by Sal Huckel
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Read Matthew 3:1–12
Today’s passage invites us to the banks of the Jordan, where John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. His humble lifestyle and calls to repentance were already bringing the people to respond to their sins and be baptised by John in the river. Not surprisingly, also came the conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees.
John’s reprimand and call to repentance is stark. We might feel that it was well deserved. After all, we do know much about the Pharisees and the Sadducees and their apparent hypocrisy. Paul himself was a Pharisee. While the Pharisees and Sadducees had doctrinal disagreements, they were united in their efforts against Jesus. Here, John’s warning is for them all.
What can we learn here today? We can study the baptism John was bringing, how Jesus’ baptism is the one we need and the meaning it has for us now to be baptised into Jesus’ baptism. We can also ponder what it means to ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’. How does that look? What do we need to repent of? We sometimes hear that Jesus simplified the Ten Commandments and that we don’t need to worry about all of those anymore; we are not ‘under the law’. However, Jesus said he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfil them (Matthew 5:17).
Unless we understand God’s law, we cannot properly repent. We may feel the law is less prescriptive and onerous ‘since Jesus’, but if we begin to unpack the Ten Commandments and look at Martin Luther’s explanations – the Small Catechism is very helpful on this – we will see that they go further than we might expect. It’s a misleading idea that ‘Jesus replaced them’. Helpfully, rather like the ways in which it is best to teach children, Luther offers positive instruction to further expand on the negatives.
Start today with commandment number one: ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ We don’t have to look very far to see the things that compete for our attention, love and trust. How can you fear, love and trust God above all things today? To produce fruit in keeping with repentance, we need to follow through with this.
Father God, help me to more fully understand the law written in our hearts (Romans 2:15) and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they live in Victoria with their six children, enjoying their ministry with Moorabbin–Dandenong Lutheran Church. Their two eldest children are excited to study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels during term time in Sydney. Theology, music, philosophy, literature and history are passions the family shares and explores together. Sal loves writing, speaking and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
Shining Brightly 2nd Sunday in Advent Read: Psalm 89:5-18 “Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you. Lord, they live in the light of your kindness.” Psalm 89:15 (NIRV)
When living in Adelaide, I first got the chance of looking through a telescope that my brother Peter had brought home from the university where he was studying cosmic ray physics. One night he pointed it to the heavens, showing the moon, planets and stars shining so brightly. Since then, I have had many other opportunities to look through telescopes from Mt Stromlo Observatory in Canberra to the Reimann’s observatory in Loxton. It amazes me how these heavenly lights shine so brightly from so far away. I was looking up the Bible verse above and found the version written from ‘The Message’ Bible… read it and be amazed at our incredible, enormous, but personal God, who loves us so we can live in His shining light.
“God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you’ll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly. You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand, you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist. You own the cosmos—you made everything in it, everything from atom to archangel. You positioned the North and South Poles; the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you.
With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel— nobody messes with you! The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!” ~The Message [Psalm 89:5-18] God, you are awesome in brightness! Prayer: I am in awe of you my amazing God! Only you have the power to create all things and through you it all shines with your love. Give me understanding to comprehend this love and share it. Amen.
God’s Nourishment 1st Saturday in Advent Read: Psalm 36:5-9
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9 (NIV) Last year when my husband and I were travelling through Salzburg, we visited an unusual summer castle. Schloß Helbrunn was built (1612-1619) by archbishop Markus Sittikus. Underground springs flowed under the castle and gardens so the archbishop, with his sense of humour, had trick water fountains installed throughout the gardens. There were fountains and spigots coming out everywhere and you would get sprayed at any time from the most unsuspecting statue.
There was also a huge, automated music display of the city of Vienna (at the time) and was all run by water – even at the end when you were entranced with the movements, water came spurting out into the audience. My favourite was the outdoor dining setting where the archbishop invited all his friends to dinner, only to have water come through the seats and all around the table.
The archbishop of course, stayed dry. Not only was there the water and the fountains, but it was lit by colour and lights. I love seeing fountains and saw many throughout Europe, but so many of these were created with recirculating the water through. At Schloß Hellbrunn, the water was fed by fresh underground springs which never seemed to run out. King David described God as a fountain, not something that just recirculates but rather a fountain of never-ending new life that gives life and rejuvenation to all around. He is the source of all life and from Him life flows like a fountain nourishing all around Him.
David also tells us that being in the light of God we see only light. Light always outshines the night. When we think of God as the light – everything we see and do is illuminated by him. In God there is no darkness, and we seek this light moving forward in faith. The Advent season is a time spoken of in terms of light and dark. Jesus was the light sent by God into a dark world to bring everlasting light. Live in the light this Advent season and drink from the abundant fountain of life. Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my fountain of life and light. Guide and bless me in all the things I do to share your love with others as you continually bless me. Amen
Ultimate Power Source Read: Psalm 27:1-5 “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
In the ‘Mission Impossible’ movies, Tom Cruise is placed in situations where he is called upon to help solve and correct the ultimate power plays happening in the world. He is asked to accept the mission but usually those asking will take no responsibility for the consequences or fallout from any situation that he may find himself in. Of course, he always accepts the mission.
I enjoy watching these action-packed movies which usually end up with Tom Cruise being the hero who has in some way saved the world. God has placed us in a world filled with pain and sin and suffering. We are told that we have been born into sin with no hope until He sent Jesus to be the ultimate Saviour of our world. He had a plan and mission for His Son whom we prepare for during this season of Advent. In Psalm 27, we read that King David (a strong and mighty king) does not fear, not because of His great armies, but because God is there to be his strength and light in the darkest of places and situations.
With God watching over and caring for him there is no need to fear or be afraid! Like David, we can also place our faith and comfort in knowing that God is stronger than anything in this world, or any evil in the realms. God is the light shining through the darkest of times and in the darkest of places. Light is the absence of darkness – so where God is, there is only light, and darkness and evil cannot penetrate God’s light.
He is the ultimate power source that does not turn off, fail or get disconnected. Tom Cruise always had issues with his missions, but with God and Jesus there to fight on our behalf we have nothing to fear or be afraid. Live in the light of God as the ultimate power source of your life! Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have come to earth to be my Saviour. You fight all my battles and help me in all situations. Help me to remain connected to you as my ultimate power source. Amen