​Advent 3 - People's expectations begin to Rise: John the Baptist's Levelling Up Agenda (Luke 3:10-18)

Advent 3 - People's expectations begin to Rise: John the Baptist's Levelling Up Agenda.
Luke 3: 10-18 & Philippians 4:4-7

Last week we read from Luke 3:1-6 about John the forerunner, preparing the Way for the One who was to come. 

His message was a baptism of repentance, a washing and a cleansing of the people’s inner life… The King is coming, was his message, mend not your roads, but your hearts. 

It is interesting, that in England, there is a lot of political talk about levelling up: the encouragement for the government to make strategic decisions to make sure that no part of the country gets left behind, and the wealth and development be spread more equitably across England to avoid a continuing slide whereby one part of England, the South East around London grows ever more wealthy and the rest of the country grows ever poorer. 

It has long been a problem in South Africa where I come from, but in fact it is a global problem. Just this week in the Daily Mail I think it was, I saw an article that says that global inequality is currently at its greatest.  

The message of John the Baptist in Luke’s Gospel also carries strong overtones of a levelling up agenda.  We saw it last week in the quote from Isaiah; every valley shall be filled, mountains and hills brought low, crooked ways made straight and the salvation of God will be seen. 

Now last week we interpreted these things primarily from the standpoint of our inner lives. 

There are valleys within us that need to be filled. There are mountains within that need to be brought low. There are also crooked paths within that need to be straightened.  And this is a legitimate interpretation of a passage like this. If there is no change within the human heart, then change in the world will never come. 

Wendy and I were listening to a BBC Radio 4 lecture on the dangers of Artificial Intelligence in the context of war and conflict. And the point that was being made is that this is not just science fiction stuff. This is not just future technology that our children and grandchildren are going to need to confront and address.  It already exists today and some of these AI weapons can be easily bought on the internet. 

After listening to the program and the discussion on how new international conventions need to be urgently signed to have common international agreement on the use of such weapons, (in the same way that happened with the existence of chemical weapons), the thought struck me is that what this world desperately needs is a new revolution of the spirit. We need a pandemic of inner transformation to sweep across the world where people’s hearts and changed and transformed into more altruistic modes of being. Old ways of thinking need to be transcended. There needs to be a global metanoia, a global change of heart and mind, a global change in the way people think to be more spirit driven, more driven by altruism and selflessness, and less driven by selfishness, self-protection and an ever increasing greed for more and more and better and better stuff. 

The revolution or metanoia, or change and transformation of the human heart and mind is perhaps more urgent today than it has ever been for the sake of the future of world peace and our common future together. 

And so, interpreting John’s message from an inner perspective is vital.  Change does indeed come from within. 

But the question we may equally ask, is what does change look like on the outside once a change takes place from within?

John has some very clear ideas, that sound very much like an outward levelling up… and indeed in some instances, a levelling down. 

We read in Luke’s Gospel that the people came to be baptised, and then began to ask John about those outward questions. Inner change is only true and real when it begins to bear fruit on the outside. And so they begin to ask John, what must we do. 

In other words, what does this life of repentance or metanoia look like in practical terms. John is very direct: 

His first answer: “If anyone has two tunics, he must share with the one who has none, and the one who has something to eat, must do the same”

This is about sharing and redistributing wealth to make sure that none are in need.  The spiritual life is not truly spiritual if it does not consider the well-being and needs of others. 

I grew up reading Peanuts comics.  We had Peanuts comics around the house that went back to my Dad’s teenage. Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Snoopy were like extended family members in our house. One of the Peanuts comics has always stood out.  Brian Zopf describes it very well on an internet post. He writes: 

“In the 1st frame Snoopy stands shivering next to his doghouse in the snow. In the second frame Charlie Brown and Linus come by, all bundled in their warm winter clothes, scarves, hats and gloves. Upon seeing Snoopy freezing, Linus leans down to pat his head and says: “Be of good cheer, Snoopy.” To which Charlie responds: “Yes. Be of good cheer.” They walk on together and the final frame shows Snoopy, still freezing, outside in the cold.

The message is quiet, but clear--powerful, and convicting. The tragedy wasn't their lack of compassion, but their lack of action. They didn't do anything. Well-wishers are one thing; but actions speak louder than words.”

When the people ask John the Baptist, his message is clear, powerful and convicting, that people’s compassion should be expressed in clear outward acts of care:

“If anyone has two tunics, he must share with the one who has none, and the one who has something to eat, must do the same”.

One of the things that Christians have been encouraged to do for centuries during the season of Advent and Christmas is to give generously towards the poor and those who are struggling. 

The figure of Father Christmas was originally modelled on St Nicholas, who had a reputation for generosity and kindness expressed towards the poor and the needy. 

It is interesting that after the Reformation, devotion to St Nicholas disappeared in all the Protestant countries of Europe except Holland, where his legend persisted as ‘Sinterklaas’ (a Dutch pronunciation of the name St. Nicholas). From Holland, Sinterklaas was exported to the new colonies in America where he became Santa Claus and who we know today as Father Christmas. And so the very origin of Father Christmas was not the giving of gifts to family members and those who will give gifts back to us in return, but the giving of gifts of love and care for the poor and the needy, those unable to return the favour. 

Even Mark Twain’s English Classic “A Christmas Carol” which centres on the inner transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, is a reminder of the message of John the Baptist that in preparing for the coming of Christ, and for us, preparing for the celebration of Christmas, we too are encouraged to act in ways that contribute to the long term levelling up of the world and society.  

“If anyone has two tunics, he must share with the one who has none, and the one who has something to eat, must do the same”.

But John’s message does not stop there: 

When the Tax Collectors who were baptised asked John what they should do his reply was equally direct: “Take no more than what you are required”.  This is a message of restraining the bottomless pit of greed. 

When some soldiers asked him in their turn “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them “No intimidation! No Extortion! Be content with your pay!” 

A message again of curbing the never ending cycles of greed and finding contentment in what one already has. 

And that take us to our Philippians passage: In it, Paul reminds the Philippian Christians of the peace that passes understanding. A reminder that the birth of Jesus at Christmas in a stable and laid in a humble manger, points us to a contentment and a peace that comes from a deeper source.  And it is in being baptised, or immersed into that peace of God that passes all understanding, that we can be released from our fears and which enables us to trust more deeply in God’s provision and so enables us to be generous towards others and especially towards those who are struggling. 

Luke 3:15 says that a feeling of expectancy had grown among the people.  As we follow John’s advice, as we express generosity to those who are struggling this Christmas, which includes people in our own communities, may a feeling of expectancy grow within us this Christmas, the expectancy of God moving in new ways within us and amongst us. Amen.