What Was John the Baptist Really Asking?

10 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ 

If you were sitting in worship, or listening at home, you most likely heard the Gospel, from Luke 3:7-18, Sunday with John the Baptist’s Life-altering call to repentance. 

John was very clear about what the repentance was to be about:  Change your ways.  Share with those in need.  Don’t cheat. Be honest in your words and actions. Be grateful for what you have; and don’t bully others for more.

That is, don’t be chaff, but good wheat.

John was their modern day prophet.  He was telling them what they, probably, did not want to hear.

John was setting the stage, so to speak, for the coming Messiah — the most humble of servants.  And what he would expect from those who came to believe in him:

 Live with my new set of rules.

Don’t just look after yourself with a greedy mind set.   

I am going to ask you to reorient your cultural and religious values. 

I will ask for a complete self-examination -- a radical change of mine.

Don’t come to me with a “brood-of-viper’s” mentality. 

Those well-protected human concerns just won’t wash with my way of living. 

You see, in-order to understand Jesus’ call to love God and neighbor above all else. They needed to radially adjust their thinking to the truth of the first and most important commandment. 

They will need to pay attention to John’s call to turn around — repent.  To clear out the old.  And prepare for entirely different ways thinking and acting.   

This is what will bring the "good-news" to be born in the baby Jesus:

Peace and good-will abounding across the whole earth. 

Imagine for a moment — perhaps many moments -- This life altering change John The Baptist is calling for all people to hear -- all people.  Change that will affect all you hold dear.

I can’t name your private treasures.  

But I can name what most Americans hold dearest: money, security, power, social status, comfort, good food (and plenty of it), soft mattress.

‘What then should we do?’

What is it you wouldn’t want to share?

What are the behaviors you wouldn’t want to have to change?

 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? ⁸Bear 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. ⁹Even now the axe 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?’ ¹¹In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ ¹²Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ ¹³He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ ¹⁴Soldiers 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, ¹⁶John 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. ¹⁷His 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.(Luke 3:7-18)