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.
Illumination Read: 3rd Thursday in Advent Matthew 5:14-16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV-UK)
Travelling overseas by plane requires a lot of preparation. But once on the plane we place ourselves in the hands of the pilot and stewards. They share all the details of safety before the plane takes off – seat belt, life jacket, brace position and then if all the lights go out there will be small lights that illuminate the aisle to direct us in case of an emergency. These little lights are very important for they light the way to the exits. Without them in an emergency, we would all be in the darkness and confused as to which way to go. At Christmas the star guided the way for the shepherds and wise men to find the Christ child in the manger. When Jesus was baptised by John, a light came down from heaven declaring that Jesus was God’s Son.
When Jesus was taken into heaven at ascension, His face became as radiant as the sun. Jesus is the light that we need to see God. We understand the Bible through the coming of Jesus and His life on earth. Without Jesus’ coming as our Saviour, I am not sure that many would find the Bible hopeful and full of forgiveness and grace. We would all still be living in darkness and under the law, still waiting and hoping for God to save us and send the promised Messiah. As Jesus’ love works in our lives we see how He lights our way, and His love illuminates our entire being.
As Jesus said in Matthew 5:14a – “You are the light of the world.” With the love of Jesus in us we can’t help but shine out this love to all those around us. We are the ones to point others to Jesus and help them open their eyes to see God’s grace and all that makes a follower of Christ different. On a plane we have the little lights to guide us to safety, in Jesus we have the Saviour, the Light of the World to guide us to our eternal home. Be the guiding lights to point others to Christ. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to shine my light out far and wide so that others may be drawn to the light. Thank you for coming as my Saviour to bring me peace and your love. Amen
King of Day and Night 3rd Wednesday in Advent Read: Zechariah 14:6-9 “It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime – a day known to the Lord. When evening comes, there will be light.” Zechariah 14:7 (NIV)
I have always been fascinated by the countries close to the North Pole (Arctic Circle). Finland and Greenland are countries where the amount of sunlight varies greatly depending on the time of the year. In northern Finland they experience the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun, where the sun doesn’t set for months. The sun just circles around the sky all day and night. In winter, this region experiences polar nights with very little or no sunlight. For us in Australia, this is all very foreign. We have daylight saving in summer, but nothing compared to this. What is the passage in Zechariah talking about then?
Zechariah was a prophet and a priest around 520 BCE. He describes a very unique day, some even think it refers to the end times, which has both light and darkness leading to the establishment of God’s Kingdom. It is a time when God’s power and presence is evident, even though the natural order of things is confused. But mostly it shows that God has the sovereign power over all things, including the day and the night. If God can rule over the day and the night and have sovereign power over all things, wouldn’t it be natural for God to rule as a King over the world?
But no, God chose to be a loving God ruling with grace and forgiveness. He sent His Son to earth at Christmas to bring peace to the earth. He didn’t want to come with horns and fanfare, changing the orbit of the earth, or making time stand still. Rather He had the Son of God, the light of the world, the Messiah, the Saviour, come in quietness and humility to a young couple. This is the God I want in my life.
A God who is an all-powerful Sovereign ruler, but chooses to rule with grace, love and peace. He brought light to the world in a little baby. My God is King of the World but knows my name! Prayer: Mighty God. You are ruler of the world, yet you care for me. You know my name and hear my prayers. Thank you for being a God that I can talk to and for bringing your Son to be my Saviour. Amen.
3rd Tuesday in Advent Read: Micah 7:7-9 “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8b (NIV)
‘The Hare boasts to the other animals about how fast he can run. He challenges them to a race and when none of them responds he taunts them that they are too scared even to try. When the Tortoise offers to race the Hare scoffs that he won’t waste his time racing the slowest creature in the world. Some of the animals laugh at this so the Hare agrees to a race. The Tortoise spends the week in training but continues to move very slowly and the other animals wonder if the race is a good idea. Nevertheless, there is a large crowd of animals gathered on the day of the race.’
‘The race starts and the Hare roars off. When he stops to look back, the Tortoise has barely crossed the starting line. The Hare taunts the Tortoise and decides to have a nap in the sun; he sleeps for so long that the Tortoise is able to overtake him. The animals cheer as the Tortoise nears the finishing tree and this wakes up the Hare. The Hare runs as fast as he can to catch up, but the Tortoise just makes it over the finish line in time. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race.’ This is one of Aesop’s fables which was believed to have been written during the 6th century BCE.
The fables were written to convey moral lessons. We can also apply this to God’s teachings. The world is fast paced and brags that it can supply everything that we need for a good life: gym membership, money, big house, e-bike, Tesla, etc. God offers the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and eternal life in Heaven with a loving Saviour. God never rests. If we fall, He will help us up; if we are in a state of darkness and despair, God will be the light to bring relief to our souls. Let God who is our light and life be the steady influence in your life.
God’s way is the only way to win in the race of life! Prayer: Loving Lord, you are my light and life and in you I place all that I am and all that I have. May I always rely on you for everything I need for this life and beyond. Amen.