Many thought that
John the Baptist would fulfil Israel’s hope of a Messiah. Expectations for a better future were high
when they saw and heard him. He seemed to fit the image well of the kind of
person people would follow. Hundreds
came to see and hear him and he was asked frequently by religious leaders if he
was indeed the expected one who would bring new hope to a hopeless world
However, he was quick
to tell them that he was not the Messiah but one sent to prepare for his
imminent arrival, adding that everyone was to get themselves sorted out for his
coming. He called people to repent and
used baptism as a symbol of that repentance. This would have come as an initial
shock to a Jew, as this was the means by which a Gentile was converted to
Judaism. Nevertheless many people from
varied backgrounds responded to the Baptist’s simple but
clear call
When Jesus, the true
Messiah arrived, John pointed to him, declaring that here was ‘the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’. It is worth noting that of all the
descriptions that could be given to the Messiah, John speaks of the Lamb of God
As we journey through
Advent we can listen well to the Messiah Lord as our Teacher, follow closely as
our Example, offer allegiance as our King and serve him well as our Master, but
never let us lose sight of him as the willing Sacrifice who is the Saviour for
a hopeless world — a message we need to know and share in whatever way we can this
Christmas
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