Baruch 5:1-9 / Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 / Luke 3:1-6
As we are about to come to end of another year, we can begin to look back and see what were the news that made headlines.
To begin with let’s look at the local scene. In March this year, we mourned the passing of our country’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew.
We remember the crowds that went to pay their last respects at the Parliament House and the moving and emotional funeral.
Lee Kuan Yew was certainly missed as Singapore celebrates SG50 and at the National Day Parade, the chair that he usually sat on was left empty, and a bouquet of flowers was placed on it, in remembrance of him.
Nonetheless, the SG50 celebrations was indeed an occasion to remember as our country unites itself in recalling what makes it uniquely Singaporean.
Then there was the General Elections in September which was hotly contested and we wondered about the outcome, which of course we now know already.
That was certainly enough of the local big news that we can remember and enough to say that 2015 is a happening year for Singapore.
On the international scene, there was much to recap but enough to say all will be history soon.
The gospel began with the recalling of a bit of history – “In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, …”
And following that were the big names of that year – Pontius Pilate the governor, the tetrarchs Herod, Philip and Lysanias, the chief priests Annas and Caiaphas.
They were in big positions and in high places. It’s enough to say they were the high and mighty ones who called the shots.
Though they were high and mighty, this is what history remembers of them:
Tiberius was one of Rome's greatest generals. But he came to be remembered as a dark, reclusive,
and somber ruler who never really desired to be emperor, and he was called "the gloomiest of men."
Pontius Pilate is best known from the biblical account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. It was he who sentenced Jesus to be crucified.
Herod (Antipas) is best known today for accounts in the New Testament of his role in events that led to the executions of John the Baptist and indirectly the crucifixion of Jesus.
So they were big names and they held positions of power and authority. But what they were known for was certainly nothing big to talk about.
History remembers them not for any legacy but as tragedy.
But last on that name list is John, son of Zechariah, aka John the Baptist.
What sets him apart from the earlier ones was that the Word of God came to him in the wilderness, a barren and lowly place.
John the Baptist then went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He was the voice that cried out in the wilderness to prepare a way for the Lord.
Though he was eventually executed, John the Baptist left behind a legacy. He was the one who prepared the way for the Saviour by pointing out who He was.
And during the season of Advent, John the Baptist is remembered for his legacy.
During this time of the year, what we hear is “Season’s greetings” and “Happy holidays”.
But the reason for the season is none other than Jesus; Jesus is the reason for the season.
John the Baptist and his message of repentance and forgiveness of sins remind us of that.
But John the Baptist also reminded us that when the Word of God came to him, he accepted it and he did what God wanted of him. He didn’t say he was a nobody who stayed in the wilderness. He didn’t make any excuses.
He was the greatest of all prophets because he didn’t make excuses, nor compared himself with those other big names.
In fact, John the Baptist continued the legacy of the other biblical characters when the Word of God came upon them and they did what God wanted of them.
For example, Abraham was too old, Moses stuttered, Jacob was a liar, Gideon doubted, Elijah was burned out, David had an affair and even had someone killed, Isaiah had unclean lips, Jeremiah was too young, Jonah didn't like the job, Amos only knew how to prune trees, Paul was a persecutor,
Timothy had ulcers, Lazarus was dead, Martha was a aunty-worry.
But the Word of God empowered them to rise to the occasion and become some of the greatest models of our faith.
We are to carry on this legacy of accepting the Word of God as John the Baptist and the rest of the biblical figures did.
The repentance that is required of us is to stop making excuses and to let the Word of God empower us.
Because if we want it, we will find a way. If we don’t want it, then we will find an excuse.
When we don’t make excuses, we will see the salvation of God and the reason for the season.
Otherwise this season will not be worth remembering.