PREPARING THE WAY –WHO IS JOHN

 

 WHO IS JOHN?

If someone were to describe me, hopefully, they might use words like faithful, honest, loving, and follower of Christ.  I am sure the word list would not be long.  I found a long list of descriptive words for John, as I tried to find out:  WHO IS JOHN?

John was a child of God’s promise, received his name from God, and was ordained by an angel.  He is considered the last prophet of the Old Testament and the first prophet of the New Testament, often referred to as the Prophet of the Highest.  Wow!  John The Baptist had major credentials.  It’s a wonder he didn’t strut around in a robe and have his nose in the air.  Instead, he led a simple life and was described quite differently.

WHO IS JOHN?

What do you see when you look at John, in the above picture?  Do you see a man who is focused, determined, full of passion, and obedient?  John was brave and was not afraid of religious or political leaders.  Can you see past the camel hair and realize John had accepted the responsibility of answering God’s call?  He was on a divine mission, and he knew exactly where he stood in the pecking order.  John knew there was one greater than him.  John was humble and loyal to his mission to prepare the way for the Lord. 

WHO IS JOHN?

How many times do you have to hear something before you get it?  Before you believe it?  The people were constantly wondering if John might be the Messiah.  John answered them, “I baptize you with water.  But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  He also told them, “I am not the Messiah.”  When asked if he was Elijah, he replied, “I am not.”  He did not call himself a prophet. 

“Who are you?” they asked.  Replying in the words of Isaiah the prophet, John said, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness. ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ “

WHO IS JOHN?

Do you see past the camel hair?  Do you have a new image of John?

John knew there was one greater.  He knew he was to prepare the way for the Lord.  And John did just that.  He baptized with water, until the time that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  A man, born for just such a time as this.

 

Here I Am, sung by 7 PM Choir

https://youtu.be/cDdniihKBzI?si=qUNN-sEOFV6W2V-7

 

 JOHN GROWS UP

 

 Elizabeth looked up and said, “Oh, Zechariah, how are we so blessed?  Our son has grown to be so tall and has lived up to everything the angel had said.  I don’t know how he lives on honey and …”

“Now, now,” Zechariah said.  “He has followed the path God placed him on.  I admit the neighbors tease about his attire and diet, but, in my heart, I see the hand of God.  He is so outspoken and does not back down, even from the Pharisees.  As a priest, I have never seen anyone so determined that everyone should hear his message.  He is filled with the Holy Spirit.  Yes, I know --- since Mary visited.”

He continued, “It seems the people are listening to him.  Israel needs to be prepared for the Lord and I do believe our John is just the man to accomplish this.  Our son.  Gabriel did say he would bring many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.”

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There he sat.  Under a tree.  Was it safe to approach him?  They had heard rumors, but gossip is not reliable.  Looking at him, the group stopped and whispered, “Do we go back?”  One person said, “His clothes.  He doesn’t look like a prophet.  He …..”.

“What does his clothes have to do with it?  We came to hear what he has to say.  My neighbor said he has a message we need to hear.  Said it would change our lives.  I am going to talk to him.  Are you coming?”  With that, he started toward the man sitting under the tree.

Not knowing what to expect, because they had heard about the passion in his voice that would boom and sometimes condemn, he walked up to the man and said, “Are you John?”

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My mind can picture all of this and I hope yours can too.  I want you to see that John was real.  He had parents who loved and worried about him.  He was alive.  He was humble.  He took the responsibility God gave him seriously.  Every action.  Every word.  Every body lowered into the water.  Every soul washed with the water of baptism.  Every time John shouted, “You brood of vipers!” or “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” the people listened.  They listened as John exhorted them and as he proclaimed the Good News.

John was the voice calling in the wilderness.  The crowds came.

 Find Your Wings, Mark Harris

https://youtu.be/-4NS7gChzvk?si=X27i4HNZUTqUN21h

 GABRIEL WAS RIGHT

 

Of course, the angel of God would be right.  Elizabeth,. even in her old age, became pregnant.  The baby was conceived the old-fashioned way. 

A BABY…A BABY BOY 

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

Luke 1:24

Can you see her?  Elizabeth is looking out the window.  “A son,” she said out loud.  “A son we are to name John.  After all these years, the Lord has done this for me.  His favor has taken away my disgrace.  No longer will the people look at me as if I am being punished by God.” 

The Lord has granted the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  She is pregnant.  I believe she chose to stay in seclusion for the first five months, because she was past childbearing years and was not sure how this pregnancy would change her body.  During this time, I am sure Elizabeth offered many prayers of gratitude.  I am sure Zechariah saw her instant faith in the news Gabriel delivered instead of his doubt and questioning.  This seclusion would give them time to say prayers of gratitude for this gift:  a son.  

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 1:39-45

Can you see Elizabeth touching her stomach?  Can you see the wonder and questioning in her eyes?  Can you see her go to Mary and wonder why she is so blessed that Mary came to her?  Do you think she realized her child was destined to ….. 

At this point, I do not believe Elizabeth or Mary truly understood the future of the children they carried.  BUT, I can see two women, with great faith, sitting and sharing their emotions and their questions.  I can picture them sitting in a garden, offering prayers, and wondering what was ahead of them.

In the book of Esther, Mordecai told Esther, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this.”  As I read articles about John The Baptist, I realized Elizabeth had not previously conceived a child because she was being punished by God.  Elizabeth had not conceived because she was to carry a child who was being born for just such a time as this. 

IT IS TIME

Elizabeth was ready and gave birth to a son.  On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and Elizabeth said, “He is to be called John.”  Zechariah, still not able to speak, wrote, “His name is John.”

 

You Will Always Be My Son, Caleb and Kelsey

https://youtu.be/FUsLT0hIOus?si=CITwAF-M6OGgMYK4

THE BIRTH OF A BABY FORTOLD

 

I want to introduce you to Zechariah, a Jewish priest, and his wife, Elizabeth.  This couple was righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all the Lord’s commandments and regulations.  Elizabeth had never conceived and was now very old.

NOT A NORMAL DAY

Elizabeth sent Zechariah on his way.  It was a great day for him.  What an honor to be the one serving God.  She could picture him entering the sanctuary of the Lord.  It would be a long week until she welcomed him home, and they would discuss his week over the evening meal.

Zechariah looked back one more time.  He knew she would still be watching him.  She always watched until he was out of sight.  He pictured her beginning the day's household chores.  Taking a deep breath, he turned his mind to his task.  The order of Abijah was on duty this week, and he was chosen, by lot, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.  This was an honor and each priest was only assigned this task once in his lifetime.

Turning the corner, he saw the crowd was gathering.  Today, the crowd seemed rather large.  He knew they would be praying during the burning of the incense and nodded to them as he closed the door.  His service to God would now begin.

The ketoret was a special blend of eleven herbs and balms, which was measured precisely.  This would be burned twice a day on the golden altar that stood in the Temple.  Ketoret means “bonding.”  The incense brings a pleasant odor to the temple, boosts the dignity and respect of the Temple, and represents the essential connection each person has with God.  With great reverence, Zechariah took the ketoret and placed it on the incense altar. 

As he looked up, he saw an angel of the Lord standing to the right of the incense altar.  He was overcome with fear, but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.”  The angel continued to tell him that Elizabeth would have a son.  A son they were to name John. 

Zechariah listened as the angel told about the life John would have.  This is where things go a bit off track for Zechariah.  He questions the angel, Gabriel.  The angel that stands in the presence of God.  The angel God sent to bring the good news about the future birth of his son.  Gabriael, being more than a bit upset, caused Zechariah to be silent.  Silent until after the birth of baby John.

The people were waiting when Zechariah came out and wanted to know why he had been inside so long.  Zechariah couldn’t tell them.  Have you ever played the game Pictionary?  That is what I picture him doing.  All sorts of motions … until they realized he had seen a vision.

When his week was completed, he returned home.  Soon afterward Elizabeth became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 

“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed.  “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

 

Angels Among Us, Alabama

https://youtu.be/y_4Xfj2LRSA?si=bz3lQGe0rm37m-C6

 

 

 THE CHRISTMAS STORY — THE OTHER BABY

 I love to write Christmas blogs.   Who doesn’t like Christmas?  A baby!  Angels!  A miracle!  Christmas songs.   So much to pick from.   

Every year, I try to find a way to tell the Christmas story that points out something new.  A way to help you see each character as real.  A living, breathing person.  I want you to see their hopes and dreams.  I want you to realize they learned to read and write and do math.

A while back, something popped into my thought process:  Read the Christmas story again.   Really read it.  Slowly.  Picturing it.  Seeing everything as if you were there.

This year, as I slowly read the Christmas story, I saw another baby.  A baby named John:  John The Baptist.  As I have read and found articles, I realized how strong in faith, how dedicated to God’s plan, and how humble this man was.  My goal will be to have you understand his role.   We picture him standing on a rock, wearing weird clothes, and eating honey.  We see him baptizing Jesus.  That is about it.  Oh, yeah, and that he was later beheaded.

I hope by the end of the series, you will be able to “see” John.  You will find his story important.  His story does not begin when he baptized Jesus.  His story began when Zechariah entered the Temple to burn incense.  His story began when Zechariah questioned how he and Elizabeth could have a baby.

Each week, you will find the scripture I posted on our church’s Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/urbanayokeparish/ .  At the end of the blog, you will find a song or story that ties into the spirit of the blog.  I have enjoyed working to tie the Monday Scripture, the Wednesday Pick-Me-Up, and the blog together.  Please join me next week, as a five-part series begins. 

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I am famous for my terrible spelling, but before you try to point out that I have misspelled the names of John’s parents, Zechariah is also spelled Zachariah.  In one article, it is spelled Zachary.  Elizabeth is also spelled Elisabeth.

THANKSGIVING VS GIVING THANKS

Bet you are thinking, “There is no difference.”  But let’s be honest.  When we hear the word “Thanksgiving”, the Norman Rockwell painting comes to mind.  We see a family sitting around a table, a very large, perfectly cooked turkey, dressing (stuffing), smiles and the mother still wearing her apron. 

When we hear the word “Thanksgiving”, we think about having the day off work (except for the people in the kitchen working for hours to prepare a meal that will be consumed in ten minutes), taking a nap after eating that turkey, football games, a dog show, and the long drive home with tired children.  Somewhere in there, we might actually go around and have everyone tell something they are thankful for.  That is, if we can get it in during halftime or a commercial.

Thanksgiving:  The fourth Thursday in November.

vs

Giving:  To make a present of

Thanks:  Expression of gratitude

When I read the meaning of the words giving and thanks, I wondered if I had been doing it wrong all these years.  Over the years, I have made it about me.

·                  I am so thankful for indoor plumbing.

·                  I am so thankful for family.

·                  I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets.

·                  I am – I am – I am.  It was all about me. 

But now?

TO MAKE A PRESENT OF OUR EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Can you hear me Lord?  Is my voice rising to your heavenly realm?

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

My soul is smiling.  Can you see it reflected in my eyes?  Lord, God, I come before you with a song so full of joy it cannot be contained 

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

You made me.  I am yours.  Shepherd, I rest in your pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

My thanksgiving is so strong no gate can keep me out and your courts will echo my praises.

I will raise my hands as I give you thanks and praise your name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Lord, as my grandmother prayed, so shall I pray.  Your faithfulness surrounded her and that faithfulness will surround my children and their children and their children.

AMEN.  AND AMEN.

Happy Giving Thanks Day!!!

 

 INVISIBLE

The Old Farmer’s Almanac said the ancient Greeks believed that topaz (November’s birthstone) could make a wearer invisible.  I am a November baby and I have a ring, with a topaz setting, on my finger at this very moment.

“Bill, can you see me?” I asked.

He replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

I hate to tell the learned Greeks, but it doesn’t work.  Besides, I don’t want to be invisible.

I want people to see me!!  I want my Sunday morning hug!  If Terry could not see me, he could not give me a hug.  If I were invisible, no one could smile at me and I could not talk to them.  (Oh my.  Not talk.  That might be a big problem.)  My kids and grandkids would not know where I was and the grandkids might trip over me.  Compared to them, I am more than a bit short.  If I were invisible, how could my actions show people God’s love?

BUT (You know the capital BUT means I am going to turn this around.).  BUT … are there people that are invisible to us?

Do we even see them?  Do we turn away?  Do we look right through them?  Often, we don’t want to see them, because then we would have to be an example of Jesus.  Do we see:

• the homeless man or the person sleeping in their car?
• the single parent struggling with a tired child?
• the person cleaning the restrooms or the floors, at a business?
• the person sitting in the back pew?
• the “different” student who no one will sit with?
• the person who wears strange clothes or is covered with tattoos?

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

“when did we see” ….  Do we even see them?  Do we turn away?  Or are they invisible?