1. 19: Jesus
Coming Of Age
Luke 2:39 – 3:14, 21–22
#JohnandJesus

2. Luke 2 covers SO MUCH territory. Jesus is born
Luke 2 covers SO MUCH territory! Jesus is born. He is celebrated by angels and shepherds and the elders who have been lingering in the Temple. Jesus is circumcised and then dedicated to God (as was every firstborn son).

3. All this while camping in Bethlehem
All this while camping in Bethlehem. “When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.” Luke 2:39

4. Then the accounts become strangely thin
Then the accounts become strangely thin. Once Mary and Joseph are home and back to work, all they have time to write down is: “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.” 2:40 Then suddenly, twelve years go by, and Jesus has become a confident, independent, curious and teachable young man who gets absorbed in conversation with the Serious Religious at the Temple.

5. “And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished… And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.” Luke 2:47,52 There is so much we want to know about those years!!

6. There is an even bigger gap in the Biblical accounts of John’s life
There is an even bigger gap in the Biblical accounts of John’s life. After an enormous build up prior to his birth and great curiosity when he was born, we hear nothing more of his childhood.

7. WHY did God not wait until the digital age to send these two boys into the world???? Think what a great Twitter feed Mary and Elizabeth would have shared! #JohnandJesus

8. John’s name would have come first, of course.
He was older.
His ministry began first, and he was well known.
He would NEVER have gotten lost in a crowd!
“John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.”
(Matthew 3:4)

11. Are Crickets the Future of Food?
$36 for 12 bars.

12. His work required John to go totally off the grid
His work required John to go totally off the grid. (Why is the Christmas story is so full of these uncomfortable, inconvenient circumstances for the major players????? Why a pregnant bride for Joseph? … a stable for Mary? … now a desert for John? Just wondering.)

13. “So John went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Luke 3:3 Matthew tells us that people came flooding out from Jerusalem and Judea and all over the Jordan valley to hear him. Until this sermon, maybe. Did the crowds thin when they heard this?

14. “John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 3:7-9

15. These are strong words. Who are these people
These are strong words! Who are these people? Luke just calls them the crowd. Matthew identifies them as the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Serious Religious. The senior pastors and Bible teachers.

16. WHY is John so mad at them
WHY is John so mad at them? Maybe the key is tucked away in verse 8, where he says to them, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” John has been out in the desert for a while now, preaching and baptizing, and marveling at the revival that seems to be going on. Everyone who is anyone has been out to see and hear John.

17. How eager John was to hear what happened when they got back home
How eager John was to hear what happened when they got back home. Jerusalem must be a changed city! So many people living changed lives. No more anger, no more hate, no more cheating or stealing or lying. He scanned his twitter feed every morning. Surely these words would be trending: #generosity #fairness #justice

18. But he was disappointed. There is no evidence of substantial change
But he was disappointed. There is no evidence of substantial change. Being sorry is as far as it has gone. So on this day, with this sermon, he explodes. “You snakes!” he yells, “Produce fruit in keeping with your repentance!”

19. Repentance is more than just a good idea that you think about here in the desert. It is more than intellectually comprehending that there is a problem, agreeing with the truth of a sermon about sin. Repentance is more than just feeling guilty, even if you are very, very sorry. It is even more than going public with your confession, plunging into a muddy river to be baptized.

20. “Fruit,” John says. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance
“Fruit,” John says. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” If you are truly sorry, your actions will change, your relationships will change. You will live differently.

21. “So the crowds asked him, “What then should we do
“So the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 3:11 It’s really a brilliant answer. They/we don’t have to create a 501(c)3 to deliver overstocked camel hair coats to third world countries. It is just not that complicated.

22. John says fruitfulness is mostly about thoughtfulness, becoming aware of the needs around us. It is about gratitude, recognizing the abundance of what we have. It is about generosity, our hearts so secure in God that we can share the things we used to count on to keep us safe. Because God has been merciful to us, we can become merciful to others.

23. “Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” … 3:12 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” … 3:14 I think John starts rolling his eyes here. This repentance leading to results thing shouldn’t be this hard!

24. We admire his patience when he says simply, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to.” “Do not extort money. Be satisfied with your wages.” Honesty matters, fairness matters, how you make your money and how you treat people all matter. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance in your professional as well as your personal lives.

25. #fruit #John #JohnandJesus Immerse yourself so deeply in the love of God that it becomes safe enough to be generous, to be honest, to be fair.