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Making It Preach

After all the talk, the first step of walking the walk is repentance. This John the Baptist groupie has not murdered anyone, committed adultery, stolen valuable property; neither have most Christians. But, she does come to the realization that even a relatively small secret sin can keep her from fully opening her heart to God. Having repented and been given the assurance of God's love for her, the waters of baptism wash her clean in a mighty rush of grace. No matter how far along one is on the Christian journey, it is crucial to periodically return to the river to be cleansed and to reclaim new life in Christ. Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).


Making It Play

Remember falling in love with a teacher, heart throb actor, or rock star? The unreachable factor does not discourage fantasies of a great romance. Draw upon the giddy, emotion-packed memories and act accordingly: Age does not necessarily make much difference in how these feelings play themselves out. John has had that effect on this new believer, who epitomizes the term starry-eyed. She does not realize that some of her feelings derive from the joyful release from guilt and shame that repentance brings. She just rides the euphoria and uncertainty and attributes them to John. She may play with her head covering rather than wearing it, as she lets the congregation in on her agonizing, tantalizing secret.


Can She Break The Baptist's Heart After He Has Cleansed Hers?

(enters, singing a bit of Gene Pitney's classic, "He's A Rebel")

Oh, who am I kidding? He doesn't even know I exist. Nevertheless, things cannot go on as they are. His wardrobe is deplorable, though in a rugged, manly sort of way. Camel's hair is definitely rugged. But, I can't invite him to my parents' house for a nice, kosher sabbath meal dressed like that! And, his eating habits ... now, I have nothing against exotic, and wild honey sounds exotic and succulent, but locusts? I can just see my mother beginning the sabbath prayers when John's hand swoops up, grabs a moth, and pops it into his mouth as an appetizer! No, this is never going to work. It's best if I just end it now, even if it never really started.

I'll have to send a message to him. What should it say? "Dear John ..." Oh, how could I do this? He'll be crushed! Under all that ranting and raving, John is a very sensitive man. I could tell from the moment I looked into his eyes. "Sister, do you repent of your sins?" That is what he said when I first saw him in the Jordan River, none of that nice weather we're having small talk for him, no sir, he went straight to the point. Or, maybe straight to the heart would be a better way of saying it, straight to my heart. You see, I had been thinking a lot about my sins ever since my cousin, Andrew, came back one day and said that he'd been baptized by John in the Jordan after repenting.

"What's repenting?" I asked. Girls weren't allowed to go to the classes with the rabbi, so I was kind of behind on all that religious stuff.

"It means you have to turn away from your sins and turn back to God, Stu ..." He was about to call me Stupid, but then he remembered that he had just repented and been baptized and all that. It seemed to me like a big improvement in Andrew, and trust me, there was plenty of room for improvement!

So, I decided to start thinking about my own sins. I went through the Ten Commandments, like a quiz, seeing how I'd come out. Actually, I was doing pretty well. I run around a bit too much on the sabbath. I did take my sister's bracelet once, but I felt so guilty, I gave it back right away. Never mind that she has three of them, and I don't have any! I haven't blamed anybody for something they didn't do since I was about five years old. Yeah, I was doing well until I got to that last commandment about not coveting. Whew! I really blew it there. Ever since we were small and I pushed her down to get her new skirt dirty, I have been jealous of my sister. Her beautiful complexion and eyes, her laugh, her graceful walk, and her ability to charm anyone, even Andrew, into doing things for her ... I wanted it all! I would criticize her when she was around (only, subtly, so my parents wouldn't notice), then, when she was gone, I would try to be like her. My mother noticed that! So, she took a break from baking one day, grabbed me by the arm, and led me to the field across from our house.

"Look at the flowers," she said. "Which is the prettiest?" I looked at them all, and just as I was about to make a selection, another one would catch my eye, then another.

Finally, I just told her, "They are all pretty in their own way. I don't think I could choose."

"Neither can God. Smell your own fragrance. It's lovely." That's all she said, and she turned around and hurried back inside to her bread.

Unfortunately, I didn't get it, not until I did the Ten Commandment thing. But, even when I realized it, I knew I couldn't just change how I felt like that, at least not by myself. So, I swallowed my pride and went down to where Andrew was mending his nets. I asked if that John guy baptized females, too. He said he saw all kinds of people, men and women, at the river that day. So, it was decided. I just needed to come up with a good excuse to get out of my chores, which Andrew had no trouble making up, and I was off to the river.

As I stood there in line, my confidence dwindled. What if I get up there and that holy man just looks at me and goes, "Forget it. You're hopeless!" But, then I heard his voice, John's voice calling out clear and strong, "Prepare the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!" Suddenly, I was filled with this desire to prepare my heart for the coming of the Messiah. But, before I could ask how, John seemed to answer my question. "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near!"

Andrew's words echoed through my head. "It means you have to turn away from your sins and turn back to God."

"Okay, God," I prayed. "I think I'm ready. I don't want to stay in the shadows, trying to steal my sister's sunshine."

Then, as if he heard my prayer, the man standing next to me turned and told me about how, on the previous day, John baptized the one he said was to be the Messiah. And, when he was baptized, the heavens opened and a voice said, "This is my beloved Son. With him, I am well pleased."

"You are his beloved daughter," he suddenly said to me. "Take heart." I quickly glanced at John, and when I looked back at the stranger, he was gone. But, his words did something to my heart. I felt free. I felt loved. I was ready to repent of my sins and turn back to the God who created and loves me. I was ready to be plunged into those muddy waters and emerge, smelling my own fragrance, and loving it!

Then, I heard John preaching, "I baptize you with water, but the one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!" From the way my heart was burning, I had a feeling that the one coming after him had been the one standing next to me, reassuring me that I, too, was precious in God's sight.

The next thing I knew, it was my turn to be baptized, and that's when I first saw John's eyes and melted. His voice was rich and gentle. "Sister, do you repent of your sins?" All I could do was nod. (nods, in love) And then, he touched me. He put his strong fingers on my scarf, and I wanted that touch to last forever. Then, his grip got firmer, and he plunged my head into the water so fast that my scarf flew off and I got water up my nose! But, then he pulled me out into the sunshine before you could say John the Baptist and overall, it was a rather exhilarating experience --aexcept for the water up my nose! It was all over so quickly. By the time I had cleared my nose, wiped my eyes, and found my scarf, John was already plunging the next person into the cloudy deep. But, I knew I would never forget him.

Now, Andrew and I share something profound. Go figure! That is something I never would have dreamed could be possible! Andrew is even one of John's disciples, now. I have been wanting to go back to the river to rekindle our relationship, but practicality keeps stopping me ... and safety. You see, John's words cut at people's hearts and challenge them to really live out their faith, and that has annoyed a lot of the officials and even King Herod. What John says is the truth; it's a gift that God has given him. But, he'd better be careful how loudly he says it!

You know, with a good haircut and tailor, and definitely some lessons on mealtime etiquette, it might have worked. But, why does he have to be such a rebel? Oh well, I'd better figure out how to let him down easy. Pray for him, will you? And, I'll pray for you, that each of you will go to the river, and that your hearts will be pierced by his words so that the one who comes after John can get in and change your lives forever! You won't regret it!

(Walks off, singing "He's A Rebel")