15th December
Luke 1:63-66, 80
He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise
he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he
began praising God.
Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what
had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it
reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For
the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in
the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
"By this question, and by that concluding reference to
the child's life in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance,
Luke's story forces us to contemplate what the child, in fact, became: John the
Baptist, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for
the Lord!'"
As John, who cried 'Prepare' to Israel, was the messenger of
that first appearing, so john is the messenger now of the reappearing, the
Second coming of Christ!
Still, still he cries: 'Prepare!'
Are we listening?
Although similar to an earlier piece, I wanted to bring the empty manger into a more modern setting, inspired by the final question from the author of the Devotional.
TFL!
Bernie x
