Luke 3
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”
“Now here’s your problem.” Whether these ominous words come from a doctor or a car mechanic, we know there is going to be a cost. Our natural question is how this news will affect our lives and we may ask, “What shall I do?” That question was put to John the Baptist when he told the assembling Jews their problem. They failed to keep the covenant with God and had paid the price. His answer, as the last old covenant prophet, was to do things in keeping with the law. That answer would soon change for the better.
Jesus came to fulfill the law of the old covenant and institute a new one with better promises. After preaching the gospel in the first church sermon, Peter was asked, “What shall we do? The answer was to repent and be baptized with a changed life. Later, Paul was asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Belief was the answer. That is why Christmas and Easter are the best days of the year. Without grace, we are left with the problem and the solution is all on us. Now, our problem has been laid on the one that was lain in a manger.
Dear Lord, thank you that the blood of Jesus solves the problem of sin and death. Help us to help those with the same problem of sin today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.