You are thinking: Obviously, it's Jesus. Put Christ back in Christmas--- blah,blah, blah! And, you are right, but not completely right. Jesus is not the reason for the season. Jesus is the life of the world yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is every season. We cannot pin Jesus down to our time,to a date on the calendar (Dec. 25). So, if not Jesus, who?
The character that best embodies this season was a man sent by God to testify that God was indeed present in the world in the form of an actual human being. The man sent from God was named John. He was a prophet of Israel. He was a voice crying out in the wilderness, a baptizer washing away sins. He was calling people to repentance--to have their minds altered, their points-of-view reversed, their lives turned upside-down. Because people are backwards, inside-out, a mess inside and out. People are full of sin--egotistical pride, hatred and prejudices, unjustified anger and resentments. People are really messed up. Check the news, check the mirror, check the thoughts in your own head. John was not afraid to speak the truth about us all. Adulterers, murderers, slanderers, thieves---all of us! This is not God's way. And God has had enough! To demonstrate, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea in the 1st century.
John was a radical ascetic, living off the land. He was an accuser, a truth-teller, and a spiritual giant. He was attractive because he was loud and offensive and compassionate. He told the truth and called people to accept it. He drew people out of their comfortable lives and into the Jordan river waters.
He was, in the eyes of many, a great prophet sent by God to restore justice in a corrupted world. He quoted Isaiah the prophet and dressed like Elijah the ancient prophet. He resembled the great God-men of their history, of their bible. And since they awaited a person who would restore God's justice and peace as a Savior/King, they suspected that John could be the man. But he was NOT the promised savior. He assured them that he was not the one for whom they waited. Imagine a popular celebrity (or popular preacher, for that matter) today demanding that people pay attention to someone other than themselves. John pointed to Jesus and said he is the one. John is the best character for this season because he rejects the culture of consumerism, power politics, wealth, and status that entice people. He also rejects the self-centered I-world in which we exercise our individual-freedom-without- consequences mentality. He is dead to those ways. He is preparing another Way: The way of the LORD.
While we hang lights on our cozy homes, John points to Jesus and says--This is the light of the world, God's light, God's power dwells in Him.
While we skulk about the shopping mall, the Target, and the Walmart, John splashes around in the Jordan River with people longing for a better life. While we sing Christmas carols, John shouts in the wilderness "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."
While we visit Santa, he promises someone far greater is on His way. Wait and see. He is coming. The time is at hand. God's reign is about to begin. A new day, a new world, a new rule for life on earth is being established. John points beyond the trivial, superficial, and false celebrations we enjoy toward a much deeper reality: GOD is truly present in this world, here and now. Visible and active. So, straighten up. We are not alone down here. The King returns.
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