John the Baptist’s Words Were the Lord’s, Fulfilling People’s ExpectationsJanuary 11, 2019 • Rev. Scott T. Holcombe  • BISHOP'S SERMONS • DIOCESAN FAMILY • REACHING OUT

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First Sunday after the Epiphany
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Lectionary Year C

Luke 3:15a “As the people were filled with expectation…” What created that expectation?

  • Jesus had not been baptized. (not until verse 21)
  • No one had yet seen the Holy Spirit descend in bodily form (not until verse 22)
  • God had not audibly spoken, “You are my Son, the Beloved…” (not until verse 22)

Yet there in the wilderness, all the people were in expectation. What created that expectation?

A careful reading of Luke 3 reveals that:

  • The political climate was barbaric, cruel, and morally corrupt.
  • The religious climate acted out by Caiaphas (but really run by the corrupt high priest Annas)had little impact on the day-to-day faith lived out by the masses.
  • There had been a total vacuum of a prophetic voice in Israel for more than 350 years.

Yet, in the wilderness lived John, one lone voice crying out to any who would listen.

And crowds came from all over Judea to hear what he had to say.

The expectation of the people was created by the skillful and anointed preaching of One who told the truth.

  • No sugar coating.
  • No power of positive thinking.
  • No words of pablum-like encouragement.

John spoke with authority.

  •    He called the people a “brood of vipers.”
  • He reminded them about the coming wrath of God and judgment.
  • He called them to lives of holiness, faithfulness and obedience and not just going through the motions.
  • He called the crowd to faith in action. Share your extra coat. If you have food, share it.

To tax collectors and soldiers, he said: Be fair, do not extort excess from others.

And this anointed preaching called the crowd to a saving, radical faith. A faith characterized by repentance, humility, charity, and most of all action.

Anointed preaching cultivates expectation. God-breathed words and exhortations challenge believers to live godly, sober, and honest lives.

If the people were in expectation, it was because they recognized the words were not from John the Baptist, but directly from the Lord.

When the people heard the truth, they responded to truth.

And when they looked deep within their hearts, they realized that they needed a radical change in lifestyle, in belief, in faith, and in action.

Preachers … are we creating that expectation in the lives of God’s people whom we serve? Do we preach prophetically and anoint as directed by the Word of God? Are we seeing lives radically changed by the good news of God in Christ Jesus?

Dare to preach in expectation.

And then dare to watch that expectation germinate in the lives of the people you serve.

– The Rev. Scott T. Holcombe is rector of St. David’s by-the-Sea in Cocoa Beach.