Scripture/Sermon of the Day. January 12, 2025

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection/Sermon:

I.     When people came to the wilderness to hear John the Baptist, he said:

“You brood of vipers! … Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The people asked:  “What should we do then?”

John said, “If you have two shirts, give one to someone who needs it.  And do the same with your food.”

II.     Later, Jesus taught the same thing.  He said, “Give to those who ask you.”  Which is what he did.  He fed thousands.  He was a doctor to many people.  He served lepers, the blind, the deaf — people who were crippled.  Jesus waited on officers in the Roman Legion, he served foreigners.  He advised rich people to share their money with the poor.  Jesus even cleaned people’s feet.

He taught:  Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.  (Mark 10:44).  He said:  “The greatest among you will be your servant.”  (Matthew 23:11)

And: “If you want to follow me, do the right thing:  feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty and clothing to people who don’t have any.  Visit someone in prison.  Be kind and talk to strangers.  Be a good listener when people talk to you.  And open your eyes — I’m the foreigner you want to deport — so stop it!  Let me live here with you — with dignity — I’m your neighbor, so give me some love!”  (Matthew 25:35)

III.    Pretty much, what John and Jesus are telling us to do if we are practicing our religion is to be good butlers and buttresses.

There’s controversy in some states because leaders want public schools to teach Christianity.  We could avoid that whole issue just by changing the name.  We don’t need to call it Christianity — IF YOU WANT STUDENTS TO BE GOOD CHRISTIANS, TEACH THEM HOW TO SERVE PEOPLE.  Call the classes “Buttler sciences.”  Because Jesus didn’t teach theology or religion — he taught, by his example, how to wait on people — how to be a servant. 

Jesus was a waiter — a butler.  A personal valet.  He told people how to pack their luggage for a trip — just bring one of whatever you need.  He waited on people — thousands of them. He prepared food.  Jesus was a doctor who made house calls.  Jesus gave people water when they were thirsty.  Jesus was a butler.  He was a hygienist — he washed people’s feet.

IV.      I realized this after reading an article in The Week magazine about a school in the Netherlands, The International Butler Academy.  Like Jesus, butlers help people with their clothing — what to bring on trips.  What to share with others —what to get rid of.  He helps people with their meals and sometimes even their bathing.  A butler helps when his master is ill — he makes the medical appointment.  If the master — or principal — is in prison, the butler will visit.  Or he will listen when spoken to.  As I read the article, I saw that everything a good butler was trained to do — that’s what Jesus did — and told his followers to do.  In Jesus, God came to us as a butler.

V.      I wonder — next time I do a baptism — like John did there in the Jordan River — instead of telling the parents, will you teach your children about Jesus — instead of saying that, I could say, “Would you teach your child to serve others, to be the best butler or buttress they can be?”

Should I say that?  What’s the difference?  Remember — Jesus said, “I was thirsty and you gave me a glass of water.  He didn’t say, “I was thirsty and you and you gave me a lesson on the Trinity.  Jesus didn’t say, “I was thirsty and you told me what I needed to do to be saved” — No — if I’m thirsty, just give me some water!

Jesus was a servant.  When he says “Follow me” — he intends for us to be the same for others. 

God doesn’t call us to be great theologians, but great lovers.