2013 Advent Devotions from the Lutheran Hour Ministries – Friday, 27 December 2013 "DON'T JUDGE BY APPEARANCES - Third Day of Christmas" Read Matthew 3

2013 Advent Devotions from the Lutheran Hour Ministries – Friday, 27 December 2013 "DON'T JUDGE BY APPEARANCES - Third Day of Christmas"

Read Matthew 3: The Proclamation of John the Baptist

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a] 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[d] with whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 3:2 Or is at hand

b. Matthew 3:11 Or in

c. Matthew 3:11 Or in

d. Matthew 3:17 Or my beloved Son. TEXT: John bore witness about Him and cried out, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me'" (John 1:15).

It's been another long Christmas season and you may be ready to put away the decorations for another year. But before you pack up the manger scene, first stop and take a long look at that baby. What did He look like in the flesh? His divinity was so completely hidden within His human body most would have passed by without giving Him a second glance. But encountering John the Baptist would have been a completely different story.

"John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey" (see Matthew 3:4). The fiery wilderness prophet warned the people of Israel to turn from their sins and be baptized because the Kingdom of God was at hand. John stirred up so much excitement that people began wondering if he was the promised Christ.

John immediately put that question to rest, "He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me" (see John 1:30). Yes, John may have been born six months before Jesus and began his ministry first, but Jesus definitely ranked supreme. John adds, "He ranks before me because He was before me."

The Baptist's words line up perfectly with what the apostle John has been writing all along. Jesus of Nazareth is no mere human. He is the only-begotten Son of God who has existed from eternity. Now He dwells among us in human flesh.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for raising up John the Baptist to witness to Your Son Jesus, our Savior. Give me courage and wisdom to share with my friends, family and neighbors all that Jesus has done for our salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

-------

Mail:

Lutheran Hour Ministries

660 Mason Ridge Center Drive

St. Louis, MO 63141 United States

Telephone: (800)876-9880

-------