By the River

Baptismal renewals in the Jordan River, 2012 • Pastor Chris Nunley and myself

Read Matthew 3.

"When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers!..." (Matthew 3:7).

Well, John sure knew how to "win friends and influence people," didn't he? Imagine if I stood up on Sunday morning, saw the people who were coming in the door to the church and began my sermon with John's words: "You brood of vipers!" How many do you think would come back next week? How many do you think would even stay to hear anything else I had to say?

Try to picture the scene in your mind: John had been baptizing down in the Judean desert (not up in Galilee, where most tourists are taken today) and he has become quite popular. His simple message of repentance has been connecting with people, stirring their hearts. Granted, there are likely some who just come out of curiosity, and that includes, apparently, some of the religious leaders from Jerusalem. Pharisees, lay people concerned with holiness, and Sadducees, largely wealthy people who are "in power" and connected to the Temple, come together to see what was going on that interested the people down in the desert.

They aren't unlike some today who are attracted by "the latest fad," even in religion. People show up when there's a crowd. There might even be some in churches today who get "swept up" in the excitement and the enthusiasm that comes when a large crowd gathers and they may even get baptized and join the church. They may not be interested in Jesus, but they want to be a part of the group.

There appear to be the same sorts of folks who gathered there by the Jordan River. Some were deeply interested in repentance (remember, they hadn't met Jesus yet) and were moved by John's message toward a genuine change in their lives. But others were what we might call "hangers on," those who just wanted to be a part, to see what was happening in the latest religious fad, and probably moved on, unmoved by the preaching or the waters of baptism. John has the spiritual discernment (and courage) to put the Pharisees and Sadducees in the latter group, and he calls them out on it. Specifically, he warns them (and the whole group by the river) that without "fruit," repentance and baptism aren't worth anything. They're empty symbols until "fruit" begins to appear. Until our lives evidence the change we proclaim, our words, our memberships and our associations aren't worth anything.

So, you're standing by the river, and there's a crowd there. Which group are you a part of? What would John say to you?