“And all of the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”
(Mark 1:5 ESV)
Yesterday our pastor preached on praying for our country. She cited 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 and the unprecedented attack on Judea from a trio of enemies from the southeast. She noted King Jehoshaphat’s right response to such a tragic turn of events: he called a national fast and led the country in an exceedingly humble and earnest prayer. Pastor Pat encouraged us to follow in the footsteps of the Judean king – setting our face to seek the Lord in these tumultuous times.
A nation goes where it’s head is turned and unfortunately the neck of our nation has been stiff and twisted against God for quite some time. Are we too far gone or can we still turn back? Only God knows.
This morning I am beginning the book of Mark and I noticed the word all amidst the description of John the Baptizer on the banks of the Jordan. All of Judea and all of Jerusalem went out to the wilderness to confess their sin and be held under the water. All. I checked it across a couple of translations. All of Judea and all of Jerusalem holds true in the King James and the New International and the Amplified as well. All. The Bible doesn’t exaggerate. It seems that national repentance preceded the earthly ministry of Jesus. The entire nation got down on it’s knees before they met their Messiah.
Consider what we know culturally about Judea in this time. The people of God were gasping for air under crushing Roman rule. Their cities had been occupied. Their people were being crucified. Their very way of life – wholly centered around worship – was being threatened with extinction. It had to feel as though the death of their country was near – near enough to send the entire nation of Judea downhill – 1200 feet in elevation and 20 miles in distance – to the river Jordan to seek God and pray. The very act of their journey was both a physical and spiritual descent. They lowered themselves, confessed their sin and sent their past into a watery grave. This is the scene where Jesus, Messiah first makes public appearance.
Flipping through scripture, we realize that over and over again God’s people are saved when they humble themselves and repent. Jacob turns the anger of Esau through humility and sincere remorse. Joseph’s brothers are not rescued from extinction without first recognizing their wrongful ways. Moses repents on behalf of his wayward calf-worshipers, reminding God of His character and reducing the people’s sentence. Samson didn’t save his people from the Philistines until after he lost his sight and recognized his sorry behavior against God and country. The cycle of apostasy reinforces this principle; salvation follows sincere contrition alone.
We can look the other direction, too, and see how unrepentant people are destroyed. Adam and Eve were evicted. Cain exiled. Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes. The empires of Judea and Israel crumbled as well, finally fallen by neighboring nations because they could not keep their eyes on God.
All of this brings me back to our dear America and it’s current ICU conditions. It’s time to lower ourselves, to gather at the river and lift our voices in repentance. It’s time to recognize our sins and turn from our wicked ways.
I wonder, how John’s baptism began. I wonder with holy curiosity but also with personal investment. What exactly brings an entire nation to it’s knees and are we there yet? I imagine it begins with one. One person heard the prophet preaching. One soul felt the squeeze of conviction. One brave pilgrim waded out in the river and asked for their sins to be washed away for good. And others followed suit until all were attracted, convicted, submerged and set free.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
(Proverbs 14:34 ESV)
Lord, let us be some of the first. We hear Your voice in the desert, calling our nation to repentance. We lower ourselves: painfully aware of our corporate sins against You. We confess them: pride, self-reliance, racism, violence, blatant disregard for each other, anger, division, violence, racism, idol worship, sexual immorality, drunkenness, genocide against our unborn, corrupt leadership, apathy amidst Your Church, and abandonment of Your commandments. Please hear our cry and let it be join by the confession of many. May the voice of repentance swelling to a roar as our nation recognizes our collective sin and all come back to You. It feels impossible, Lord, but nothing is impossible for You and You may begin with us. Amen.