Advent: John the Baptist

I Am Not
That's John's answer, his confession when asked whether he was the Christ. And it's a good confession for all of us. Are you the righteous one? I am not. Are you worthy to stand before the throne of judgment? I am not. Am I a good person? I am not.

We associate hell with great evil, which is true. And yet, we are fools to think that we don't belong there, at least if we judge rightly our hearts. That is to say, by our thoughts, by things we do. Once our pretense is stripped away and motive is revealed, we find we are self-justifying machines, have a reason and an excuse for just about everything. And then we say, nonsensically, that we have moved beyond our past, as if walking away from the crime made the crime ok. We say we have forgiven ourselves, as if that were actually a thing, as if we had a magical power of self-absolution, as if sin's debts could be wiped away with the eye's twinkle, reaching around and patting yourself on the back, and give yourself a resolution to do better.

Advent is for preparation, preparation for our Lord's return, and that means repentance. Thankfulness is not just a feeling, but has an object. Christmas is about that object born of The Virgin and laid in a lowly stable. To say that you feel thankful is meaningless without offering thanks to God who gave it all. Remorse is like that. I can feel bad about what I did. Judas felt bad. But, we are called to repent, to admit and confess our sins to God. For all that we have done, and just as importantly, all that we have left undone, is a debt owed to neighbor sometimes, owed to God ultimately and always. If you think you are pretty good, and that God loves you because you are pretty good, then think again. For such thinking is the height of arrogance and ingratitude.

Ah, but there stands among us one whom the world does not recognize. He appears ordinary, the son of a woman, like us, but also the only begotten Son of the Father from all eternity. Am I my own savior? Are you? We are not. To claim such a thing would be to add stupidity to our evil.

But Mary has a little Lamb to whom John the Baptist points. John says, I am not, but he is the great I AM. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
This advent, Christmas season, and new year let us remember Christ was coming. Christ has come. Christ is coming again.
To be ready for Christ, to be prepared for His return, is to be found not sleeping. To be awake in Jesus is to be faithful in worship and studying the living Word of God with your family of believers.

Pastor John