Rev. George Miller
Jan 8, 2023
Matthew 3:1-17
Earlier this week, a problem arose in my home fish tank- brown algae appeared
on the plants, a sign of poor water chemistry, meaning too much waste in the water.
I did what was best- siphoned out a third of the water, removed décor, lifted
out the corner plant that had always been there.
The tank immediately turned dark as years of uneaten food and fish waste
filled the water- it was akin to a toilet overflowing.
For the fish, it probably felt like the end of the world, an apocalypse. But as author Rev. Roy Terry writes- there is
no end, only beginnings.
After the waste was removed, fresh, filtered water was poured in. The plant’s leaves and roots were pruned. Instead of putting it back in the corner, it
was placed in the middle of the tank.
The filter was turned on, and water conditioner put in. Within minutes the apocalypse was over; it
was a new tank.
Because the plant was no longer crunched into a corner, its leaves spread
out while the fish swam around, exploring their new beginning.
The waste filled water was taken outside to be poured over the trees so
that they could reap the benefits of the nutrients.
In the words of Diane, I was accountable to the tank- the fish would’ve suffered
if I did not act.
In the words of Tracy, the tank was now “pure.” In the words of Kim- the
fish experienced fulfillment.
New beginnings, accountability, purity, and fulfillment are things that
John, Jesus and Matthew are teaching us today.
It’s 30 winters after the manger, and the revolution has continued.
John is telling people that a new age is coming, offering them the choice
to turn away from the waste and decay of their ways.
He offers them a chance to be washed clean in the Jordan waters.
He sees the Sadducees and Pharisees standing there. He knows they’ve been influenced by Rome; he
knows they’re political puppets for the colonizing Romans.
He offers them a challenge- own up to who you are: be accountable. Show us by how you live that you have returned
to the righteous ways of life.
John uses harsh words, calling them poisonous snakes. He compares them to fruitless trees, with an
axe ready to cut them down and cast whatever’s not life producing into the
fire.
John’s critique can sound nasty, but he is talking in a way to get a point
across- a new age is coming.
The religious leaders need to take an honest look at what they are and
are not doing, because their behavior is not in line with the God of
justice, kindness, and humility.
I do not believe John is advocating violence. I don’t believe John is describing Jesus as a
weapon wielding avenger or threatening them with hell.
I believe John is talking in extremes to make a point.
I also believe that since John is living in an agricultural community, he
is using words and images that farmers would be most familiar with- harvest,
fruit, axes, fire.
If John is talking about any kind of suffering, I think he’s referring to
the spiritual, emotional suffering one goes through when they
-refuse to change, hold onto harmful ways, opt to exist in a cesspool of
filth rather than a tank of cleansed water.
If John was a fish tank enthusiast speaking at PetSmart, he may say “Keep
a clean tank. Waste is in your gravel. It will be stirred out and the water will be cast
outside.”
Think of it this way- if John was speaking to a community of house
cleaners, what would he say?
“Don’t think your cut corners won’t go unnoticed. A time is coming to see if your home is white
glove clean. Prepare for all the windows
to be opened so that you can be aired out.”
If John was speaking to a bunch of bakers, he may say “Be prepared to be
sifted like flour so that all of your lumps and clumps will be gone, and you
will better mix with all the other ingredients.”
John is very serious about his message, but I also believe he is speaking
in extremes because he truly wants what is best for the people.
I believe his act of Baptism isn’t because the people are horribly evil,
but that if they are to truly experience a fulfilled life, if they truly want
to be prepared to walk with the Lord,
there are things they can let go of, waste to be washed away, and accountability
to own up to.
I believe John wants what is best, even if it means calling the religious
leaders on where they have failed while still giving them a chance to get
right.
The words of John may sound harsh and destructive, but perhaps what’s he’s
truly trying to say is
“It’s time to let go of those things that don’t produce life. It’s time to hand over your broken hearts, be
honest about broken ways, and to throw out that which is harming you and
harming others.”
John is saying “That husk that you surround yourself with, it’s time to
let it go, so that the seed of love, the seed of compassion, the seed of faith
that dwells inside of you, can take root, and grow.”
I don’t believe that John is speaking harmful words of hellfire and end
time, but he is offering hope and new beginnings.
And that hope, that beginning starts when we are once again ready walk
with Jesus, even knowing that it will lead to the Cross.
Amen and amen.
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