Luke 3:15-18
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
It’s a curious thing, when you think about it. John scolds these people, warns them, insults them, and then gives them work to do…. And in response they begin to wonder if he’s the Messiah!
What’s going on here? Is this their picture of what “messiah” is? I don’t think so. Rather, I think John has told them the truth – about how they fall short, about their fears and concerns, and the need to repent and seek forgiveness, and finally about the very real good they can do all around them.
The Messiah, they believe, should above all else tell you the truth, and because John does this they wonder if perhaps he might be the One.
And so John tells them the truth again – he is not the One. The Messiah is coming, John says, and you will know who he is by the fact that he baptizes not just with water but with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Spirit, that is, that burns away our sin and selfishness and leaves new people behind.
And the people receive this news – the truth about their condition, the truth about God’s invitation to repentance and forgiveness, the truth about the One coming who will burn away the old and dying for the sake of new life, and the truth about all they can do in the meantime – the people receive this as good news.
Would we?
Dear God: Let us hear in the ministry and preaching of John the Baptist the truth of Word that burns away sin, grants forgiveness, and sets us free to care for each other as we await final redemption in and through your Messiah. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I’m reminded of the overused line from the movie “A Few Good Men” where he says, “You can’t handle the truth.” I think preachers and politicians often can’t handle people not handling the truth. That’s why we don’t say the hard words. We could use some prophetic audacity.