Advent 3 meditation 2012

Advent 3 meditation written by me: The Jews were given many conceptions of what the promised Messiah would be, and so John the Baptist asks the poignant question, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”(Matt. 11:3)  His question is very specific.  If I wanted to be sure of something, this is how I ask.  It is really very simple, as simple as giving a “Yes” or a “No.” Is this it or should I look for something else, someone else?  John really wants to know because John wishes to shift the people to the person he preached about.  John’s purpose in relation to Jesus is to not only point to Jesus, but shift to a lower gear.  Instead of followers of John the Baptist, John himself will become a disciple or follower of Jesus, but only if he is the long-awaited Messiah. If we back up just a bit, we read, “A disciple is not above the teacher…”(Matt.10:24) Just as the Jews of long ago waited and longed for the coming of Jesus, so we wait for him to come today.  As in verse one of Hymn 66, we seek his presence both now and in the future: “Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.”