Advent Devotions: Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

(This may sound familiar to some of you, but for others it may spark some new thoughts...)

Have you ever played a game on an unlevel playing field? I don’t mean the field itself was not level, as if it sloped from one end to the other. I mean that the rules of the game weren’t level! Doesn't it seem like sometimes in life there are many who are playing by a different set of rules? Be kind to me, but I don't have to be kind to you. Tolerate my views, but I don't have to be respectful and try to understand yours. Imagine we are all in a hurdle race: all the contestants have 30” hurdles, which are the low ones, all except you that is. Yours are the high hurdles (39”!). How are you feeling standing at the starting line, looking down the track at your lane versus everyone else's? (Did you just say in your mind, "That's not fair!"?

What is a level playing field? It is a situation where there is fairness for all involve; there are the same opportunities for everyone and all participants play by the same rules. We're not dumb. We're not blind. We know that that does not exist in this world! The playing field of life is never level - and we've learned to deal with that and frankly it no longer surprises us. 

The Word of the Lord came to Isaiah (Ch. 40) and John the Baptist (a voice crying in thew wilderness) saying, "Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain will be made low; the crooked roads will be straightened and the rough places will be made level and smooth." Imagine one of those giant grader trucks coming in like they do when they are putting in a new highway. Dirt from the hills is used to fill in the valleys. They create a level playing field, so to speak. This is the promise of the Kingdom of God - in God's kingdom there is fairness and equity for all people! Jesus demonstrated this with his life on earth, AND he was harshly criticized for it:

Why does your master eat with sinners and tax collectors? Prostitutes and lepers! He could be hanging out with the "important" people!

Why does your teacher care more for the poor than he does for hanging out with the religious elite?

Why does the Nazarene pull children, CHILDREN, onto his lap when he could be rubbing elbows with the scribes and teachers of the law?

In the kingdom of God all people are equal and have equal access to most important gifts of forgiveness, grace, mercy, and new life. This is not based on any of the categories that we normally assign to status - wealth, position, beauty, talent, charisma. It is purely based on God’s love for us! This free gift of grace is offered to all who want it!

John tells us how to live this same kind of "level playing field" in our lives, following after Jesus who showed us the way:  if you have 2 coats (or 10), give one away;  if you have food, share it with someone who has very little. As those called by the Holy Spirit to follow Christ, we are a huge part of ushering in the Kingdom of God! It is our responsibility ( yes, RESPONSIBILITY) to care for, look after, give sacrificially of time, talent and resources to those who are playing on a less-level field. We also have the responsibility to encourage them to learn new ways to advocate for themselves through education and applied wisdom. 

Holy God, you have called us to be a part of the kingdom that you are ushering in, where all people are loved and cared for, and no one gets left out. Help us to see ways in which we can use our lives to assist those who have many unmet needs. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Photo credit: Robb (morgue file)