John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’ (Luke 3: 7-9)

For the Puritan preachers of colonial America - and even today - it was fire and brimstone. For John it is an axe and fire.

The way of Jesus was prepared by self-awareness of sin and separation. John taught that this separation was to be feared and remedied.

I have not been taught to fear God. I know a loving and forgiving God. But the separation is painful and worth fearing. Too often I wield the axe.