"He proclaimed, 'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" (Mark 1:7-8)

John was a prophet.  Isaiah described him as preparing the way for the Lord long before John was born.  In reading this collection of devotionals, you too are preparing the way.  At the very least you are preparing your own heart, and maybe those around you.  Advent is all about preparation.  Not so much about gifts, decorating, and partying, not even Jesus' birth, but about letting Jesus in.  It's very easy to allow the Christmas season to get away from us, and to leave too little time to do the important work of preparation.  May you be blessed by setting aside enough to read the scripture and reflect on it with just a week until Christmas Eve!

Now John and Jesus were about the same age and yet John started his ministry of calling those around Jerusalem to repentance some time before Jesus started his ministry.  It seems John's ministry was well-established when Jesus comes on the scene.  John met Jesus before either of them was born according to Luke who tells us John "leaped" in his mother's womb when Mary greeted Elizabeth soon after she learned she was pregnant.  In the verses that follow this text, Jesus comes to see John and be baptized, and we see John slip into the background as Jesus starts his ministry.  In Matthew 3:14 we are told John resists, but Jesus insists, and in doing so gives us the sacrament of baptism.  The gospels vary in the way and the timing, but they all agree that John steps aside as Jesus takes center stage.

Pray with us: Lord, grant me balance; to prepare home and family for the coming holiday, while leaving time to listen to You calling. May I set aside the demands of the world, and make myself available to You.

            ~ Bob and Harriet Dilly