—Matthew 3:1-12 —We are to prepare a highway for God to come to us. Christmas is a receiving time of life when God comes to us in Christ. The world thinks of Christmas as a giving time and so we go through a mad rush to buy gifts. If Christ is to come to us this Christmas, we need to prepare to properly receive him. Thus, Advent is a preparatory season of repentance as the only way to be receptive.
A tree with bad fruit is to be burned, as millions of
orange trees diseased with cankers were destroyed in Florida. At the end of
time, the chaff is to be burned with “unquenchable fire.” John the Baptist
promised that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and with “fire.” Fire
symbolizes judgment. Christ comes as both Savior and Judge. The latter we like
to forget. Evil is to be exterminated. In 2 Peter we are told that “the elements will be dissolved with fire.”
In his infinite wisdom, God knew the world needed John
the Baptizer before it would receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Before we can
receive Jesus we must first head John. Who wants a Savior if he is unaware of his
sin? Repentance precedes faith. Death of the old self must occur before new
life can come. The caterpillar dies in the cocoon before it emerges in the new
life of a butterfly. Someone is needed to make us conscious of our sin and to
lead us to repentance. Then we will be ready for Christ to forgive us. What we
need now is John the Baptizer not Jesus. He will come to us later if we first hear
John.[1]
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome.
Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may
share His wisdom and become one with Him when He comes in glory, for He lives
and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen[2]-02 December 2022
Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[2] Collect for Advent 2, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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