Acts 3: 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”
This past week, in my sermon "A Voice In the Wilderness", I mentioned this text. It stood out to me as a significant view into the mission and ministry of John the Baptist. As you read it, think about the implications of this text in your own life.
Tax collectors and soldiers were both the highest of traitors. Considered outcasts and sinners they were shunned from temple life.
Rome had wars to finance, as well as all their governing agencies around the world, and they financed it all through tax monies. Local, indigenous people were often given the task of collecting Roman tax. Each of these tax collectors had a specified amount that their territory was required to contribute to the tax coffers. Once that tax quota was reached however, it was all too common to abuse the system, overtax the residents in their territory, and gain significant personal wealth. If we look at the story of Zaccheus it shows us some of the social and cultural costs of being a tax collector.
The Roman army was not made up of just Roman citizens, they also conscripted military "volunteers" from regions that they conquered. This, just like collecting taxes, placed the burden of keeping order and following Roman law, in the hands of your friends and family members. Fear, intimidation, and brute force were how soldiers maintained order.
So, what drew them to John? Were the tax collectors hanging around to see if this was a good place to set up for business? Were the soldiers there because they were assigned to find out what was going on by the Jordan? Regardless of the why, something happened when John spoke and invited people to look deeper at what God wanted for them.
The Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts and change happened. In front of their friends, family, and maybe even the victims of their greed or brutality, they declared that God came first.
Let's not pass over this moment as just ordinary. Here we see how John set the stage for what the ministry of Jesus was going to look like to: the centurion, the woman at the well, Nicodemus, Matthew, Simon the Zealot . . . the list goes on.
While encountering John, both the tax collectors and soldiers knew they had to live differently. They would still work for Rome, but they would now live to represent God. This is the power of the Gospel to change and redefine us.
Is our understanding of the Gospel this big? Allow God to move you into a deeper understanding of His grace and His power to change us. Wrestle with this question "Teacher (Father), what shall we do now?"
—Jackie James