This coming Sunday we light the third candle of the Advent Wreath, the candle of love.
Matthew 11:2-11 is a key biblical passage where John the Baptist, from prison, sends disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?”. Jesus responds by pointing to His miracles (blind see, lame walk, poor hear the gospel) as proof, identifying Himself as the Messiah, and praising John as the greatest prophet, yet noting that even the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater, signifying the new reality of God’s reign.
There is heavy irony in this passage because while Jesus is praising John in this text (“the greatest prophet”), John is expressing doubts about who Jesus might be. The question is what had prompted the question–“are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” What John seems to have not yet understood is that Jesus did not come to meet our expectations as to what a messiah or savior ought to do and be, he came to meet our needs. Christ is coming again as he came the first time – working through small things, not big things, among little people, not powerful people, with local effect, not cosmic effect. The kingdom of heaven operates under the sign of the cross just as the coming one did. God is reluctant to give us the kind of world, the kind of life, the kind of savior we want. God is sending a human child into the world instead of a mighty king, sending servants instead of troops, sending people like you and me to do his work. God is not given us what we wanted but what we needed, a Counselor, the Prince of Peace, Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 9:6).
During this special season we will be praying for you and your family. Please also include us in your prayers as we celebrate Jesus’ birth and the beginning of a ministry that continues to transform our world. We wish you a blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas season
See you at worship!
Dear God, thank you for Jesus who shows us the way to follow you. Be with us as we walk with Jesus, our Good Shepherd who gives us abundant life if we open our hearts to him. Amen