2.1.5 12.29.2024 Matthew 3 A voice in the Wilderness (Gatherings)

Start:

Quick series overview: Matthew’s Gospel shall be our “home” for some time. Matthew’s Gospel is quoted more often in the early Church and more of the first Gospel falls into the category of “well known” than any other. Matthew seems to have gathered the stories of Jesus common to the earliest Church and organized them specifically for teaching. In spending so much time in Matthew we—you and I will be taught. I include myself, specifically to remind you that good preaching comes from good study, and study is good only if the student learns. We go on this journey of discovery together. I may lead but my goal is to do so as fellow learner.

Entice: We begin today, with a story that should be familiar. By a river.

Matthew 3:1–17 ESV

1 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.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

When I began in ministry we were taught, I forgot, and then rediscovered that appearance is important. Well dressed, well put together individuals at least present themselves as people to be taken seriously.

John took that lesson a different direction.

His appearance made an impression.

An impression I think was intentional.

He looked, ate, and spoke with a purpose. To appear quickly, gather Israel, get the mobs attention, and then point them to the one who came after him.

Engage: John was an eccentric. He was not “crazy”. There was a method to his madness and we see the outworking of his plan.

He calls Israel,

insists on repentance,

and turns their focus to Jesus.

Expand: John appears to Israel as a transitional figure.

His dress,

diet,

and

demeanor

are clearly linked to Israel’s prophetic past.

His declaration looks to the future.

His focus is on the one to come. He functions as a kind of advance man for Jesus. Matthew includes the quotation from Isaiah to make it clear. John’s own message demonstrates that he knows his role. Though disciples clearly gathered around him, his role was always to point to Jesus, and his message which anticipates Jesus, doesn’t really stand very well on its own. It lacks something. That deficiency is eliminated when Jesus comes, righteousness is fulfilled, and the Father sends the Spirit and speaks in confirmation.

Excite: At some point in our life, we all stand, open-mouthed on the riverbank as John demurs to Jesus, they go into the water and “righteousness is fulfilled.” The issue for us now is the same as it was then. Can we pivot, as John so clearly proclaimed, to Jesus.

Explore:

John clears the way so that we may now gather from the wilderness to respond to Jesus.

Expand: The indicators in the text show clearly that John’s purpose was to present Jesus to Israel.

Body of Sermon: The first indicator is that John

1 Assumes the place of a Prophet.

1.1 Appearance.

1.2 Actions.

1.3 Address.

The next indicator builds on John’s prophetic presence, he

2 Acted with Purpose.

2.1 Public.

“Immersion” in water was essential for purity in 2nd Temple Judaism. John could have conducted his Baptism’s in any village, in Jerusalem, in the Lake—virtually anywhere.

2.1.1 Why the Jordan? Why in such a public place.

2.1.2 To create the very stir he created. To generate publicity. To be found by Jesus.

2.2 Provocative.

2.2.1 He confronts the spiritual leadership of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

2.2.2 He implies that there was no security to being a “son of Abraham”.

2.2.3 In makes it clear that Judgement was not just for “outsiders” but them as well.

The final indication of John’s mission is that he

3 Announced a Promise.

3.1 Another who is mightier.

3.2 Another who brings the Spirit.

3.3 Another who fulfills all righteousness.

3.4 Another who is intimately empowered by the Father.

Shut Down

You might be wondering “How are we to respond to John?” The answer is so simple it can be easily missed. We’re not supposed to respond to John. John’s message was “Get ready for Jesus…respond to HIM!” God’s endorsement of Jesus was that Jesus is His instrument of loving redemption. People sometimes still miss the point.

We like eccentrics. We like giving our attention to the occasional “odd-ball”—even madmen! It is not uncommon to turn our faith into a “Where’s Waldo” looking for someone to be the next dessert performer with an odd diet and bizarre appearance. Don’t give in to the temptation, don’t miss the point.

John’s point was not “listen to me!” His point was “Listen to Jesus!” We gather every Lord’s day to give attention to Jesus, God’s Son, the beloved whom the Father was pleased to send to our rescue.

John consents to Baptize Jesus because it was the right thing to do, the right example and the perfect start for Jesus’ public ministry. Some wait and wait to make that decision. John has pointed to Jesus. The Church has proclaimed Jesus. Sometimes each of us stands at the edge of the wilderness and must decide to do the one, right, good thing. The Baptistry beckons—no one forbids. Maybe it is right for us to begin the story of Jesus today where we first see Him in public…entering the water to do the right thing.