Straighten (Easter - Day 12)

(Based on Luke 3:1-14)

In the time of the rule of Caesar Tiberius, a man named John - the son of Zachariah - was out in the desert, preaching a baptism of life-change and forgiveness of sins.  

According to historians, Tiberius had summoned all Jews living in the region to join the Roman army. Eventually, he forced them out of the city, and that's where we find John. It was common in those times, in an empire which had many gods, for the emperor to add himself to that list. They would refer to themselves as "sons of man, sons of God, and lord of lords." Emperors would ride through the city on horse-drawn chariots, and the roads would be maintained and freed of debris, pot holes, and bumps in order to make a comfortable ride for the emperor. 

If you were a citizen of Rome, you were expected to present offerings to the emperor, and in some cases the emperor would offer forgiveness of sins. 

John is outside of the city, in the desert, by a river, baptizing. 

We're given three types of people who are showing up to get baptized: those who are doing it because it's popular, tax collectors, and Roman soldiers. 

When John announced to the crowds that they needed a changed life, the tax collectors asked, "What should we do?"

John responded, "If you have two coats, give one away. Do the same with your food."

The tax collectors asked, "What should we do?"

John responded, "Quit extorting, and only collect what's required by law."

The soldiers asked, "Quit accusing people falsely, and be content with your pay."

John was implying that in the baptism of life-change required leaving the systems that called for taking advantage of other people. We're not told in this passage that anybody actually got baptized with water, but John instead uses the word to describe one's turning from a life of social injustice to a life of treating others with dignity. 

He says, "Don't think that getting a little water on your skin will do the job. This is about your life changing."

All this was to crescendo the arrival of a different kind of emperor - one who would travel on feet, in the desert, away from the center of the city. Essentially, John is saying that the one who is coming will be proclaiming a message of justice for the poor and the disadvantaged, and he is preparing the crowds for this message. If they are extorting, then get ready for this new emperor. If they are keeping their clothes and food for themselves while people around them are suffering, then get ready for this new emperor.

This new emperor won't be demanding offerings, won't be riding through town on gold chariots, and won't be exiling anyone. This person will be the voice of hope, justice, and forgiveness. 

Baptism is about setting things right in our relationships with the world around us. It's about stepping out of any systems that call for attaining success on the backs of others, hoarding stuff while people around us are barely getting by or not getting by at all, and stockpiling money while others barely have any.