Month: December 2021

³¹ “To what will I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace calling out to each other, ‘We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn’t cry.’ ³³ John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ Yet the Human One came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ ³⁵ But wisdom is proved to be right by all her descendants.” (Luke 7:31-35, CEB)

It seems no matter what we do someone will be upset. That is life, and that is shown here.

John didn’t eat or drink and they said he had a demon and Jesus came eating and drinking and he is a glutton and a drunk. So neither of them made the religious folk happy.

It seems religious folk are really only happy when they get their way which is always, however, they want it at that point in time. And that isn’t how any of this works.

God is in control, not us. We need to love everyone and allow God to be God.

Loving People. Loving God.

⁷ Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? ⁸ Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.” ¹⁰ The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ¹¹ He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.” ¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” ¹³ He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.” ¹⁴ Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?” He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.” ¹⁵ The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ. ¹⁶ John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming. I’m not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.” ¹⁸ With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people. (Luke 3:7-18, CEB)

You brood of vipers who told you to flee from the judgment that is coming! That is the version from the NRSV, a great text to read and preach to a congregation.

We all wonder what we have to do when really there isn’t anything we can do to merit the kingdom. But we all should be people of integrity. Say what we mean, mean what we say and treat all people with honor and justice and hope.

We shouldn’t sheat or harass or do anything for unmerited gain. We need to be above reproach and love all people.

No one is worthy of the kingdom and yet we are all loved by God.

Let us be the light in the dark world that shows others how God is love and loves us where we are.

Loving People. Loving God.

⁵⁷ When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. ⁵⁹ On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name. ⁶⁰ But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.” ⁶¹ They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” ⁶² Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him. ⁶³ After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.” ⁶⁴ At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God. ⁶⁵ All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened. ⁶⁶ All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What then will this child be?” Indeed, the Lord’s power was with him. (Luke 1:57-66, CEB)

They wanted to name the child Zechariah after his father and they were confused when Elizabeth said his name would be John. But when Zechariah confirmed John as the name and then began to speak again after not being able to speak since seeing the angel in the inner sanctum of the temple.

That would make me go, what then will this kid be too!

When God has a plan, we will not get in the way.

God’s will will be done through us or in spite of us.

Do you get in the way or let God work through you?

Loving People. Loving God.

¹⁸ John’s disciples informed him about all these things. John called two of his disciples ¹⁹ and sent them to the Lord. They were to ask him, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?” ²⁰ When they reached Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you. He asks, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?’” ²¹ Right then, Jesus healed many of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to a number of blind people. ²² Then he replied to John’s disciples, “Go, report to John what you have seen and heard. Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled now walk. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. And good news is preached to the poor. ²³ Happy is anyone who doesn’t stumble along the way because of me.” ²⁴ After John’s messengers were gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? ²⁵ What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who dress in fashionable clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ He is the one of whom it’s written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you. ²⁸ I tell you that no greater human being has ever been born than John. Yet whoever is least in God’s kingdom is greater than he.” ²⁹ Everyone who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice because they had been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and legal experts rejected God’s will for themselves because they hadn’t been baptized by John. (Luke 7:18-30, CEB)

Hearing of the mysteries of Jesus, John the Baptist sent two of his followers to confirm the coming of the Messiah. So often in times of uncertainty, we plead for confirmation of things to come, especially around the holidays. Confirmation of package deliveries, travel plans, and final grades come whizzing towards us throughout advent, and with the beginning of a new year just around the corner, Christmas can come and go in the blink of an eye. We seek this conformation not because we lose faith in God, but often because we lose faith in ourselves. No matter what uncertainty sits before us we must remember that the Lord is with us, and his mercy is the only confirmation we need.

Loving People. Loving God.