John and the baptism

I was preaching at a church in Edinburgh today as a guest.  I loved the service because it had some of just about everything in it!

A tiny baby called Lucy was baptised and a woman was welcomed into membership.  It just felt like a very special day for lots of people.  We were made so welcome.

I was preaching about waiting again, but thinking a little more about John the Baptist and what he waited for.  I like that Luke follows John so we find out what happens to him and it’s not a happy ending for the prophet of the Messiah.  John ends up tormented and imprisoned, wondering if his whole ministry of proclamation was a waste of time.  Why?  Because Jesus was the wrong kind of Messiah.  John wanted an all powerful fire and brimstone Messiah, not one of peace and love and grace.

There is a line in the song ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay about ‘when you get what you want but not what you need… I will try to fix you’.  I think that is a strap line for Christmas.  We all make lists of what we want, not what we need.  What we want are toys, things.  What we need is love, forgiveness, grace.  We probably all want a Messiah that will sort things out, bash some heads together and make things right.  What we all need is perhaps some of His compassion, patience and grace.