Matthew 3:1-11  In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

I’ve often wondered how I would have reacted if I had seen John the Baptist preaching by the Jordan River. Most likely I would have simply walked right past him, ignoring what he said, dismissing him as someone not right in the head.

By God’s grace, I will never know the answer to that. I am grateful to have been raised in a home that believed the promises of God’s Word and shared it with me from the time I was born. My parents saw to it that I was baptized so that God’s name was placed on me and my sins were washed away. I was taught the importance of repentance and confession. My family pointed me to the one John was proclaiming, and the Holy Spirit worked through their testimony, the Word and the Sacraments to lead me to faith in Jesus.

Others did not have that luxury. They never heard of Jesus and His love in their homes. Some have still not heard that message. What better time for you and I to share this good news than Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of God’s greatest gift to the world. I pray that God will use me to shine the light of His love and grace to those I encounter during this season. I pray that those of you reading this will do the same.

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings!

Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin;
Make straight the way for God within,
And let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

We hail Thee as our Savior, Lord,
Our refuge and our great reward;
Without Thy grace we waste away
Like flow’rs that wither and decay.

Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in ev’ry place.

All praise eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people freed,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore.

(Lutheran Service Book #344)