I am not Worthy

Mark 1:1  The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2  As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3  the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 4  John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6  Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7  He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8  I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Ours is a culture obsessed with becoming famous, or - if this is not possible - then trying to get close to a celebrity.  In contrast, John’s words and attitude are completely counter-cultural: he points the attention away from himself to Jesus. He does this by choosing to wear the clothes of a poor man; and deflecting the attention of his disciples away from himself to "The one who is more powerful than I”

Jesus-followers are challenged to use this Christmas season to point away from ourselves to Jesus.

First Sunday in Advent

2. Preparing the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.