Veiled in Flesh, the Godhead See

Jesus, Mission and Glory: Advent PART IV
Lessons and Carols
Re. Abraham Cho
18 December 2017

John 1:19-28
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.  20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah."

21They asked him, "Then who are you?  Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."

22Finally they said, "Who are you?  Give us an answer to take back those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?"

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"

24Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, not Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.  27He is the one who comes after me, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

THREAT OF CHRISTMAS
--New Christians were on the margins of society--but drawing large crowds.
--Will this upset the status quo?
--King Herod understands there can only be one king.
--Christmas means the authority over every aspect of our lives.

OFFER OF CHRISTMAS
--John was free from the need to be "The One"--thus he was able to answer more humbly.
--Liberating moment comes when we stop digging deeper into ourselves and accept that it comes from the outside.

CLAIM OF CHRISTMAS
--V.23 references Isaiah 40
--God incarnate is coming, not a prophet nor a teacher.
--Are we spiritually awake enough to receive this?