Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2008
Scripture	John 1:5-8, 19-28 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing .
Devotional	The religious leaders’ desired to place a label on John. “Well, if your are not this person, are you this one?” John seems to be baptizing without a license. Those questioning him seem to think that he should not be doing this unless something remarkable and unusual is happening. John could only point to something remarkable and unusual is about to happen. Who are you? How well does John fit the idea of a religious person who represents God? John was a homeless guy who ate locust (bugs) and wild honey and wore strange clothes. The most challenging for them was to discover one of their fundamental rules of being God’s in-crowd just because they were the people of Israel did not hold up. John calls for new rules – repentance of sin and baptism. John was preparing the way for one who would baptize with the fire. John seems to have expectations of Jesus which were not met. John was expecting someone who would rid of all those people who were not personally committed to bringing in the kingdom of God . Jesus does not perform as John had expected. Was John disappointed in Jesus? Just before he was killed, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?” It seems John was disappointed in the one who came. Jesus came proclaiming liberation for all and healing. He did not produce this fire which John predicted. Are we disappointed because Jesus has not gotten rid of those we do not like and surround us with good people just like us? Is this Advent season filled with our dreams or Jesus’ dreams? Are we waiting for God’s will even though it differs from our will? Can we trust God’s dreams over ours? Are we prepared for dreams that surpass our expectations?