In the style of many of the great prophets, “the word of God came to John son of Zechariah” (Luke 3:2), as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness” (3:4). People thronged out to the region along the Jordan River to hear his message and to receive baptism. He did not make that easy. He called them a “brood of vipers,” told them it would not suffice for them to claim Abraham as their ancestor, and warned them that the axe was ready to cut down the trees that did not bear fruit worthy of repentance (3:7-9).

John thus urged them to change not simply their mental attitude, but their behavior: in every case listed, it is specifically their economic behavior. Everyone needed to pay attention to those who lacked food or clothing, and needed to share their goods to alleviate that suffering: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise” (3:11). And for those whose position gave them the power to take money from others – tax collectors and soldiers, for example – repentance would be to decide not to take advantage of their position for their own gain (3:12-14).

Most of us have more than two coats and more than enough food, so this is one of those cases where the text’s application into our present-day situation is quite straightforward. As to the tax collectors and soldiers squeezing money out of the common people, they would have said “That’s just the way things are done.” What would financial repentance look like for credit card companies, payday lenders, or student loan administrators? What would it look like for me?

Everyone was so impressed with John that they wondered whether he might be the Messiah, but he insisted he was just the guy baptizing with water; the one who was coming was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. That’s the one you’re looking for, John insisted: “I am not fit to untie the thong of his sandals” (3:15-16). We all need someone like John to call us toward hearty repentance; but in the end, we need Jesus to forgive us for our sins.

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Help us, O Lord. We are the brood of vipers, with poison in our speech; we are those who imagine we must be OK because our ancestors were in covenant with you; and especially we are those who are convinced that the problems of poverty and economic advantage are not our problems. Grant us repentance, not just in word, but in action.

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