pilot after all, actually exiled to Gaul and committing suicide
Herod the Great – has not so great son Herod Anti-son otherwise know as Antipas
Annas and Caiaphas – high priests get down as Herod marries into Hasmonean dynasty
You can see from this backdrop that this was a complicated time in history. A very special and unique time when Rome had the power, but allowed others to rule to maintain that power within the conquered Jewish community. This was a unique time in history because you had the Greek, the Roman and the Jewish cultures mingled together in conflict, yet in harmony.
If we think of this in our terms today it would be like China has conquered America but somehow there was/is a Russian influence in the states, but the Chinese have installed state governors (relatives of the Chinese rulers) who help rule America, but there would also be a layer of priests or pastors who would look to the caretakers to rule over the Christian communities. This would be a very complex society and there would be no democratic rule al all, with everybody vying for power on every front.
Well, John the Baptist, son of Zechariah, was born into this kind of world. So we must assume that somehow Zechariah and Elizabeth, his parents prepared John for this kind of highly charged political environment.
Our gospel (Lk 1:2) text says, the word of God came to John. How might we understand that? The word of God came to John. It wasn’t by magic? No, he didn’t wake up one day and all of a sudden know what God was up to? The word came is the Greek word γίνομαι (ginomai) which means came to exist, come to acquire or experience a state. John’s parents were important.
We know from an earlier encounter between Mary, the mother of Jesus and Elizabeth, the mother of John (Luke 1:39-40) that when Mary came to Elizabeth, it says, “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
We also know that Zechariah was also filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about John. He said, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.”
At the end of the prophecy of Zechariah, it says in (Luke 1:80) The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. That sounds to me like some great home schooling!
It’s very likely John’s parents “home schooled” there son teaching him about God and how a Messiah was coming into the world to change everything.
By understanding the backgrounds and outcomes of Herod Antipas and John the Baptist we have an amazing picture in contrast. Herod Antipas, eventually was exiled to Gaul where he committed suicide. Herod the Great had married into the Hasmonean dynasty, a granddaughter of the high priest, but then killed her out of jealousy. Herod Antipas was wealthy, but grew up very troubled.
John the Baptist, poor as a church mouse, but grew up preaching the message of forgiveness and repentance with authority, and eventually was honored to baptize Jesus. John knew the book of Isaiah and preached it.
Here we have a contrast between two sets of parents. Herod the Great who raises Herod Antipas, a contemptuous little weasel. Remember Herod the Great was two faced, married the granddaughter of a high priest and then killed her. Well the son, was not a great leader, had few accomplishments, and was egged on by his wife to behead John the Baptist.
John was loved, coached, tutored, taught by his parents to respect and love God. Yes, John could be a little terse at times, we’ll talk about that next Sunday, but John was humble. John was a preacher, an exhorter of God’s Word and his message of repentance was spoken, heard, and accepted by many in the Jewish community. People responded to John, God’s love showed through.
These two contrasts in parenting teach us about preparation for life. What we do in raising our children and who we are (from the standpoint of character) matters. If you’ve ever used the term “do what I say, not what I do” than you know that Children see right through us. Children know us by our actions. Kind of like God knowing our heart, no matter what we say, God knows.
This past week I received a call from someone who was living in a motel, had little or no food, and needed some help. Someone came to their rescue. Not someone with a lot of money, but someone with a big heart. That someone brought one of their children along when the food was delivered and the help given. This was a tremendous lesson in hope, in showing love for one another, and I believe her son will never forget that lesson. This kind of lesson is better than Sunday school. This is true preparation for life.
Our gospel text says of John,”(He) went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” It is never too late to talk to our children about faith, about what God can and hopefully is doing in our own lives today. Even better than talking about it is being an example to others in showing God’s love.
If you’re a parent, this is a conversation you don’t want to put off. If you’re not a parent, maybe a conversation like this needs to occur between you and a coworker or you and your own parent, or maybe you and someone you mentor.
In our Contagious Christian class this past week we talked about things like this. How can we proclaim God’s message of forgiveness to our friends, neighbors and family in a non-threatening manner. Many here do that now by delivering meals on wheels, by gathering supplies for the military, by creating blankets to go to people who have suffered disaster. I want to encourage that behavior and say thank you. Keep up the good work. To those that aren’t involved, get involved!
John was one crying out in the wilderness, a single voice, he wanted God’s people to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah. John said, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” John helped prepare people for life.
We can never be too prepared for life. A couple of weeks ago I was on my way to a Rejoice Conference cluster meeting. Right in front of me, less than 100 yards away a small car, relatively new, swerves off the road to the right, goes up the embankment, crashes into a tree, which flips the car around and sends it back toward the street.
There’s no danger for me, as the car comes back down the embankment, it does not go into the roadway. I jump out of my car, dial 911, and go to the car to see if anyone is hurt. There is a young girl in the front sit, all alone, blood running from her forehead. Her car was so smashed she couldn’t get out. The police came, immediately then the ambulance and she was whisked away to the hospital. In an instant, her whole life changed, this could be us, it could have been me.
Are you prepared for life? John said repent and be baptized. Life can be over very quickly if we lose our way, if we take our eye off the road, if we don’t stay focused. What will your headline be for this next week? People unprepared for the Advent of Christmas……
This Advent, God wants you to be prepared for life. How? Getting prepared for life involves accepting God’s grace. It involves repenting of sin and allowing Christ to ready our hearts for new birth. It’s not complicated, but yet it is because it requires us to let go and let God
When Luther realized that our God is a God of love, not wrath, his heart was moved, he was transformed. After a short time of silence we will be singing a hymn that reflects some of the effervescence of Advent. Turn to page 886 and look at some of the word. Please meditate on some of these magnificent phrases before we sing this hymn.
Amen!
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