Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on 17th December 2006, Third Sunday of Advent, by Rev. Dr. Jochen Teuffel. The scripture readings that day were Zephaniah 3:14-20
Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18.


7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, «You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.»
10 And the crowds asked him, «What then should we do?»
11 In reply he said to them, «Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.»
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, «Teacher, what should we do?»
13 He said to them, «Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.»
14 Soldiers also asked him, «And we, what should we do?» He said to them, «Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.»
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying, «I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.»
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

We have heard in the Gospel: “John the Baptist proclaimed the good news to the people.” (v 18) But where is the good news in words like that: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” “Now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” “His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Such announcement of judgment sounds rather threatening. Nevertheless it is said that John, along with many other exhortations proclaimed the good news to the people.

How does it go together? What is good news, and in particular what is God’s good news we may ask. First we have to acknowledge that good news is not necessarily good out of itself. Whether the content of such news is good depends on the particular circumstances. The same content of message can be perceived totally different. For example the announcement of the return of the father to the family can be the reason for joy and happiness of the children, but it can also be the reason to become anxious and even fearful. “The father is coming home,” but that father is a violent alcoholics in the state of drunkenness who may beat the mother again, as he did so often before. “Our father is coming home!” The same message can evoke both, joy or anxiety, depending on what to be expected.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming; you heard this message of Advent again and again. How does it resonate in your life? Now, even if we focus on Christ as our Savior and leave aside the announcement of his judgment, is this really good news for us: Christ our Savior is coming, our life on Earth will come to an end. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. […] The Lord is near.” (Phil 4:4-5) When you can say to yourself “I am doing fine, every thing is just right,” then you indicate, at least indirectly, that any changes in your life are not really welcomed. But this is exactly what Christ’s coming will be: an intervention into our life which inevitably is going to change situation.

If you are content with your current life, you can not sincerely pray: “Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha” (Rev 22:20; 1 Cor 16: 22) Instead your prayer ought to be: “Don’t come Lord Jesus, don’t change my life at this pleasant moment, please extend this pleasant moment instead of changing it.”

Now, what to pray for: “Come Lord Jesus” or “Don’t come, Lord Jesus.” It all depends how we perceive the current circumstances of our life, whether Christ’s coming can resonate in our life as good news. As I have said already: Good news is not necessarily good out of itself; it always depends on how they resonate in the life of the receiver. But what can it mean in terms of the Gospel, God’s good news. Does it really depend on us whether it will be good news? Do we human beings as the recipients eventually determine the goodness of God’s Word? If those divine words fit into our own expectations towards future then they are good otherwise not.

John the Baptist announces Christ’s coming with drastic words: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? […] The ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. […] One who is more powerful than I is coming […]. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Terrifying news evoking a startled, even shocked response: “What shall and what can we do?” in order to avoid the lot of fire in future. There is no other way left than repentance. «Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.» (Mt 3:2) This is message of John the Baptist. Only through repentance the message of Christ’s coming can be received as good news. Our self-perception has to be changed in order to expect Christ as our savior.

If we think we are fine, we are doing good, there is no need for change, then Christ’s coming will threaten us, the ax is lying at the root of the trees. But if we repent, recognizing our own current life-situation as lost and ourselves as sinners, if we acknowledge our own misery in being separated from God, then Christ’s coming will become good news. Our life needs a drastic change, maranatha, Lord Jesus come, Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy, Christ please come as our Savior. Our life separated from you bears no promise but death. Save us from ourselves.

It is repentance which changes the way to receive God’s Word. Without repentance Christ’s coming threatens our life for it brings changes we do not want. But through repentance we are able to expect Christ as our savior.

So John the Baptist’s drastic words seeking our repentance are the necessary presupposition for Christ’s coming as good tidings. It is even part of the Gospel, God’s good news for all of us. His call for repentance changes our self-perception by depriving us of all self-assurance. Through repentance our life stripped of all self-protection, naked life. And then we long and pray for Christ’s coming. Maranatha, Lord Jesus come as our savior.

Amen.