Talk Based around the gospel reading from Luke 3: 7-18

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! You Pharisees! You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Repent…I say repent! Do you think by coming here and listening to me speak, that you have found the kingdom of heaven? By going down into these waters of baptism, does that mean you are truly repentant? Therefore, bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’, for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the foot of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore…bring forth good fruit in keeping with your repentance.

Pharisee: Who are you?

I am not the Christ.

Pharisee: What then? Are you Elijah?

I am not.

Pharisee: Are you the prophet?

No.

Pharisee: Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? what do you say about yourself?

I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness; make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.

Pharisee: Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?

Because the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Prepare for the way of the Lord! As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance but among you stands one whom you do not know and it is he who is coming after me who is mightier than I, for He existed before me and I am not fit to remove his sandals; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. I tell you the truth…my baptism is a baptism for repentance of sins, but he will baptize you with The Holy Spirit and fire. And his winnowing fork is in his hand and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor, and he will gather his wheat into the barn but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire! Will you be the wheat…or will you be the chaff? Will you be gathered into the barn or will you burn with unquenchable fire?!

A wealthy man: I am abundantly wealthy, then what shall we do?

Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none; and let him who has food do likewise. Don’t you see your brothers in need? Share with them from your abundance!

Tax collector: I collect taxes, Teacher, what shall we do?

Collect no more than what you have been ordered to. Be fair and be honest! Do not cheat your brothers!

Roman Soldier: I’m a Roman soldier, what about us? What shall we do?

Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.

Some of you standing here today listening to my voice are hypocrites! You Pharisees and Sadducees…you are a brood of vipers! Do you think that God does not see you the way you truly are? You stand there with your pious looks and your costly garments, and you only pretend to be men of truth and godliness. You hypocrites! I say to you, repent…for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Step into the Jordan and confess your sins and be baptized! I don’t care how you are dressed! Look at my garments! I wear a garment of camel hair and my belt is leather. The Lord God has provided my every need! I live in the wilderness, and I eat locusts and wild honey. I am God’s servant! I am here to prepare the way of the Lord! I am here to prepare you for he who is coming after me! I have been sent before him.

You ask why I speak thus… so boldly and with passion. I do not fear the Jewish leaders! I do not fear the Roman soldiers! I do not fear Herod! Yes…Herod who has committed a grievous sin! He has taken his brother’s wife! Herodias, the wife of Philip! She does not belong in Herod’s house! He has taken her as his wife! And no one has the courage to speak out against this immoral act! I condemn you Herod Antipas! And I also point at all of you who claim to be righteous and holy! You have remained silent while this grievous sin is right in front of you! You will not flee the wrath to come!

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Repent…. You brood of vipers!

THE END

For John the Baptist came as the final prophet to prepare the way for our Lord’s arrival. His ministry was to point the people towards the Messiah, the savour of this fallen world.

The word of God came to John in the desert, not in a palace, not in the city, not in a home, not even in the temple. For God can and does speak to us in all places and he comes to us in very special ways, often when we don’t expect it.

The Lord is coming and He is looking for His servants to be ready. God does not want to find us asleep and unqualified for the kingdom. As we get ready to celebrate the first coming of Christ, the incarnation, God is calling us to dig deep into our hearts and make ourselves as ready as possible for His arrival.

With joy we must show the world what Christmas is all about. The incarnation is not only about the baby Jesus, it is the proclamation that this tiny baby born in poverty is God himself breaking through time and sin to re-open the gate of paradise. The Lord is coming again but we don’t know when, but He is coming. So can we use this Advent and prepare our hearts to witness to Him.

“And all mankind will see the salvation of our God”. Amen.

Every blessing to you all, Rev Ian.