Matthew 3:1-12 (lectionary for Advent II)
Repentance is transformational
Metanoia means a change of one's mind so that one's direction will be changed, turn around...
John the Baptist, Elijah sent to usher in Messiah, came dressed as a prophet of old, wild and untamed like the truth he brought. He called for repentance in PREPARATION for the coming of Messiah. He called for repentance because the Kingdom of Heaven is immanent, to make way for the Lord.
Indeed, in order to receive the Lord and the Kingdom Values Jesus would teach, command and model, there would have to be a lot of direction changing. The Temple Cult leaders of that time and place were in collusion with Rome and were very corrupt. They put out the appearance of piety, but took the people to a very different place than Kingdom Values. That is why when they came to be baptized by the prophet, they were called out by the prophet. Their heritage could not save them. Their positions, status, wealth and power could not save them. These were things of empire and not the Kingdom. They, above all, would have to repent. The one who was coming was above them in every way, the real deal of God. They were in trouble. Their only hope was to bear fruit worthy of repentance. In other words, they would have to undergo a complete and genuine transformation that would produce good fruit in the world around them, rather than the destructive empire evil that they had been producing while using God's name.
The people who were duped into following them would have to repent as well, in order to receive Jesus. Their thinking and direction were all wrong according to Kingdom Values, because they followed the corrupt religious leaders who were in collusion with empire values. The people would have to receive Jesus with hearts ready to re-think and change direction, not just in how they thought and felt, but in how they ACTED in the world around them. The faithfulness of Jesus was centered on Agape Love (active commitment to the other), and not selfish, self-centered conceit. Faithfulness in Jesus would therefore have to be an expression of that same Agape Love in how one would live in the world destroyed by empire. This was to be a movement of faithfulness to God and Kingdom Values, which meant a movement in resistance to evil and empire values. Empty, outward signs meant to show everyone one's piety and position were not in order. This baptism was to be of true repentance, of the transformation of one's will and thinking and direction in living. It was the beginning of God's Kingdom Come and God's Will being done on earth as in heaven. They weren't ready for that. They had to repent in order to be ready for that.
Jesus is coming to you.
Are you ready to put away the false teachings that have eclipsed the teachings of Jesus in your life?
Are you ready to receive Jesus' teachings, commands and examples in how you will live your life?
Are you ready to give up devotion to personal wealth, power and status - the values of empire?
Are you ready to follow Jesus in how you live the Agape Love Jesus commanded?
Are you ready?
Take some time to change your thinking so that your direction will follow.
Read the Gospels and what the Jesus in those Gospels is witnessed as having taught, commanded and modeled for us.
Learn more about the living of Agape Love in the world as resistance to the evils of empire.
Change your thinking and direction, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near!
Live like you believe that.
Pastor Jamie
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