Another week of sermon preparation that engaged me. I have been going for a run once a week (I do other workouts the other days), and I think it has helped my sermon preparation. As I run, I think through the sermon, and if write down my thoughts when I return, it helps in the sermon process.
I've always liked preaching the John the Baptist story. This is the first time I have noticed (or it has made a difference in my thinking) that Matthew is the only gospel that mentions the Pharisees and Sadducees specifically in this story (mark and Luke only talk about the crowds). I also found it very interesting that the NRSV and NIV translations differed in how they presented the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the river. that information added to the sermon content.
“Surprising Appeal” December 4, 2022; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Denton; Matthew 3: 1-12; Richard B. Culp
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” ’
4Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the axe is lying at 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 one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
Introduction: one of the things I like about watching TV at this time of year is the new commercials that have a holiday theme to them - like the Prudential character who causes the Christmas tree to catch on fire and burn the house down. Thus, the need for insurance.
Have you seen that new commercial on tv where the camera closes in on a guy standing there in what looks like a leather swimsuit with hair all over it? It looks kind of like an ad for a remake of the movie “George of the Jungle.”
He’s standing there with honey in one hand and a locust in the other. I figure this is going to be a commercial for a company that makes honey because I don’t think the edible locust industry does much advertising.
Then, the guy shouts: “you brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
Have you seen that commercial?
I didn’t think so. John the Baptist is not commercial material.
But, surprisingly enough, people are coming to River Jordan to hear John and be baptized by John
Move 1: As we reflect on surprises in the stories leading up to Christ’s birth, one of the big surprises for me is that people are coming out to the Jordan River to see and hear John.
a. What is so appealing about John the Baptist?
1. He’s not giving away Christmas gifts or singing Christmas carols or telling sentimental Christmas stories.
2. He is baptizing — he is enacting a tradition of water baptism that comes from the Jewish tradition for those who convert to Judaism. (https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunday-of-advent/commentary-on-matthew-31-12-3)
3. In other words, he’s doing a liturgical act from church don at the river and people are flocking to him.
4. And he’s calling people to repent.
5. And he is announcing that some, including the leaders of Judaism, are a brood of vipers.
b. Why are people showing up in droves for baptism or a call to repentance?
1. We have this image that people are standing in line on the river banks just so they can get what John the Baptist is offering.
2. Would you show up?
Move 2: I suspect we know why they show up?
People keep showing up because they want more for their lives
a. John the Baptist appeals to people because they want to confess their sins.
1. They want to name that which they have done wrong,
2. To name it so they can move on in their lives.
3. to name it so it no longer holds power over them
b. John the Baptist appeals to people looking for a change
1. We remember the word repentance comes from the Greek metanoia, which means to think again, to think anew, to have a change of mind, a change of consciousness….
2. the heart of the word repentance means turning around, starting over, taking another direction, choosing another course
3. Repentance is about the imagination; it’s the ability to dream a new dream. It’s about seeing differently….repentance invites us to shift our imagination to see a new pattering, to see the light sometimes hidden in the dark 0 to open ourselves to the joy, and liberating surprises of God (Betsy Swetenberg, Those Who dream…Prepare the Way, Journal for Preachers, Volume XLVI, Number 1, Advent, 2022, 11, 12)
4. Repentance is less about the direction you have been going, and more about the direction you are now heading.
5. Repentance, in short, is realizing that God is pointing you one way, that you’ve been traveling another way, and changing course. …(http://www.davidlose.net/2016/11/advent-2-a-reclaiming-repentance/; David Lose, ….in the meantime blog)
6. People show up to hear John’s call to repentance because they want to imagine new possibilities.
c. Preacher and professor Tom Long notes that “If John the Baptist had only cried “Repent!” he would have been wasting his breath.
1. John points people to the kingdom of heaven.
2. John points people to Jesus Christ.
3. People keep showing up because they have the desire for something new in their lives.
to be part of something new God is doing in the world.
Move 3: At least three groups of people show up at the River Jordan to join John in the waters of baptism.
a. The group of people who know they want what John has to offer.
1. They have looked over their lives and decided they needed something more.
2. So they come to confess, repent, and be baptized.
b. The Pharisees and Sadducees make up the second group.
1. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible that we read this morning has a generous translation that reads as if the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism.
2. The New International Version has a more accurate translation that simply notes the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to “where he was baptizing,” not necessarily to be baptized.
3. they show up to watch,
maybe take some notes,
or sit in judgment,
or check out a competitor,
and prepare the case against John the Baptist.
4. Maybe they were changed by the experience. Maybe not.
c. I also imagine a third group — those who just happened to be there or had wandered down because they heard others were gathering there.
1. They do not know their own need for change and new life, or at least they have not admitted it.
2. But they are there, too, hearing the call to confess, repent, and be baptized.
Conclusion: Not matter why they were there, those at the River Jordan heard John’s appeal.
Confess your sins.
Repent.
Be baptized.
Change your direction and go toward the kingdom of heaven,
go toward the one who is coming,
Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Does that sound like something you want;
something you need;
Something surprisingly appealing to you?
❤️
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