The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘He Comes’. How does this song speak to you?

He comes, the Lord's anointed One

And we shall see His face

As clear as if the rising sun

Poured out the light of grace

He comes, and we shall hear His voice

Not as some distant sound

But tones that make the heart rejoice

When love, long lost, is found

He comes, not to the wise and great

But to the bound and poor

So low Himself that potentates

Must kneel to pass His door

He comes, with favor in his hands

Our empty souls to fill

To make a highway through the sands

And bid thе storms be still

He comes, and wе shall come to him

Set free from ancient chains

Adorned in mercy's diadem

To glory in His reign

He comes, the Lord, as one of us

He comes to judge the earth

How wonderful, how glorious

His long awaited birth

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 1:19-28

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ 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.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

In today’s reading, we try to imagine that we are standing on the banks of the Jordan River in Bethany looking at John the Baptist surrounded by the Priests and Levites sent by the Jews from Jerusalem. What do you most notice about John?

Now, we focus on John’s responses to the questions. Listen to his words and notice your own responses and feelings:

“I am not the Messiah.”

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”

“I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”

As you listen to the reading again, let the scene unfolds. Notice John’s devotion to the one who is to come after him.

John 1:19-28

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ 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.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

We hear John proclaim, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” How might these words be relevant to you today? What might need to be changed or challenged or smoothed out on your path of faith?

Perhaps these words can help to form a new year’s resolution...

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen