Advent
December 11, 2016
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-11
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look those who were soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom, it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptists; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he. –Matthew 11:7-11
How do we decide whose messages have credence? The word, the role prophet is not someone with clairvoyance, the ability to foretell the future. A prophet is one who speaks forth by the inspiration of God*. Most often I see the prophets in the Bible accurately reading current ways of doing and being and predicting where our behaviors will lead if not corrected. Prophets also speak to the steps necessary to change our actions and attitudes to avoid chaos and calamity.
John in the role of prophet gives Jesus a strong recommendation as one to be seen and heard and followed. John is throwing the full weight of any influence he might have in support of Jesus.
The sad part about prophets is we never seem to listen to them. We read about their warnings years later and think, “How could the people not listen to the prophets?” And still today we hear and see what we want to hear and see just like our ancestors in faith much to our destruction.
We make it easy for the forces of evil to succeed for we do not learn from our mistakes or the mistakes of our ancestors. The cause of destruction has not changed over the millennia. They are lust for power and greed, and they are counter to everything Jesus and all the prophets who came before him taught. Are we a generation who can change this cycle of destruction?
Prayer: Lord, write your ways on the hearts of all who claim you as a Savior, bring us to the oneness we must have to be sources of justice. Amen.
*http.//biblehub.com/greek/4396.htm
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.