Joy at the Coming of the Christ

Joy at the Coming of the Christ
Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley
December 15th, 2024
Luke 3:7-18

Last week we explored how the ministry of John the Baptist announced the coming of the Christ of God, first through connections to the Hebrew Bible prophetic book of Isaiah and then through the call on the part of the Baptizer to those listening to repent of their sins. We spoke of the reality that all of us have fallen short in some capacity and the repentance of which John speaks is the restoration of the intended relationship whether it be within ourselves, in an interpersonal relationship, or in our relationship with the Divine. Our motivation should be, according to John in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah, to repair the damaged relationships through repentance, reflecting on our growing edges in those relationships and seeking to make amends to the best of our ability.

The lectionary text for today picks up immediately where we left off last week with more of the Baptizer’s teachings. Luke’s account is interesting with its treatment of John the Baptist. Obviously, this figure is an important one within Christianity and within the telling of the Gospel story of Jesus of Nazareth as he is mentioned in all four accounts as one whose ministry and work precede the ministry and work of Jesus. Luke, though, is the only account which makes a familial connection between John the Baptizer and Jesus of Nazareth. Further, Luke provides a teaching from John the Baptist which sounds similar to many of the teachings of his cousin, Jesus. Verses 10-14, the middle and largest section of our reading for this morning, holds a passage which is unique to Luke and offers some very specific teachings from John the Baptist regarding specific individuals and how it is that they might prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah. People with excess should share in their excess with those who have less, tax collectors should collect no more than their prescribed amount, and soldiers should be content with their wages and not extort people for more.

These teachings, specifically the teachings regarding the tax collectors actually go beyond even Jesus’ teachings on the matter when he confronts Zacchaeus. However, Jesus does teach that everyone should love their enemies and avoid doing evil. No doubt, something on the mind of John the Baptist as he continues his teaching in this larger passage in chapter 3. We also see a continuation of the themes in Luke in regard to the flipping of the societal norms on their heads. Here John is targeting the powerful; those with excess, those who represent a government which takes too much, and those who extort through force. John pulls no punches which ruffles the feathers of those in power which we may take note of as it lies just beyond our reading in vv.18-20.

As a brief aside while mentioning a passage beyond our reading, Luke omits mentioning that John actually baptizes Jesus, something a teacher might do to a disciple. This may be connected to the last portion of our reading for this morning where some begin to wonder about John’s identity. Could this fiery preacher from the wilderness be the Messiah? To some, it may seem so. However, for Luke John is not the Messiah, though he plays an integral part in the Gospel regarding the Messiah. John’s role is to prepare the way. To make smooth the rough road ahead and ensure that those who hear his message recognize that there is someone who is coming who is going to shake up the world. He states as much in the passage when he says that his ministry is limited to that which is here and now and highlights that the ministry of the coming Messiah is supernatural and accompanied by the Holy Spirit with fire and wind; an allusion to the coming Pentecost following the death and resurrection accounts of Jesus in Luke’s larger narrative.

What does this do for us, on this the third Sunday of Advent? What do a brood of vipers have to do with the joy we experience during this season? If we are not careful when reading the teachings of John the Baptizer, we might easily come to a place of hopelessness as he talks of a looming judgement. However, an intentional reading offers more hope as John reveals that repentance is the way to go when faced with judgement from a Divine source. What does that mean? John provides his listeners a practical teaching in light of the coming Messiah; this one who brings hope, peace, and joy. It is joy in the reality that there is something which we can do in the here and now, seek repentance. Make right the wrongs which we have committed or to which we are privy. For those in power, whatever that power looks like, stop abusing the power which you wield was John’s message. This is repentance. Something which I must be aware of as a white-collared, straight, cis gendered, tall, broad, Christian, white male who lives in the southeastern United States, is that I hold a level of power which others do not necessarily hold because of the systems which have been in place, and many of which remain, throughout our collective history. John’s message is one of social responsibility and social justice. This is the joy to which we may cling during this season. We have been called to the difficult work of dismantling the unjust powers and systems in this world. The hope is that this was never the intention by God as Creator, Christ, or Holy Spirit. Our joy is in the hard work. It is often not work which fosters joy inherently. As the theme of peace continues to hold us aloft, let us reflect on our role as justice bringers filled with a supernatural joy that this was the intention, that we all, regardless of our divisions and differences, carry within ourselves the identity of a beloved child of God.