Ready Archives - Hadleigh Baptist Church

Joy and Light to the World

Read Luke 1 26-56
By this Sunday excitement is almost at high fever pitch – Christmas is nearly here. Hopefully, all cards have been written and given, posted, or delivered, presents bought and carefully wrapped and labelled, food bought and ready to be prepared and cooked. Even in Church the excitement is palpable and in normal times decorated and prepared and today would see (at least in Hadleigh Baptist Church world) the Nativity and in the evening a festival of carols and readings.
Reflection suggests a more calm and measured approach. It is therefore appropriate that we stand or sit still to know what the meaning of this Sunday is about.
For the last few years, I have been using definitions from the internet of the 4 Sundays in Advent plus Christmas Day and placing these in the Newsletter and on the Church web page. These definitions have been linked to the lighting of the advent candles.

Getting Ready

Our study passage this morning is looking at John the Baptist and how he prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry on Earth and the underlying question:
‘How are we waiting for the Messiah?’

John the Baptist’s sole role was to make ready for Jesus as he prepared the way for the grown up Jesus to now start His ministry. He was to preach the way of repentance and then he was to fade from the scene to be replaced by the One for whom he had prepared the way. We know that this would happen in a dramatic fashion when he was eventually arrested and taken to prison and at the whim of a young girl, beheaded for her pleasure. John the Baptist epitomised all that a true believer should be and is an example of what true Christian sacrifice is. After a period of waiting, he was prepared to give everything as long as Jesus was left as the focus of attention and the one to whom the people could come and hear and find salvation.
What does Advent mean to you? What about Christmas itself?
For me, the words of Matthew 1 v 23 encapsulate it perfectly Christmas is Immanuel – God with us.
Our focus may be on Jesus coming as a new born baby to the stable in Bethlehem but this was only the start of Jesus’ amazing life on earth that would ultimately lead Him to the Cross.

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