John, Jesus & You

Are America’s problems societal or singular? Are necessary changes systemic or personal? Should our prayers and activism be focused upon institutions or individuals?

They and them become opposition to we and us. I’ve noticed a trend in recent unrest. The angst is rarely specific or individual, but, rather, ambiguous and unactionable.

I could cite examples from Occupy Wall Street, the Black Lives Matter organization, Hands Up, Don’t Shoot organizers, Antifa, alt-right groups, alt-left groups, militias, local, state and national politicians who are all looking for broad, systemic remedies to their grievances.

If economic, racial, and ideological tensions are not example enough, now we have health mandates with expectations placed upon large populations with disregard for individual health status. Whether a person is infected or not, businesses, churches, stadiums are expected to not gather. Whether a person is contagious or not, masks and distance are being normalized.

I do think there are challenges for poor individuals that those with access to wealth do not have to deal. I do think that there are people who pre-judge others based upon skin color or cultural clothing. I do believe that a contagious virus is present and spreading in many places on earth.

My premise is that the way to counter big problems in large part depends upon individual choices and personal responsibility.

If a person wants to attend a peaceful demonstration, political rally, restaurant, nail salon or church service, there are personal choices that can mitigate the spread of disease. It shouldn’t require a systemic rule or policy for people to make decisions that protect themselves and others.

Our text today gives specific examples of personal challenge when people were waiting for systemic changes.

Leaders Come & Go (vv.1-6)

Politicians (vv.1-2a)

1. Remember, Luke is compiling this gospel after the events had happened and so he is setting this event within a particular political environment.

a. Tiberius Caesar was not the Caesar Augustus who ordered the census at Christ’s birth.

b. The Herod Antipas of v.1 is not Herod the Great who order the execution of children <= 2 years old.

c. The mention of tetrarchs is an acknowledgement that a region that previously had 1 ruler was now divided into lesser regions.

d. Annas was High Priest until about 15 AD, Caiaphas did not ascend until 3 years later. Commentators believe that Annas was no longer in the role, but that he was a strong personality who was working behind the scenes to continue his agenda. Actually Annas was Caiaphas’ Father-in-law so the likelihood of influence is even greater.

There are many influencers in both parties who are not in the White House, yet continue to hold influence. Their influence is so great I only have to give their last name: Clinton, Obama, Cheney, Gingrich.

Prophecy (vv2b-6)

1. The way things are is not the way things should be. Notice John’s message was summarized by repentance and forgiveness. These are not necessary when things are as they should be.

2. The quote from Isaiah 40:3-5 spoke of the coming Day of the Lord when unjust situations would be made just.

3. When a king traveled the desert, workmen preceded him to clear debris and smooth out the roads to make his trip easier.[i]

A month ago, Ann and I were vacationing around Branson. If you’ve been there in the last 15 years you will notice that there are highways that did not exist 25 years ago. Roads that used to wind around the hills and cut through the valleys have been replaced with 4-6 lane expressways. These expressways have been made by cutting into the sides of mountains and filling the valleys with rock so that “straight” roads could be built to sustain faster speeds

I’ve seen the same practice in the Colorado Rockies and the Austrian Alps.

4. This is the picture that Isaiah paints and John retells—making ready the road for anticipated change.

A Bridge to the Present

· Vv.1-6 could be summarized as “when things weren’t great, John reminded people to get ready for better days”

Please don’t accuse me of blasphemy! I know the difference between our God and a president. But verses 1-6 are kind of John’s way of saying “Build Back Better” or “Make Jerusalem Great Again”.

Transition: In a time filled with many injustices, John presents 3 challenges to those looking for Messiah to come.

John’s Ministry (vv.7-20)

Proper Baptism—repent first! (vv.7-9)

1. The big point of these verses is hypocrisy. The crowd claimed to be privileged as descendants of Abraham. They thought adding baptism to their spiritual transcript couldn’t hurt anything.

2. V.8 says repentance and fruits are most important.

3. Brood of vipers – I always thought a brood referred to a group (as in herd of cattle or flock of birds) kind of like the brood of vipers in the Indiana Jones movie. It wasn’t until I was reading this week that I learned brood refers to a group of offspring. It would be bad enough if they were vipers, but the emphasis is that vipers were their source, which sure carries Eden implications.

4. While stones producing children seems strange to us, it is a play on - the Aramaic words for “sons” (bebnayyam) and “stones” (abnayyam) are similar.[ii]

5. John implies that baptism won’t do any good without good fruit.

Prescribed Behavior (vv.10-14)

1. John answers 3 questions: first from the crowds, next from tax collectors, and finally soldiers.

a. The crowds ask a plural question in v.10, but John gives a singular answer – generosity (v.11)

b. Notice that in making the response voluntary and personal, he is not saying that they should rely on social agency or governmental force – it is individual acts of kindness.

2. Tax collectors were generally despised not only for collecting taxes (that nobody likes to pay), but for being in cooperation with the Romans whom they despised.

· In response to their question, John told them to be honest (v. 13).

3. These “soldiers” are most likely Jewish security detail assigned to the Tax collectors. John’s advice for them is to avoid any shake downs and to be content (v. 14)

4. John did not advocate a radical social upheaval, but insisted on moral principles that would lead to the transformation of society from within rather than by violent revolution.[iii]

Priority Bestowed (vv.15-17)

1. After confronting the crowd’s religiosity and poor ethics, they begin to wonder if he may be the promised one (Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Messiah)

2. John uses a metaphor that they would have carried cultural power.

3. The untying of a sandal was the duty of a slave for his master. Although Jewish disciples were expected to perform a range of menial tasks for their masters—anything a slave would do—the rabbis specifically exempted them from this as too degrading. Even Hebrew slaves were exempted from this task. Yet John says he is unworthy even to carry out this lowly duty.[1]

4. Washing a guests feet was an expected act of hospitality that was usually done by a servant. Offering oil for sun dried skin was a common act of honor for dinner guests, but untying a sandal was deplorable. And John says he is not even worthy of this detestable act.

5. John participated in a baptism of repentance, but spoke of the one to follow as one who would bestow power and judgment.

Punishment & Beheading (vv.18-20)

1. Dr. Luke doesn’t go into detail here regarding John’s imprisonment and execution because he will pick it up again in chapter 9 where it fits into the flow of his story.

2. John’s message of repentance was received by many as good news (that forgiveness is available). But some hear a warning and respond defensively. Herod falls into this second group.

There are 2 times in my ministry when I had to face-to-face confront a person about breaking his marriage vows.

In the first instance, the man denied it, stormed off angrily and has not spoken to me since.

In the 2nd situation (8 days ago in another community in another state), the man confessed, we prayed, cried and hugged each other as we talked about forgiveness and starting the path to rebuild trust.

3. The first man responded like v.20. The latest man responded like v.18 – seeing the confrontation as an exhortation and good news.

4. In verse 18 the Holy Spirit brings repentance. In verse 20 the flesh brings suffering.

Transition: Following a rather brief summary of John’s 2 year public ministry, Luke gives us just 2 verses that will launch the following chapters describing Jesus’ 3 year public ministry.

Jesus’ Baptism (vv.21-22)

John has just spoken of Jesus’ superiority (vv.16-17)

The rest of the Trinity authenticates Jesus’ uniqueness (v.22)

1. Jesus did not ask to be baptized because he had any sin that needed repentance.

2. Jesus was not baptized as an identification with humanity – He was distinct as the divine God-man.

3. I believe Jesus’ baptism was a symbol of surrender.

a. In repentance the crowds were saying, “In baptism I repent of my past (going under the water) and surrender to God’s plan for my life (coming out of the water).”

b. Since Jesus had no past requiring repentance, he was only doing the second half. But since he couldn’t come out of the water without first going under the water, he did the whole rite.

4. As a public proclamation that initiates His soon to begin ministry, Jesus enters the water to tell those watching that he surrenders to the Father’s authority.

5. The Father then authenticates the relationship through voice and the Holy Spirit signifies the blessing in the form of a dove. All three members of the Godhead b-participating in the launch of Jesus’ mission.

6. I like the way Chuck Swindoll writes, “In the muddy Jordan waters, the Trinity appeared appeared before all humanity. You could see the Spirit. You could hear the Father. You could touch the Son.”[iv]

7. I said last week that Jesus from the moment of his conception was fully God and fully man. Not that he was fully man and later became God. V.22 is a clear statement of this truth. The are in You are my beloved Son is not “have become”. Contrary to later Latin manuscripts, God says, “in you I take great delight”. It isn’t until centuries later in a different language that we begin to find copies that quote Ps. 2:7 and says “today I have fathered you.”

Psalm 2:7 ESV:2016

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

8. It is this later attempt to find a prophecy fulfilled that initiates the heretical teaching that there was any time on earth when Jesus was anything less than full God and full man.

Transition: I started this message by talking about the difference between societal shift and personal change. In the last few minutes, I’d like to suggest some specific change that may be of benefit to you.

Conclusion:

Your Response

Those who make an impact must not fear standing alone.

1. Nothing about John gives any hint that he was driven by political correctness or popularity polls.

2. Where others had compromised, he remained true.

Change is noticeable when it is specific

1. There is nothing wrong with a resolution to “be kind”

2. Many are calling today for those with privilege to “stop being racist”. What does that look like?

Friday of this week I watched a 1979 movie about a woman in Baltimore. The main character was Jean Stapleton (who played Edith Bunker in All in the Family). Aunt Mary was everything that Archie Bunker was not: She put together a little league baseball team from kids in the neighborhood whom the respectable citizens has written off. She included an amputee, an African American boy, and a girl.

3. The general idea of “don’t be prejudice” is hard to understand. But the concrete example of “include the disabled kid, the minority child, and the little girl on your team” is easy to identify.

Standing for change may lead to misunderstanding and opposition.

· Throughout history, men and women like John have dared to speak the truth and many have faced real and painful consequences. It may be the same for us.

Jesus modeled submission and was authenticated as God’s only Son

1. Submission is not a popular trait today, it is much more common to assert one’s independence. Submission, when it does not violate God’s Word, reflect the character of Christ.

2. The exclusivity of Jesus as the only way to the Father is even less common than willing submission to another. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another person about whom God spoke and said “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased”.

[1] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 356.

[i] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 211.

[ii] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 355.

[iii] I. Howard Marshall, “Luke,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 986.

[iv] Charles R. Swindoll, The Origination of Something Glorious, (Anaheim, CA: Insight for Living, 1994), 80.