ADVENT - PEACE
Jesus is coming - are you ready? Matthew 3:1-12 - Sunday 7 December 2025
The Preaching of John the Baptist
3 In those days [a]John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying, 2 “[b]Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the road for the Lord,
[c]Make His highways straight (level, direct)!’”
4 Now this same John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a [wide] leather [d]band around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the [e]Pharisees and [f]Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the [divine] wrath and judgment to come? 8 So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; 9 and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham. 10 And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is [g]swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “As for me, I baptize you [h]with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with [i]fire (judgment). 12 His [j]winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”
Are you ready for Christmas?
Are you a super organised person, or somewhat organised, or last minute?
Running analogy - are you like an elite runner/planner, or a mid pack planner, or back of the pack.
John the Baptist was a runner of sorts - a forerunner for Jesus.
He told those who were flocking to see him that Jesus is coming and is far more important - mighty, noble, powerful, baptising those who truly repent with the Holy Spirit.
He was a character. He called out the religious leaders.
He said 'repent, for the kingdom is near' - a warning or an invitation?
What is repent?
Change your inner self, your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance, seek God's purpose for your life.
In the OT, the verb for 'repent' is deeply shaped by the Jewish experience of exile, to return from exile to be in God's presence, to follow the prepared path back into relationship with the One who created us and who loves us beyond our imagination.
In the NT the Greek word for repent means to 'go beyond the mind that you have', to see things differently, to think differently, to live and act differently.
As we change:
- we live more in step with our creator's character and seek his purpose
- we become more aware of HIS vision for his creation
- for the world to be a place of peace and equality, not fear and hatred,
- but compassion and love, hope and joy
Approaching Christmas, we are reminded of this peace and remember Jesus' birth.
John the Baptist's words may be a warning - if we stray too far off the path towards God , then it is right we are corrected.
But they may also be an invitation - to help us stay on the path.
What about you?
Are you in exile?
Are you separated from the loving God?
Are you on your way back to freedom?
Are you coming back into relationship with God the Father, your Creator, the one who knows you and loves you better than you know or love yourself?
Peace - there is a deep mystical reality to the kind of peace that Jesus brings. And only Jesus brings.
A peace that transcends our understanding.
A peace we can experience in spite of any storm in our life.
A peace not dependent on life being smooth.
3 challenges to consider:
- Take these words of John the Baptist as an invitaton to repent, to change.
- Take the time to daydream what God's vision for you might be - for you to be and to do - how He is transforming you.
- Choose one area of your life to repent in.
Remember!
You are never on your own.
You have God's Holy Spirit.
You have a community to encourage you and build you up.
You can learn and grow with others.
Is God inviting you to participate or contribute to his church?
Is He asking you to make yourself open and available to His leading?
Consider these things as you get ready to celebrate Jesus' birth this Christmas, as you put Jesus and the Kingdom of God at the centre.
