WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:01.679 Let's pray. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:10.560 Lord, thank you for this season where we can remember your coming. 00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:15.740 Thank you for being our Savior. 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:26.679 Coming as a man, weak in flesh, but strong in spirit, full of the Spirit. 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:36.700 So we ask, Lord, that you would be with us this day, that your Spirit would be in this place in our hearts, speaking to us, speaking through Ray. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:43.739 May your truth, your message would come through him. 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:46.140 Pray all this in your name, amen. 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:49.159 Luke chapter 3, verse 1. 00:00:49.159 --> 00:01:12.159 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, being governor of Judea, and Herod, being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip, tetrarch of the region of Iteria and Trachonitis, and Lassanius, tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Cephas. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:14.759 What? 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:17.000 Caiaphas. 00:01:17.099 --> 00:01:17.620 Caiaphas. 00:01:17.620 --> 00:01:17.979 Thank you. 00:01:18.039 --> 00:01:18.840 I practiced this. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.219 Annas and Caiaphas. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:33.420 The word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness, and he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 00:01:33.979 --> 00:01:43.420 As it is written in the word of the words of Isaiah the prophet, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:47.879 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:56.079 And the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:00.679 He said, therefore, to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:05.759 You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:13.199 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:21.239 For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:25.819 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:31.479 Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:35.840 And the crowds asked him, What then shall we do? 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:44.099 And he answered them, Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. 00:02:45.079 --> 00:02:50.120 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? 00:02:50.579 --> 00:02:54.419 And he said to them, Collect no more than you are authorized to do. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:59.159 Soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? 00:02:59.679 --> 00:03:06.919 And he said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. 00:03:07.699 --> 00:03:14.799 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ, 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:22.080 John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, 00:03:22.580 --> 00:03:25.860 the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.380 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:35.980 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.160 but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 00:03:39.740 --> 00:03:43.939 So with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people. 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:51.240 But Herod the Tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:57.599 and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.539 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:01.079 Thanks be to God. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:20.000 So today we're studying Luke chapter 3, verses 1 through 10, about the ministry of John, St. Zachary. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:27.540 In chapter 1 of Luke, we read about his parents and his miraculous birth. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:32.120 Then in chapter 2, we studied the miraculous birth of Jesus and his early life. 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:33.319 So now we return to John. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:37.660 And the key point made about John is that he's the forerunner of the Messiah. 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:41.699 He proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:46.479 So it makes sense that there are common themes between John's ministry and life, 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:50.539 and that of the Lord Jesus, as well as the future church, as well as us. 00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:53.659 For example, there's the pattern of the message. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:00.419 John, Jesus, and the church proclaim the good news of repentance from sins and forgiveness of sins. 00:05:01.219 --> 00:05:03.579 There's the pattern of what happens in their ministry. 00:05:03.579 --> 00:05:09.279 Then we'll first have a public ministry, followed by the attraction of opposing forces, 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:13.599 and then followed ultimately by the continuation of God's purposes. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:18.659 So John's ministry and message are still relevant for us today. 00:05:19.479 --> 00:05:25.599 From this passage, we can ask ourselves, first, will we receive God's message of salvation 00:05:25.599 --> 00:05:31.500 by repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus, or will we reject God and his message? 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:37.300 Second, will we follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, or will we reject him? 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:39.399 So we can ask that of ourselves. 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:43.839 Quickly, let's look back to John's life in Luke chapter 1. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:50.660 In verse 80 of chapter 1, it says that the child, John, grew and became strong in spirit, 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:54.819 and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel. 00:05:55.779 --> 00:06:00.800 Earlier in chapter 1, we also know that in verse 15, he will be great in the sight of the Lord. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:05.480 Verse 16, he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:10.319 He will, in verse 17, make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:14.720 And so now we reenter John's life here in chapter 3. 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:20.319 John's main role, again, is as the Messiah's forerunner, 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:23.280 and his ministry starts in a unique and powerful way, 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:26.060 with the word of God coming to John. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:29.399 This is special because this type of communication, 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:33.079 the word of God coming to a prophet for public proclamation, 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:36.100 it hasn't happened in about 460 years. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:39.220 The last time was to Malachi, around 460 BC, 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:43.519 and so it's been quiet for a few centuries now. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.220 Luke introduces John as the son of Zechariah, 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:50.639 but he leaves out some details that are included in other parts of Scripture. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.959 For example, John isn't called John the Baptist, 00:06:54.419 --> 00:06:56.099 which we read about in other parts of Scripture. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:58.099 There's no mention of Elijah here. 00:06:59.459 --> 00:07:02.959 Luke doesn't talk about his primitive clothes of camel's hair, 00:07:03.159 --> 00:07:06.259 or the fact that he eats locusts and wild honey. 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:12.360 No, but it also doesn't include his martyrdom, right, at the end of his life. 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:15.399 But instead, Luke's focal point is about John, 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.620 from Isaiah chapter 40, verses 3 through 5. 00:07:19.179 --> 00:07:19.959 So who is John? 00:07:20.099 --> 00:07:22.479 He's the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 00:07:22.679 --> 00:07:23.719 prepare the way of the Lord. 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:26.459 He's the forerunner of the Messiah. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:28.560 He's not on a separate mission, 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:30.959 but he's the first part of the Messiah's mission, 00:07:31.159 --> 00:07:34.219 and he's preparing a people for the Lord Jesus, for his mission. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.019 We're actually on the other side of that, right? 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:38.579 We're not preparing for the Lord, 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.519 but we're continuing Christ's mission and propagating the gospel. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:46.359 A bit about the historical context, in verses 1 through 2, 00:07:46.859 --> 00:07:49.979 Luke gets very specific about the historical context, 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:54.579 the time, the people, the places of when John begins his ministry. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:59.339 This is actually the most precise dating of John's appearance in the New Testament. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:01.680 Whereas the other gospels, 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:05.599 they presuppose that the hearers know something already about John the Baptist, 00:08:06.339 --> 00:08:10.339 Luke dates John's appearance precisely in world history 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:15.639 with reference to an emperor, a governor, three tetrarchs, and two high priests. 00:08:16.099 --> 00:08:18.759 So the emperor is Tiberius Caesar. 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:22.079 He was emperor of Rome from 14 to 37 AD. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:25.159 He's the second Roman emperor after Augustus. 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:30.539 And Tiberius was infamous for his last few years of reign, 00:08:30.679 --> 00:08:32.319 where he was super paranoid, 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:35.039 and he had lots of trials for treason. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.740 He was not a popular guy. 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.759 When he died, the people yelled, 00:08:40.079 --> 00:08:41.699 to the Tiber with Tiberius, 00:08:42.199 --> 00:08:44.339 referring to the Tiber River that runs through Rome. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:46.779 And that's where criminals were thrown into, 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:49.259 instead of being buried or burnt, right? 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:50.879 So no love lost for him. 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:53.079 The governor is Pontius Pilate. 00:08:53.599 --> 00:08:56.860 He governed over Judea from about 26 to 36 AD. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:08:59.399 And he was known for being inflexible. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.659 And his administration was marked by briberies, 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.480 by robberies, executions, ferocity. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:09.480 And he also wasn't popular among the Jewish people 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:12.039 because he held little concern for them, 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:14.060 their Jewish concerns. 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:18.399 So, for example, he introduced tokens of emperor worship into Jerusalem. 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.580 And he also took money from the temple treasury. 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:25.680 So, that was not great for the Jewish people. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.820 And, of course, Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate. 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:33.879 The three tetrarchs are Herod, Philip, and Lysanius. 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:37.160 Herod, known as Herod Antipas. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:40.259 And Philip are sons of another Herod, 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.520 named Herod the Great, 00:09:41.800 --> 00:09:44.040 who ruled over this region until 4 BC. 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:45.860 When Herod the Great died, 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:50.500 Rome didn't find any of his sons capable of sole rule of that region. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:53.580 So, they split up the region and gave rule to three different sons, 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:55.700 including Herod, Antipas, and Philip. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:58.980 As for the third tetrarch, Lysanius, little is known of him. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:01.980 But we know that he ruled over this region. 00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:06.299 The two high priests named are Annas and Caiaphas. 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:08.779 So, Caiaphas was the actual high priest. 00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:13.820 He reigned from 18 to 36 AD. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:18.899 But both are mentioned because Annas was an influential figure during this period. 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:22.199 Annas was high priest from 6 to 15 AD. 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:24.840 But following him were a number of sons. 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:30.840 So that this period is kind of like the dynasty of Annas for this role. 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:38.199 So, after Annas, in 15 AD, was his son Eleazar from 16 to 17. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.399 After that is Caiaphas, who's actually his son-in-law from 18 to 36. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:44.899 And Jesus appeared before Caiaphas. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:48.620 Then, after that, was Jonathan in 36 to 37. 00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:50.360 Theophilus, after that. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.259 Matthias from 41 to 44. 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:55.100 And finally, Annas in 62. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:58.139 So, with this control of the office, 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:02.799 Annas had unrivaled power and prestige among the Jewish people. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:06.179 So, why are these rulers listed here? 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:11.359 One benefit for us is that we're reminded this is historical. 00:11:12.179 --> 00:11:14.219 It's not a myth or fabrication. 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:16.319 It really happened in world history. 00:11:16.599 --> 00:11:21.019 It happened in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, which is about 28 AD. 00:11:21.479 --> 00:11:24.459 So, that's when John came out for his public ministry. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.879 Another benefit is that it reminds us that Luke did his research. 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.279 In his own words, in chapter 1, 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:34.279 Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:37.419 I too decided to write an orderly account for you. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:43.960 And finally, it points out that the gospel is the message of salvation for the entire world. 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.379 Not just Jews. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:49.960 Not limited to religious or geographical or political boundaries. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:51.480 It's for everyone. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:52.039 Right? 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:58.000 But with this universal scope, there also exists a tension. 00:11:59.060 --> 00:12:01.480 John has received a word from God. 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:04.420 But he's located in the wilderness. 00:12:05.180 --> 00:12:07.480 Not with the high priest in Jerusalem. 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:09.740 Not with the emperor in Rome. 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:13.659 Instead, John preaches in all the region around the Jordan. 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:14.500 The Jordan River. 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:19.899 This refers back to the story of Lot and Abraham in Genesis 13. 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:26.139 Back then, Abraham's camp and Lot's camp, their herders, they grew so large that the land couldn't support them. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.340 There was quarreling between the herders. 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:30.439 And so, they decided to split. 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:34.399 And Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.299 Near Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:38.879 Which were later destroyed for their wickedness. 00:12:39.079 --> 00:12:43.919 So, this area brings to mind a people who are lost and weak and wicked. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.519 We see that John isn't hanging around the powerful and the elite. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:52.840 But instead, just like Jesus will do, his goal is to seek and save the lost. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:57.100 And I think we can experience this tension in our lives too. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:00.079 We're naturally inclined towards upward mobility. 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.620 Not downward mobility. 00:13:03.079 --> 00:13:07.799 We understandably prefer to improve our situation. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:10.199 We want to move toward influence and power. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:14.400 And don't get me wrong. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:18.560 There's nothing wrong with being educated and privileged. 00:13:19.660 --> 00:13:25.440 But we should be sober-minded, not naive or deceived, when it comes to pursuing these things. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:26.080 Right? 00:13:26.180 --> 00:13:30.259 The world and its pursuits offer us wealth and power and prestige. 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:33.160 But God isn't swayed by these things. 00:13:33.520 --> 00:13:36.440 Instead, he pursues the poor, the weak, and the foolish. 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:39.500 Mary pointed this out to us in chapter 1. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:41.140 In her song, she says, 00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:45.580 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble. 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:49.620 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. 00:13:50.400 --> 00:13:54.020 And 1 Corinthians 1 says about the message of the gospel, 00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:57.540 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 00:13:57.800 --> 00:14:00.480 but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.340 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 00:14:03.880 --> 00:14:05.420 but we preach Christ crucified. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:09.500 A stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:16.940 I think we at Trinity, we're probably closer in our outward appearance to the people of Rome and Jerusalem 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:18.860 than the people of the Jordan, right? 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:24.440 So we should beware of being the third soil in the parable of the sower. 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:27.460 Those who hear, but as they go on their way, 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:30.259 they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures. 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.820 And they do not mature. 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:36.200 As Christians, making it big in this world is not our goal, right? 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:40.740 Even if everyone else at work and school is fishing after these things. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.640 Instead, we as Christians are fishers of men, right? 00:14:44.660 --> 00:14:47.680 We're supposed to be following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. 00:14:49.640 --> 00:14:52.160 Let's look at the next few verses, verses 3 through 6. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.000 Luke quotes Isaiah chapter 40, and we see that the main point of John's ministry, 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:03.059 again, was to proclaim a baptism of repentance in preparing people to receive Jesus Christ. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.360 Let's break this down a bit. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:09.360 John was baptizing people, but this isn't just dunking people in the water. 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:11.240 It's a baptism of repentance. 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:16.240 The word repentance means to change one's mind or to alter one's understanding. 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:21.000 It's a rational decision that involves a willful act. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.039 It leads to life change. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:28.200 It's not just emotions, not just feeling bad about yourself or feeling guilty about the things you've done, 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.899 which I think makes sense, right? 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:34.440 Repentance involves emotions, but it's not emotions alone. 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:36.759 It needs to result in life change. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:42.379 I mean, you could feel really bad about, like, blowing 50 grand at the casino from your retirement fund 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:45.120 or cheating on your wife and lying about it. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:49.039 You might feel guilty about these things and how they impact your wife and kids, 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:56.820 but if you keep dropping cash in high-stake poker games or keep cruising dating apps for your next rendezvous, 00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:58.419 you haven't really changed, right? 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.720 You haven't truly repented and changed direction. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:07.060 So there's an inward reality of repentance that leads to the outward action of baptism. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.519 And this baptism signifies a resounding rejection of old ways of life 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:18.279 and a ready acceptance of God's will that blossoms in behavior, giving evidence of this life change. 00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:26.620 Moving to verses 7 through 9, John explicitly instructs the crowds to bear fruits in keeping with repentance, 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.980 which, again, makes sense, right? 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.799 Don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:33.019 Be real and genuine when it comes to repentance. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:38.179 John calls out the crowds specifically on one way they were not being genuine. 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:43.959 They were depending on their ethnic heritage and their self-identification as Abraham's descendants, 00:16:44.239 --> 00:16:45.879 as if this was the most important thing. 00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:48.239 But John corrects them. 00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:55.579 It's not about who you're born from that's most important and that makes children of Abraham, 00:16:55.899 --> 00:17:02.139 but it's their response to God's gracious initiative that identifies them as children of Abraham. 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:08.460 Because Abraham, he trusted and obeyed God, so to be children of him is to resemble that, 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.480 but instead they were a brood of vipers, as John says. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:17.339 And vipers, snakes, they're associated with being poisonous, evil, associated with the devil, right? 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:22.299 And so an application for us is, are we doing something similar? 00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:24.440 What are we resting on in our lives? 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.720 How's your spiritual pedigree? 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.139 Maybe it's immaculate. 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.480 You have Christian parents. 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.860 You come from a long line of Christians. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.319 Maybe you've been going to church your whole life. 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:36.400 You listen to the hottest Christian preachers. 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.519 You read their books. 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:40.940 But how's your daily conduct? 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:46.559 Are you, is your life when no one's watching, 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:51.519 or in your heart when no one can watch except for God, 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.460 what is that like, right? 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:58.819 Are you loving and kind, or self-centered and greedy in your thoughts? 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:04.079 Are you patient and gentle, or irritable and rude in your words? 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:08.500 Are you humble or proud in your interactions with others? 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.299 What are the fruits of your life? 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:13.960 Now, I'm not saying go and be more moral, right? 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.240 That's missing the point, too. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:19.279 In order to bear good fruit outwardly, we need to be good trees inwardly. 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:22.859 Carolyn and I have an artificial Christmas tree at home. 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:23.899 It's our first time doing that, 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:27.119 because we're trying to save the earth but also save money. 00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:30.599 And so no matter, like for this artificial Christmas tree, 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:34.119 no matter how many fresh apples and oranges we hang on it, 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:37.160 it's never going to bear any real fruit, right? 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.579 It's always going to be a dead, fake tree. 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:43.279 It's no matter, no amount of effort is going to change that fact. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:46.160 And it's similar with us. 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:51.839 We're like artificial Christmas trees that somehow need to become alive. 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:57.619 And that's a hopeless task. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:01.879 No amount of wanting it or working for it or making New Year's resolutions 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:04.079 is going to change that inwardly, right? 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:05.299 It's impossible for us. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:11.500 And yet it's an ever alarmingly urgent and necessary task. 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:13.339 John warns in verse 9, 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:16.740 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.799 Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.480 is cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:27.140 Even now judgment is ready to be dealt out soon. 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:32.539 So how do we accomplish something that's impossible for us but is necessary? 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.500 We need to do it. 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:37.839 For us it might be impossible, but with God all things are possible. 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:41.259 God can make dead things alive, right? 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:44.160 If we turn away from our sins and trust in Jesus, 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.200 God promises us eternal life. 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.880 In John 3, 16-17, 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.960 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:54.920 that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:57.960 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:00.539 but in order that the world might be safe through him. 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:05.559 And this eternal life is possible because of Christ's death on the cross. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:09.799 Jesus died for us and for our sins so that we could be forgiven through him. 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:13.799 I think of a wildfire, which is happening more and more frequently, right? 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:15.039 There was a big one in California recently. 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:19.180 And do you know where the safest place to be is in a wildfire? 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:22.539 It's in the ashes, right? 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:26.900 Where the fire has already burned through because it's gone, right? 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:27.880 There's no threat of it anymore. 00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:31.440 So God will judge us for our sins. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.259 It's not a question of if but when. 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:34.299 That fire is coming. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:37.720 And we can choose either to receive the judgment upon ourselves, 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:41.920 excuse me, or hide ourselves in Jesus, 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:45.140 who has already received the punishment for our sins. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.539 That's God's invitation for each one of us. 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.900 He invites us to take refuge in Christ. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.660 God loved us so much that he already punished him, 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.980 and he wants us to take cover in him. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:59.160 And if you're living apart from Christ, there's no time to waste. 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.600 There's no other way to survive. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:05.100 The time to trust Jesus and to bear good fruit is now. 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:07.759 And if you're trusting Jesus for life, 00:21:07.939 --> 00:21:11.439 we should ask ourselves, what kind of fruit am I producing? 00:21:12.219 --> 00:21:17.759 Does my life show over time that we've aligned ourselves to God and his purposes or not? 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.919 Or is it just words? 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:23.980 Moving on to verses 10 through 17. 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:28.359 In these verses, John answers two sets of questions that pop up during his ministry. 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:32.299 First, in verses 10 through 14, 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:35.139 different people ask him, what shall we do? 00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:39.379 And in response to his ministry, and he answers that for them. 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.919 Second, in verses 15 through 17, 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:45.419 he answers whether or not he is the Christ or the Messiah. 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.819 So first, in 10 through 14, 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:51.639 there's the what shall we do question asked by three different groups of people. 00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:56.220 There are the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.339 The people or the crowds, 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:00.980 actually all of these people, all three groups, 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.140 they were ethnically Jewish, 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:05.700 but functionally considered outsiders by respectable Jews. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:10.220 So the crowds, they were, quote unquote, the people of the land, 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:16.400 the people whose ethnicity was often suspect or disdained by others, right? 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.400 They're looked down upon. 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:20.819 And when they asked John, what shall we do? 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:26.259 John's response to them is basically share life's basic necessities with people in need. 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:29.400 Then there were the tax collectors. 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:31.859 They were ethnic Jews, but not observant. 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:34.160 They collected local taxes for Rome. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:40.799 The way this worked is that there were local taxes bid out by Rome to the various localities, 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:46.460 and the highest bidder won the contract to collect those loans, or collect those taxes. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:52.400 And once they won that bid, they paid Rome in advance the amount that they bid, 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:57.519 and then they went out to the community, and then they collected these taxes, right? 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.759 And that's how they recouped their payment. 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:04.160 So the higher they taxed, the more money they made, right? 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.079 The more profit they had. 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:09.960 So their job was basically, it involved extortion, corruption, and greed. 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:12.460 And that's why tax collectors were so hated. 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:16.740 They were seen on the same level as thieves and murderers. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.259 Jews were forbidden to receive money from tax collectors, 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:23.200 because basically they thought their profit was robbery. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.660 And tax collectors, they brought shame on their Jewish families. 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:30.640 These guys were expelled from their synagogues. 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:37.259 And they were also, there were tangible reminders of Roman rule and domination, 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:40.559 which was awful for the Jewish people. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:45.379 I mean, think of Nazi sympathizers in occupied Europe during World War II, right? 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:53.240 So to them, John instructs them to collect no more than they're authorized to do, right? 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:56.000 Don't extort, just get what you're authorized to do. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:01.039 And the soldiers, the third group, they could have been Jews who enlisted in the army. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:07.339 And these soldiers, they were basically enabled to be aggressive and commit extortion. 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:11.419 Because, well, first, they had weapons, so they could be forceful. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:14.220 And two, they weren't under civilian authority. 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:16.759 They were under military authority. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:21.500 And they were told by John not to extort money, but be content with their wages. 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:26.059 So note that John doesn't tell the tax collectors and these soldiers, 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.699 leave your job and find something else to do. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:33.179 No, his expectation was for them to stay there, 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:37.060 but serve in your roles justly and honorably. 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:41.480 And, you know, we should do the same things in our jobs today. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:45.460 My guess is none of us have a job that's inherently compromising, 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:47.039 that makes us sin, right? 00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:51.960 So our task is to serve in our roles justly and honorably. 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:57.220 A more subtle application of this text is simply to ask the same question 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.779 that these people asked. 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.900 What shall we do? 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:05.420 In the Bible, this is a typical response to preaching and teaching and miraculous events. 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:11.019 For example, the people after Peter's sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2, verse 37. 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:14.840 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:17.019 brothers, what shall we do? 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.980 And then there's the jailer with Paul and Silas in Acts chapter 16. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.940 He brought them out and said, 00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:26.640 Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:33.160 So this is a typical response, but I think for us, it can be easy to listen to a sermon, 00:25:33.540 --> 00:25:37.560 even nod our heads in agreement, and then just walk out, do nothing. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:41.320 But it's not enough to hear or even agree with the message. 00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:45.340 We have to ask ourselves, how is my life going to change because of what I heard? 00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.720 What shall we do? 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:52.539 The second question in verses 15 through 17, asked by the people, 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:58.640 is whether or not John was the Christ or the Messiah in verses 15 through 17. 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:04.920 It seems like there was a lack of clarity around what being the Messiah actually meant. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.259 Who would this person be? 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:09.220 What would this person do? 00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:13.380 They knew that the Messiah brought hope, but they didn't know if John fit the profile. 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.720 So they were asking him. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:19.600 John both answers and helps define a bit more what the Messiah would do. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:22.799 So John publicly refutes messianic expectations, 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:28.559 saying that his water baptism would be surpassed by a greater baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:33.579 And baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire is a reference to the dual character of baptism 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:36.779 as both purification and refinement. 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:44.899 He also says that he's unworthy to tie the sandals of this next person, right, who is mightier than I. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:50.799 And verse 17 talks about the Messiah gathering the wheat and burning the chaff. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:53.579 So a quick look at what this is. 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:56.180 This is the threshing and winnowing process of grain. 00:26:56.180 --> 00:27:03.000 This is new for me because I'm not a farmer and I grew up in suburbs and in the city. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:09.519 So to get the ripened seed of grain, you have to first loosen the seed from the outside husk. 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.880 And so that's called threshing. 00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:14.779 Back in the old days, they would manually do this by beating the wheat. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:17.340 For a bushel of wheat, it would take them like an hour, right? 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.080 So it's heavy labor. 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:20.539 So they'd have to loosen the seed from the husk. 00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:27.619 And after they loosened it, they'd have to separate the seed from the rest of the wheat, from the inedible husk, right? 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.539 People can't eat the husk. 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.039 And they winnow it. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.839 They would take a fork and throw the grain into the air. 00:27:32.199 --> 00:27:35.859 The lighter husk would fly because of the wind. 00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:37.399 And the heavier seeds would fall to the ground. 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:41.480 And this husk that's thrown up and gets blown away by the wind, that's called chaff, right? 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:44.159 So we've got the wheat or the grain and the chaff. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:52.720 So the process of winnowing or separating, spiritually speaking, and judgment, they're still true for us today, right? 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:55.180 We are being separated. 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:59.460 We must all respond to God's message of grace and salvation. 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:10.980 And we can either choose to align ourselves with God and his purposes and be his grain in his barn, gather into his barn, or choose to be against God, whether that's by open rebellion or indifference. 00:28:11.040 --> 00:28:12.080 We just don't care, right? 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:14.139 And there are only two camps here. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.759 There's no middle ground. 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:24.759 And lastly, let's look at the last few verses of the passage, verses 18 through 20. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:28.500 So here we see what happens to John near the end of his life. 00:28:28.699 --> 00:28:31.740 Herod the Tetrarch, he locks John up in prison. 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:35.259 Herod was a lover of luxury. 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:38.240 He loved magnificent architecture. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:43.680 Like his father, who had 10 wives, Herod had chaotic marital relations. 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:52.079 And, for example, he convinced Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, Herod Philip, and this is not Philip the Tetrarch. 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:54.380 It's kind of confusing, but multiple people with the same names. 00:28:54.380 --> 00:29:00.100 But he had a half-brother named Philip, and he convinced Herodias to divorce Philip and marry him. 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:09.080 And John reproves Herod for this and for the other evil things that he'd done. 00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:10.760 So Herod imprisons him. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:20.240 Not mentioned here, but Herod and Herodias later have John beheaded, fueled by Herodias' hatred of John for rebuking their marriage. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:26.559 Now, remember, John, earlier we saw, he's called great in the sight of the Lord. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.279 He's great in the sight of the Lord. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.859 He's a prophet of the Most High. 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:32.940 He's a voice of one crying in the wilderness. 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:39.960 Yet he's imprisoned by Herod, later beheaded, and this is John's earthly fate. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:43.240 Does this look great to you? 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:45.360 Probably not, right? 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:48.700 Or at least not great by worldly standards. 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:51.420 But he was great in the sight of God. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:56.519 Remember that God's value system and the world's value system, they're not the same. 00:29:57.340 --> 00:30:00.539 Are you beautiful, rich, powerful, popular? 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.259 That's great. 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:06.920 You've got it all according to what the world says is great. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.879 That's the world's standards, but not God's standards. 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:15.019 Even the Lord Jesus, we're told, wasn't a handsome man here on earth. 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:17.980 In Isaiah 53, verse 2, it says, 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:21.319 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:23.900 Nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:28.559 So, not beautiful, born in a manger to poor parents. 00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:30.480 But God says about Jesus, 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.220 You are my beloved son. 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.500 With you, I am well pleased. 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:41.500 So, as I mentioned earlier, there's a pattern to the life of John, Jesus, and the church. 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.620 It includes us. 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.500 We're the church. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.740 There's ministry. 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:45.860 There's opposition. 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:48.599 And there's the continuation of God's purposes. 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:51.860 Following Christ is not easy. 00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:53.480 It's not comfortable. 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:57.059 It involves opposition, persecution, and death. 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.360 But it's worth it. 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.900 It's the path of life. 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:05.779 It's the only path of life toward the God who loves us and created us. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:13.539 So, John's message of repentance from sins and bearing good fruit is true for us today. 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:21.279 Whereas John was the forerunner of the Messiah, we as a church get to continue in the mission of the Messiah. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:29.700 And I pray that we would all respond to John's message and the message of the gospel by accepting it and following our Lord Jesus. 00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:38.759 Let's take a moment of silence and consider how to apply this passage to our lives as we continue in our service in the prayers of the people. 00:31:38.759 --> 00:32:08.740 Let's take a moment.