Mission & Ministry is always preparing the way

9 December 2007

Matthew 3:1-12

Advent is a joyous season of preparation but, at the same time, for those in the Christian community, it ought to have a penitential theme. This is not an attempt to make the season ‘sombre’ but, as we examine the way in which Jesus comes to fulfil the long-desired promise of God, we see ourselves as we are. You join us in the Wesley Theatre as we focus on John the Baptist, a prominent figure in the season – and also identifying a link with Christian service as we have acknowledged the importance of such earlier in the service.

John saw his ministry as that of preparing God’s people for the coming Messiah. There could be extended discussion with regard to the relationship between John’s view of the Messiah and the Person of Jesus Christ – but it seems clear that John’s role as ‘preparer of the way’ is indisputable. Now in Matthew’s gospel the forerunner of Jesus puts in a sudden appearance – as distinct from Luke, where the relationship between Jesus and John is explained. John is introduced with no background information, no biography, much like Elijah of old. (1 Kings 17:1)

Alexander MacLaren said, “John leapt, as it were, into the arena, full-grown and full-armed.”

John was a great man in every sense and his greatness in relation to the kingdom of God is explained by Matthew: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” However, Jesus continues, “yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)

This does not in any way minimise the significance of John the Baptist, but helps us to see his pivotal role in the unfolding story of God’s people.

Josephus, the Jewish historian, confirms the mission and ministry of John when he praises John’s piety and religious leadership and notes that Herod did away with him out of fear that political upheaval might result from John’s ministry. (Antiquities 18.5.2)

All four gospels present the ministry of John the Baptist as the preparation of the nation for Jesus’ ministry.

Live life on the edge for the Kingdom of God is always near

John came preaching (v.3) – the word literally means ‘to be a herald, to proclaim’. When Jesus came into the Galilee in Mark, he likewise came ‘proclaiming’ – for Jesus it was: ‘The time has come, the Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:15). A ‘herald’ is like one who stood out in front of an army to make an announcement or someone walking in front of the procession to declare who was coming.

John lived his life on the edge – and we also have to do so, because the Kingdom is always imminent. The character of the Kingdom is that it has drawn close to us. John lived in the wilderness – the ‘Desert of Judea’ and his attire paints a vivid picture. (v.4)

John fearlessly denounced what he believed to be wrong. He would do this even with regard to Herod and this would eventually cost him his life. He called people to a life which would please God.

From the arid comes a message of abundant life (v.1)

The discipline of John’s life is reflected in his ascetic lifestyle – his home, his food and his clothes. We see him for who he is, as he brings a powerful message for all to hear. He is always far more than a man living in solitude with an alternative lifestyle. It was not only his way of life that communicated itself with integrity, but also what he said, calling people to a new possibility which is always the way of God.

John’s message is not ‘one-sided’ – for he declares a message of ‘repentance’ – but it is also one of glorious preparation for the ‘Coming One”. Streams of refreshment, healing and abundance flow from the arid desert of Judea. The content of John’s message is exactly the same as the initial message of Jesus. To the demand for repentance, John adds the apocalyptic announcement of the imminence of the kingdom.

The last of the old becomes the first of the new (v.11)

The description of John’s dress, the power of his preaching and his preparation for the Messiah all point to the ‘prophetic’. After four hundred years of silence, the prophetic voice is heard once again. John called for attitudes which avoided the dangers of wealth and rank. He talked about bearing fruit by saying that bad trees have to be brought down. “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire.”

John was not only the last of a great prophetic line – but the first of a new and living way. He was unafraid of the Scribes and Pharisees who came to the place where he was baptising. He called them “You brood of vipers!” He challenged what was wrong and made way for the One who would follow, as he declared “He will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (v.11)

Douglas Hare wrote, “The Christian equivalent of ‘We have Abraham as our father’ is ‘We have Christ as our Saviour.’” John the Baptist is the prophet who points the way.

Repentance leads to hope and peace (v.v. 12 and 16)

Matthew sees John the Baptist almost as if he were Elijah brought to life. Both were sent by God to prepare the way. George Buttrick explained: “By changing the conditions that make difficult the entrance of Christ – by lifting the valleys (the poverty that embitters and gnaws) and lowering the hills (the wealth that leaves people in blind pride), by smoothing the rough road (the desolate hardship, the canker of the soul) by fulfilling …” The fulfillment of this very program is our mission, which brings hope and peace.

John was a stern realist about what was right and wrong – and the crowds would pour out to listen to what he had to say.

The ‘winnowing fork’ lifts the corn and chaff into the air, where the wind separates them; and the threshing-floor is cleared. You can see how his message relates to what must go, as well as what is to stay!

John sets a pattern for all of us – and the desert means far more than a geographical location – it represents a hostile and ominous place. Jesus entered this place (4:1) immediately following his Baptism by John (3:13-16).

Live life in the understanding that we are only ever part of the story

John the Baptist is the fearless prophet who did not compromise his message, but even then he was not as radical as Jesus. He admonished the people and told them they needed to repent, change their ways and reverse the direction of their lives. Jesus, however, insisted that we die to self, take up our cross and follow him. Recognising we are always part of a larger picture is important, because it gives us a proper perspective. John the Baptist declared the most momentous news possible and the way the crowds flocked to him indicated there was a spiritual unease and a readiness to change.

At centre stage, we lose the wider story

John the Baptist is one who never saw himself as the star of the show. Just recently here in Sydney we attended the theatre to watch Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” – by very nature, they are one-person performances – a rare animal indeed! Most of us don’t have the stage of life to ourselves; we must relate to the whole story.

In past months, across the whole of Wesley Mission, we have introduced a concept of Joined Up Thinking and Practice, which demonstrates exactly the same point. It is only as we see ourselves in relation to others that we succeed in the role we have to play.

Clement of Rome explained: “The great cannot exist without the less, nor the less without the great.”

Pointing to the Christ is our distinctive calling

Our role is not simply one of obedience, but of definite witness. We observe John the Baptist when he saw Jesus coming towards him: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) John the Baptist had a message which pointed to Jesus Christ and called all to awaken from their own smugness in order to change their ways. His message was disturbing and demanding to all who heard it! It is a call to clear Christian witness, which points away from ourselves.

Ralph Waldo Emerson alerts us to a danger: “What you are shouts so loud in my ears I cannot hear what you say.”

We make ourselves available to be used by God

John the Baptist lifts our sights. William Sloan Coffin articulated the danger of not lifting our horizon when he said, “The church is full of people who are seeking that which they have already found and only want to become that which they already are.”

John’s whole purpose was to lay the foundations and prepare the way for the coming of Jesus.

John 3: 22-30 opens up this theme and comes to a climax in v.30: “He must become greater; I must become less.” John’s simplicity of lifestyle speaks volumes … Salvation did not lie in the desert community or in a particular take on religion or life, but in the Person of Jesus Christ.

We are only part of the story, but our commitment to the whole is significant at all times. Belonging to the wider picture is not a place of weakness or non-commitment. It was Dante who said, “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” John the Baptist was always part of the bigger picture, but that did not make him neutral!

Live life by the certain truth of God's ultimate purpose

We have just had a Federal Election here in Australia and we shall soon be demanding to know what each ministry has to offer by way of their objectives. Roads and infrastructure are always considered important. Michael Green writes: “In ancient Palestine, roads were simply tracks on the hard-baked earth, apart from the occasional highway built for prestige purposes by some king. These roads were built by the king’s command and kept in order as the king required for journeys he was going to make. Then local inhabitants would be ordered to prepare the king’s highway for him.” This is how John saw his mission.

Repentance is a key in receiving God’s grace

In the Book of Psalms we have a splendid collection of the Songs of God, which reach into our daily lives, both individual and as a community. One of the most intensely personal has to be Psalm 51. It always feels as though it is best suited for personal devotion. In it we read, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart …” (Psalm 51:17) You have to unpack the sad parts of David’s life to grasp the full meaning of the psalm, but it has an application for us all.

Charles Simeon wrote, “One of the most fundamental marks of true repentance is a disposition to see our sins as God sees them.”

Our difficulty in this concept of repentance is that it seems so out of tune with our twenty-first century culture and viewed as part of a religion that has run its course. But at its core, repentance is acknowledging and turning away from what is wrong – and nothing could be more relevant than that!

Renewal is discovering God’s power to restore

Repentance moves us on to renewal. As we turn, so we open ourselves up to the possibilities of new life.

I once heard it said that our lives should be so lived that the minister can tell the truth about us at our funeral. If there are aspects of our life we know have been wrong, then they need to be dealt with.

We may have been unkind to others and lacking in generosity of spirit and practice.
We may have been critical of the good efforts of others and carping in our analysis of situations.
We may have been judgemental when people have made mistakes.

It is in these specific areas that renewal will burst into our personal lives to reveal the transforming power of God.

It is only a few years ago that electricity was introduced to some of the remoter areas of Western Ireland. Max Lucado tells the story of a lady who had a small house on the seashore of Ireland. She was quite wealthy, but also very frugal. People were surprised, then, when she decided to have electricity in her home. Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well and she assured him it was. “I’m wondering if you can explain something to me,” he said. “Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?” “Certainly,” she answered. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn them off.”

She tapped into power, but did not use it. Let’s not be satisfied with living in the shadows.

Requirements naturally follow God’s gracious work

John’s message was a call to a new life and a willingness not to be satisfied with a repaired and patched-up old life. The new life was available through the grace of Jesus Christ.

John is introduced by name and location, by his activity and message – but, most significant of all, as one who fulfilled the promise of Isaiah and Malachi.
We live in a world where we are attracted by highly charismatic characters. His lifestyle and haircut seemed to be as much part of the attraction as his skills in the field. People came to John the Baptist for various reasons – curiosity, political interest or spiritual hunger. Thomas Gray wrote, “From his lips the truth prevailed with double sway; and fools who came to scoff, remained to pray.”

David Essex, the actor, singer and composer, was born in the East End of London and his career moved swiftly, notch by notch. In 1971 he starred in “Godspell” at the Roundhouse Theatre before moving to Wyndham’s in the West End. I remember listening to him say to a group of young people that playing in “Godspell” was so fundamentally different from anything he had ever done before. He commented that when he looked out at the audience, he sensed that people were looking through him and even beyond him!

John the Baptist was a powerful character, an amazingly direct preacher/prophet, a great leader – but, most importantly, he called people to acknowledge the Messiah who had at last come in the Person of Jesus Christ.
So as we journey through Advent, we don’t want to throw a wet blanket upon the bright colours of the season – but we acknowledge the cost to God, who became part of our human arena as Saviour of the World.

Christian Life