Scripture:
Matthew 3:1-12 NKJV
[1] In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, [2] and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” [3] For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” [4] Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him [6] and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, [9] and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. [10] And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto 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 fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Observation:
I love these few verses in the Bible. I actually see a lot of myself in John the Baptist. He was a rebel with a cause. Spoken about by the prophets way before he ever stepped foot on the earth, born into the world directly related to our LORD Jesus Christ, and full of the Holy Spirit inside his mother’s womb. In fact, the Bible says that when his mom came into the presence of Mary as they were both with child, he leapt for joy knowing that Mary was carrying the SAVIOR of the world. John was set aside, or to use a big churchy word, sanctified for the work of GOD. The thing about him is that he didn’t look the part of a religious leader. So when his ministry of baptism began he probably caught a lot of attention. I believe that it’s by no mistake that his description is placed in the Bible. The other thing that I’m sure is not a mistake is the boldness he had. He was the voice that would prepare the way for the LORD. That was spoken way before he was even placed in his mother’s womb, and in those days with the religious leaders that were in place boldness was needed. Satan had a stronghold on the community. The Jewish law was the only means of salvation. A law that was not only impossible to uphold but truly only a picture and foreshadowing of the coming Messiah. The very one who provoked John to jump in his mother’s womb. Now the religious leaders were described in the bible as well, however tge light they were painted in was not so friendly. In fact, John uses a few words here in the verses we have gotten the opportunity to read this morning. Words that uncovered some truth about the condition of their heart’s I believe what he said was “brewed of vipers.” That statement came along with a question about escaping the coming wrath. The stronghold that the enemy had blinded the Pharisees and Sadducees. They believed that they were an elite exclusive group. They wore the right clothes and said the right things, but even Jesus called them whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones. The words used to describe them… like I said they were not happy and friendly. They were bold and direct. John’s statement to them was no different. The sacrifice of bulls and goats would never honestly be enough to cover the multitude of sins that they did their best keep under the facade of religious appearances. Oh, sure, they looked the part, but their hearts were void of the underlying message preached throughout the entire Bible. A message of love and repentance. A message that called a sinner like King David a man after GOD’S own heart. King David gave us an amazing picture of what it looked like to have a heart for GOD. When he messed up, he fessed up, running to GOD and not from HIM. John’s message to these religious leaders was simple, “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” He was smashing their theology. “Do not think to say we are sons of Abraham.” Although Abraham was given a promise by GOD and that promise would certainly come through Abraham was not the SAVIOR. John’s cousin was, and HE wasn’t going to look accepted either. HE was not going to be raised in an ideal home with a picture-perfect mother and father. In fact I’m sure HIS mother was probably ridiculed. “Sure, Mary, we believe you, the spirit of GOD came down and had sex with you, and now you’re pregnant, wink, wink.” HE was considered in the eyes of most men to be an illegitimate child, and as HIS ministry began he had no place to lay his head. HE was homeless. Yet people loved HIM well everyone but the religious leaders. The foothold the the enemy had on their heart’s was strong.
Application:
I’m honestly grateful that GOD has painted a different picture. Religious appearance won’t get you there. HE runs so much deeper than that, and honestly, as we get closer and closer to HIS return. I’m sure we are going to see a lot more people who don’t look the part standing up and speaking boldly in the name of the LORD. Make no mistake HE is coming back. The Bible tells us to be careful as we deal with people. Because we may be entertaining an angel and be totally unaware of it. GOD sees our hearts. HE knows every dark corner, and that’s always been HIS concern. Do we love like Jesus? A man who looked past the prostitute into her heart, a man who looked past the rich young rulers possessions in to the deeper matters. We have to be very careful when we are looking at the outside of someone and judging their insides by it. We have all been broken even the beautiful people. Be careful if you are building a church of beautiful people. As I look at how amazing GOD is I honestly love the story HE has painted with my life. I believe that the ones who appear to be broken are the ones who can reach down into the pit and pull those out who don’t belong there. That’s why John looked the way he did. That’s why Jesus Christ our homeless SAVIOR lived the way HE did. They were able to reach the less fortunate, the least of these, the ones churches would push out the doors because they don’t look the part. If we all judged a book by its cover no one would ever read the bible. On the outside, it looks boring. But it’s packed full of action and intrigue, and a true encounter with the one who wrote it will leave you looking at the people in front of you differently. A man who judges on how put together a person is, will miss out on an encounter that could very well change his life. GOD always looks at the matters of the heart. I just pray my heart always looks past the outside of a person into the fact that GOD made everyone of us and HE wants to reach past a demographic into the pit of hell and pull those out who don’t belong there. It’s going to take a backyard preacher who will point to a homeless Savior to do that. Religious people who elevate themselves will not be able to. They will only breed more religious people who look the part, but don’t have the heart.
Prayer:
Father, I hate to ask for something right out of the gate, but we need you to take away our heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. Let us not look at the outside shell of the person you have created. Our plea is that you allow us to see people through your eyes. Let us not build a church, but be the Church. You saw that and sent the perfect SAVIOR. one who came from circumstances unlike any of the religious leaders of that time. What an amazing picture you have painted out of broken pieces. Thank you for giving a SAVIOR we could relate to and more importantly one who could relate to us. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.