Grateful Anticipation
The people
were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the
Christ. John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is
more powerful than me is coming.” - Luke 3:15-16 [CEB]
Christmas
can be a tricky thing for people of this day and age. Why? Because we find no value in anticipation. We don’t like to wait … For anything. Even now, I’m having a lot of trouble
avoiding spoiler posts on the internet about Star Wars. I will have to disconnect myself from the
internet altogether, probably, to avoid the temptation to find out what
happens. What is the deal with Luke
Skywalker? Is Leia a Jedi now? What is Han Solo like as a dad? These are all things that I’ve waited thirty
years to find out, like a lot of other people, but I don’t want it
spoiled. I relish the opportunity for
anticipation, like a little kid, dreaming of what the boxes under the tree
might be filled with.
When John
preaches his message of repentance in the Jordan river, his prophetic call for
Israel to turn around and look to the Lord for salvation once again, he speaks
with such a fervor that his people think he might be the long-awaited
Messiah. But John tells them that he’s
just the appetizer. Or rather, he’s the
palate-cleanser, and the main course is on the way. The true Savior is about to step out, the
real power from on high, the one sent to redeem a lost world is going to take
center stage and the world will never be the same.
This week in
Revive, we’ll be backing up a little from John the Baptist... All the way to his
mother, Elizabeth, and Jesus’ mother, Mary. Both expectant mothers, both miraculous pregnancies. Pregnancy is this amazing time of
anticipation but also of anxiety. It is
a true in-between time, a time for preparation and expectation.
Christmas
can’t get here soon enough for many of us; I’m sure that Mary felt the same way
as she awaited the birth of Jesus, whom she knew to be the Savior of the world
that John preached of.
This Sunday,
December 20, we’ll almost be there... But not quite. I pray that you’ll join us for worship as we
gratefully anticipate, and celebrate, the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day.
And
remember, you are most welcome to join us at any of our Christmas Eve worship
services at 4 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm, or 11 pm in our Sanctuary.
God bless,
Pastor
Jarrod
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