John answered them, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful
than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
- Luke 3:15-18
Advent is a season of expectation. But perhaps we have grown too
comfortable, too familiar with what we expect: sweet baby Jesus,
wrapped in swaddling cloths and cooing cutely in a manger; Mary
standing serenely by; Joseph somewhat confused but nevertheless
passively resigned. The picture is all calm and all is bright.
John's expectation differed from ours. He anticipated One more
powerful, a baptism of wind and fire. He expected a winnowing fork, the
wheat to be gathered, the chaff to . . .
John answered them, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
- Luke 3:15-18
Advent is a season of expectation. But perhaps we have grown too comfortable, too familiar with what we expect: sweet baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling cloths and cooing cutely in a manger; Mary standing serenely by; Joseph somewhat confused but nevertheless passively resigned. The picture is all calm and all is bright.
John's expectation differed from ours. He anticipated One more powerful, a baptism of wind and fire. He expected a winnowing fork, the wheat to be gathered, the chaff to be burned.
But Jesus was not exactly what John expected either. To be sure, He was much more than the helpless manger babe He is so often portrayed to be at Christmas. read John 8:1-11, John 9:1-12, John 21:15-19.
John's preaching was good news, he pointed to the One to come, the One the thong of whose sandals we are not worthy to untie, is often found when we don't expect and least deserve it, washing our feet, so to speak, giving himself yet again in humble service.
We may not know exactly what to expect, but we can trust the One whom John said was to come after him, who did indeed come, and who comes still to serve and save.
Prepare with earnest rigor
The way for your great guest
Make straight His path with rigor,
Rebuild your lives with zest.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: We don't always know what to expect from the LORD. Live trusting that what you will do will be good news.