"And his food was locusts and wild honey ..."

We've spent the past few weeks discussing the work of OT prophets, so John the Baptist (or "The Baptizer" as our lesson called him) is an absolutely appropriate transitional figure. I find the descriptions of the Baptizer absolutely riveting. Later in the passage we discussed this morning, when giving his testimony, John the Baptist says (John 1: 23): "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." A few verses later he says (verse 34): "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
The Gospel of Luke reports that as crowds approached him to be baptized, John said (Luke 3:7-9):

"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 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. 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."

Might I remind you that people were FLOCKING to this man! How would we respond to someone who spoke to us like that? When was the last time you took one step closer to someone who called you a brood of vipers? Not only were people attracted to this camel's hair and leather belt wearing, locust and wild honey eating, wilderness wandering Baptizer, they sought his counsel. They asked: "What shall we do?" He answered with TRUTH. Luke later notes (verse 18): "So with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people." And what was the Baptizer's reward for his witness? Herod locked him up.

So what about us? Should you point your finger at the brood of vipers in the office down the hall from yours? Probably not. But who needs to hear your testimony? More important, who needs to hear the Good News? Scroll over to Matthew 5:13-16:

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feed. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Let's be salt and light this week.

Why am I always so glad to have to cut my notes short? Because it means our class was filled with discussion. Thanks again for a great class.