What are you watching? And what do you expect to happen as a result?
By Dean Collins
What are you watching these days? I often hear that question from friends and family or around the coffee station at work. It is a common question because of how much television has changed over the years. Back in the day, we had only three options, but with all of the various streaming platforms in our brave new world today, we have access to more content than we can ever sort through. No one has time to watch everything.
At any given moment you can watch a movie, a series, or a documentary on just about anything. We watch for entertainment, for information, and sometimes actually to learn something. I’m not the only one who has looked on YouTube to find out how to change a water filter or a battery or to learn how to cook some new recipe. And of course, we can watch a “church service” when we are on the road, too sick to attend, or even when we are just lazy
What they were watching
John the Baptist wasn’t pleased when Jewish religious leaders came to watch him. According to Matthew 3, when the Baptist “saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them.”
I have made special trips to the church building, the lake, or the river to see a baptism. No one ever yelled at me for coming. We don’t usually shout people down for watching this life-changing event. Family members often invite other family members and friends to come and watch a child’s baptism. And many times those who come are not particularly religious or have much of an understanding of the event. They come to be supportive because they care for those involved.
There were multiple reasons why the Pharisees and Sadducees came and why John the Baptist called them out. John didn’t look like, sound like, teach like, or even smell like the Pharisees and Sadducees. And the religious leaders weren’t much on things being done differently, especially without their permission.
The Pharisees and Sadducees knew the Old Testament scriptures, so they would have known that one day God would be sending someone to prepare the way. I imagine it was likely that some who came to watch could have quoted from both Isaiah’s and Malachi’s words about the one like Elijah who would precede God’s Messiah. Perhaps we can relate to their dilemma. As we anticipate the return of Jesus, our anticipation eventually tends to fade. And what we imagine or even read about will likely not resemble what that moment will be like.
The Pharisees and others were sure they would be informed or consulted about who this messenger would be. They did not anticipate or like the spectacle surrounding the one they had heard was attracting large crowds. And they were used to being the ones calling people out; John the Baptist had likely crossed a line of protocol calling their congregants to repentance.
Why we are watching
So what are you watching? And who are you watching for? Do we gather with other believers just to watch the worship band or to see what the teaching pastor has up his sleeve today? Or do we come watching for and listening for God’s Spirit to speak to us through those on stage? John the Baptist preached his message to many who were at synagogue every Sabbath, yet his was the message that instantly convicted them toward repentance and a new way to live.
The right response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit is repentance that leads to bearing fruit consistent with the words we confess. Full of their own importance and convinced they saw everything correctly, the Pharisees and Sadducees could not make room in their hearts for the truth of John’s challenge.
Lord, we want to hear from you today. We repent of the sins of arrogance and apathy where we have many times acted piously but failed to live humbly. Forgive us for the times we have gone through all of the motions of our faith but didn’t really think you would show up and speak to us and ask us to change anything. Lord Jesus, come again to speak to us, come again for us. We long for your return. Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 3:7-17; Isaiah 40:3-4; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6 NLT
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at pexels.com
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