Repost: The It’s a Wonderful Rerun Episode

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Like so many of us, Debb and Deb have succumbed to Holiday Madness. So while they cook, clean, they decorate, shlep, sweat, and possibly swear a bit, feel free to relax and enjoy this Holiday episode from the very beginning.

In this episode, Debb and Deb wax eloquent(ish) on the history, culture, and community of the holiday seasons. Pour yourself some warm mulled cider, grab a gingerbread cookie, and explore the season on this Very Special Holiday Episode™.

Sunday Reflection – Advent III, December 17, 2023

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Who is John the Baptist?

John 1 6 God sent a man named John,
7 who came to tell
    about the light
and to lead all people
    to have faith.
8 John wasn’t this light.
He came only to tell
    about the light.

19-20 The religious authorities in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask John who he was. He told them plainly, “I am not the Messiah.” 21  Then when they asked him if he were Elijah, he said, “No, I am not!” And when they asked if he were the Prophet, he also said “No!”

22 Finally, they said, “Who are you then? We have to give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!”

23  John answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “I am only someone shouting in the desert, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord!’ ”

24 Some Pharisees had also been sent to John. 25 They asked him, “Why are you baptizing people, if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?”

26 John told them, “I use water to baptize people. But here with you is someone you don’t know. 27 Even though I came first, I am not good enough to untie his sandals.” 28 John said this as he was baptizing east of the Jordan River in Bethany.

Kids Korner: Who was John the Baptist? (Dec. 17th)

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Read John 1:6-8, 19-28 with your family.

We met John the Baptist in the reading from Mark last week. This week we have the same story from the Gospel of John. The difference between the two is that in John, the leaders from the Temple traveled out from Jerusalem to see John at the Jordan River and ask him who he was, and if he was the long awaited messenger or the Messiah.

In the days of Jesus, many Hebrew people, encouraged by the Scribes and Pharisees, believed the Messiah would come and save the people (those who sided with the Sadducees did not believe in a Messiah). So they asked John if he was the Messiah. John surprised them by saying the Messiah was already alive and living among the people, and as we know later in the Gospel of John, had already been visiting the Temple.

Then the Scribes asked two interesting questions, they asked if he was Elijah or ‘the prophet’, meaning Moses. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses was supposed to announce the coming of the Messiah, and Elijah – who did not die but was taken alive to heaven – was supposed to return to tell the people to get ready because the time was now.

John saying he was neither a returned Moses or a returned Elijah would have confused the Scribes and Pharisees.