Changed Snakes
Luke 3
John the Baptist is rather stinging in his rebuke of those who do not change their lives. As he baptized folks who were genuinely repentant in the Jordan River a crowd started to form. The people that gathered were not interested in repenting or living differently; they just wanted to get in on the action. They were interested in doing what was popular. John says, "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment?" Calling someone a brood of snakes was probably the worst insult you could give. A more technical translation of the scripture is "offspring of vipers." Female vipers were thought to bite the head of the male viper off after mating, then the offspring would eat their way out of their mother's womb, killing the mother (they actually give birth, unlike most snakes that lay eggs). So John, calling the gathered crowd "offspring of vipers," is possibly the worst insult he could give. It was taking family relationships that were considered sacred and vital for survival, and absolutely destroying them. I won't even write here what the modern equivalent is in today's language, it's that bad.
John is adamant - you can't just get baptized and think everything will be okay. You must change your life. It seems that his message got through since they ask "what are we supposed to do?" He tells them to be generous, sharing food and clothing. He tells the tax collectors to only collect what is required of them by law, rather than extorting additional money to make themselves wealthy. He tells the soldiers to stop blackmailing people and to be content with how much they are paid, and stop stealing from the local citizens they are meant to protect.
All of the changes that take place in the people's lives gives them pause - maybe this John the Baptist is the Messiah, the savior, we've been waiting for? But John quickly dispels them of this notion. He is only preparing the way, getting things ready for the one who will bring fire, igniting the kingdom of God.
Who will it be? Who will bring fire to these vipers?
John the Baptist is rather stinging in his rebuke of those who do not change their lives. As he baptized folks who were genuinely repentant in the Jordan River a crowd started to form. The people that gathered were not interested in repenting or living differently; they just wanted to get in on the action. They were interested in doing what was popular. John says, "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment?" Calling someone a brood of snakes was probably the worst insult you could give. A more technical translation of the scripture is "offspring of vipers." Female vipers were thought to bite the head of the male viper off after mating, then the offspring would eat their way out of their mother's womb, killing the mother (they actually give birth, unlike most snakes that lay eggs). So John, calling the gathered crowd "offspring of vipers," is possibly the worst insult he could give. It was taking family relationships that were considered sacred and vital for survival, and absolutely destroying them. I won't even write here what the modern equivalent is in today's language, it's that bad.
John is adamant - you can't just get baptized and think everything will be okay. You must change your life. It seems that his message got through since they ask "what are we supposed to do?" He tells them to be generous, sharing food and clothing. He tells the tax collectors to only collect what is required of them by law, rather than extorting additional money to make themselves wealthy. He tells the soldiers to stop blackmailing people and to be content with how much they are paid, and stop stealing from the local citizens they are meant to protect.
All of the changes that take place in the people's lives gives them pause - maybe this John the Baptist is the Messiah, the savior, we've been waiting for? But John quickly dispels them of this notion. He is only preparing the way, getting things ready for the one who will bring fire, igniting the kingdom of God.
Who will it be? Who will bring fire to these vipers?