A Different Kind of Revolution

John the Baptist certainly sounded like a revolutionary. But he was calling for a different kind of revolution than any we have seen before or since. 

Transcript

A Different Kind of Revolution

Luke 3:7–14 (ESV)

7 He said therefore 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? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Many countries around the world have experienced upheaval and revolution. One of the deadliest on our side of the globe was the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s. On one side were the governing class backed by the United States, on the other were communist rebels backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union. In the middle was an unexpected heroic figure, Roman Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero. 

In the movie inspired by his life, there is a confrontation between Archbishop Romero and an ally, a priest named Father Morantes. It occurs after the government has murdered a priest, a friend of Morantes. Romero comes to his office and the priest asks him, "Are you ready now to accept the way it really is?" Morantes feels, as many in his position did, that the only way to defend was to take up arms. He tells the archbishop that the call of Jesus is to stand with and defend his people. Romero, having remained his usual quiet self up until this point, yells, “You’re not defending! You're attacking! And you lose God, just as they have." 

There is no question that the coming of the Lord signals the start of a revolution, of the Lord’s revolution. But it’s not like any kind of revolution we’re used to seeing. Most revolutions are about forcing others to change to our point of view. This revolution is about us being led to change to God’s point of view. 

John the Baptizer fits the bill for a revolutionary. He may not have been a fire and brimstone preacher, but he was definitely an “axe laid to the root of the tree” kind of preacher. “You brood of vipers!” he tells the crowds on the banks of the Jordan River. “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Is that a rhetorical question? I don’t think so. The crowds are there for a reason – so who warned them? Will they be honest with themselves and say the Word of the Lord?

Later in the Gospels Jesus will ask people what they thought they were going out to see. Luke records Jesus’ words in the 7th chapter of his Gospel.           

“When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

The tax collectors, the soldiers, the wealthy all went out with humble hearts. They knew they were unclean – the whole world was unclean. Going to synagogue and Temple didn’t seem to make things better. The religious leaders, however, did not come in humility. They “rejected the purpose of God for themselves.” Outwardly, their actions seemed good and right and just. But inwardly, their hearts were as far from the Lord as they could get.

John’s call to revolution was for minds to be changed and hearts to be humbled. He wanted the crowds to become empty cups ready to receive the Lord’s blessings. Some were ready for the revolution. Many were not.

What about you? Are you here because you’ve been “wakened by the solemn warning” as the Advent hymn says? And who woke you? The warnings of the Lord are all around, but sometimes it takes a “John the Baptizer” to point the warnings out. 

John was sent to baptize “in the wilderness of Judea.” You can read that two ways. It could mean the part of Judea that was wilderness. Or it could mean the wilderness that people called “Judea.” 

We live in the wilderness of Montreal. A city known for its “pride” (let the reader understand). Proud of our heritage, our culture, our libertinism, our foods and drinks. What about our homeless encampments? Our undrivable roads? 

My best friend from college lives over on St. Denis. We got together for lunch shortly after I moved here, and I asked what he liked about Montreal. He’s originally from Winnipeg. He talked about the music, the arts, the food and the culture. Then he sighed and said, “But it’s so racist.” 

We can be Pharisees about these things, preaching at others to change while our own hearts remain stubborn and self-righteous. Or we throw our lot in with the soldiers, the tax collectors, and the wealthy, and say “What shall we do? What has to change IN ME? Of what do *I* need to repent?” You cannot be driven both by pride and repentance.  Not in this revolution that is starting on the banks of the Jordan. 

This revolution is less about a change of behaviour in others and more about a change of heart in ourselves. “Reconciliation” is a deep theme in Luke’s Gospel. “Repentance” – having a ‘changed mind’ is the next important theme. This revolution is not about attacking others and making them change.  It’s about asking the question, “What shall *I* do?” If I’m a soldier? Or a tax collector? Or materially blessed?

How a changed mind affects behaviour turns out to be, well, hardly revolutionary. Soldiers shouldn’t extort money by force. Tax collectors should only collect what they must. The materially blessed ought to share what they have, because what you’ve been given is really the Lord’s. Because this revolution starts here, in the heart. And from there, in fits and starts, it flows out to our behaviour. 

The Pharisees came to check out John to see if he was a threat to their way of life. He was. The Lord’s ongoing revolution always is. The soldiers, tax collectors and prosperous came because they wanted a NEW way of life, and John baptized them into a revolution that would change the world. He announced that their sins were forgiven,and their hearts would forever be changed.

This revolution is not about attacking others and making them change. It’s about asking the question, “What shall WE do?” We who are soldiers, or tax collectors, or materially blessed. We who are lawyers, or salespeople, or office workers. We who are immigrants and citizens, parents and children. What shall WE do? 

Those stumbling around blaming everyone and everything else for the state of the world, the irreligious and atheist Pharisees of our world, the ones commanding others to change but will not change themselves, are missing out.

But if you’re asking the question and not running from John in self-righteous disgust at him, then the thing that needs to happen is already happening. The Lord is already at work, and your mind is being changed!  If you REALLY WANT TO KNOW the answer to what shall “WE” do, then welcome to the revolution. You’re in.

Two of my top three most disliked Christmas songs come from members of the Beatles. “So This Is Christmas” by John Lennon, and “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney. But there is one nice Beatles Advent song I do like: Talking ‘Bout a Revolution:

[Verse 1]

You say you want a revolution / Well, you know / We all wanna change the world

You tell me that it's evolution / Well, you know / We all wanna change the world

[Pre-Chorus]

But when you talk about destruction / Don't you know that you can count me out?

[Verse 2]

You say you got a real solution / Well, you know / We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution / Well, you know / We're all doin' what we can

[Pre-Chorus]

But if you want money for people with minds that hate / All I can tell you is, brother, you have to wait

The Lord’s revolution is not one of outward acts. It starts in the heart. It is all about a change of heart and a change of mind. It is a revolution of repentance, which then leads to small acts of love and mercy and grace. All of this is driven by Jesus our Lord, the original revolutionary, who saved the world not through killing, but through his own cross.

Amen.