December 9, 2018 Text: Luke 3:7-18
Dear Friends in Christ,
A few years ago, there was a story about Bill Adamson, a delivery truck driver in Hamtramck, Michigan. Bill said: “I thought I could handle anything,” – until an unknown assailant stuck a .25 caliber gun in his chest and fired. “There was a burning sensation. I felt like somebody kicked me in the chest. As a matter of fact, I thought he’d shot me with a blank gun, so I figured I’d jam it in his nose . . . Then I thought, enough is enough. So I got up and walked two steps and my legs were like rubber bands and down I went.”
In our text for today, we see John the Baptist – whom Jesus later describes as the greatest preacher of all time – preaching against those who think they are strong but in reality are not strong enough. With the Law, John shows them their inherent weaknesses and utter inadequacy; and with the Gospel, he comforts them with the promise of the “Stronger One” – Jesus Christ – who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. In short, John shows them . . .
“WHEN STRONG IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH”
Do you need the “Stronger One?” Do you ever struggle to be strong enough? Sure you do. On this side of heaven, we are with John. Our sinfulness is like Bill Adamson, we try to stand strong and down we go.
Have you tried to be strong in the face of death? Oh, we put on a good façade out in the public but behind closed doors the tears flow, the longing for our loved ones put a lump in our chest. Some days it can be hard to go on.
Have you tried to be strong when the health news is not what you want to hear? My eyes are getting weaker, my legs are giving out, my memory, oh my memory. You sit in silence wondering how it ever got this way. It takes great strength just to keep going.
Are you trying to be strong when all the news of our world comes crashing down on you? Marriage as the fabric that holds society together is being destroyed throughout our world. Children without committed parents. Senseless killings as evil put’s a face on. The bearing of false witness throughout social media. The screaming, the yelling, the downright nastiness and the vulgar language that is everywhere. Please help Lord, I am not strong enough. I need a hope. I need a future. I need a present.
The Law like it does in our text to the crowds puts us under a terrible burden. We can’t make ourselves strong enough. It can’t be done. It’s called human weakness for a reason. What we do is never enough. We need “The Stronger One.”
“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all by saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is the stronger one than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’” (vs. 15, 16)
Yes, that is what we need – the Stronger One. Christ is stronger than enough. His baptism, His temptation, His work at Calvary all declares Jesus as the “Stronger One.”
Jesus is able. Jesus is capable. In Luke 11 Jesus identifies Satan as “strong” but himself as “stronger.” In Jesus’ death and resurrection, the “strong man” is conquered by the Stronger One.
Christ’s ministry is stronger than John’s. He will baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire,” easily understood as Law and Gospel. The fire for those who look to Him for salvation. The Spirit for those who look to Christ alone. Fire purifies us from the sin of our old Adam, and the Spirit raises to life the new man of faith.
When I was in my late 20’s and a pastor in Texas, Toni and I lived a few blocks from the garage where we took our cars. One of our cars had died and we needed to get it repaired. Sinful man that I am, I didn’t ask for help. I got this. After all, it was mostly downhill. After getting straight out of bed one morning, Toni put the car in neutral and I starting pushing. Oh, we made it there. Not quite so easy on the walk back. Every muscle it seemed like hurt. I had to sit down on the curb. I spent the morning in a tub of warm water. Strong wasn’t strong enough and I pray I learned my lesson.
You’ve had a similar experience, haven’t you? Trying to handle things yourself. I got this. Except you don’t. Human weakness. We need the Stronger One. We need the Savior. We need His love. We need His forgiveness. We need His grace. We need His mercy. We need His strength.
Follow Him . . . He’s got this . . . The Stronger One.
Amen.