All Saints' Episcopal Church

A few years ago, in Reader's Digest, a lady reported searching for the perfect birthday card for her husband.

She came across a promising one.

On the outside it read: "Sweetheart, you're the answer to my prayers." Then she turned to the inside, which was inscribed like this: "You're not exactly what I prayed for, but apparently you are the answer."

In today’s Gospel story, John the Baptist “expected” Jesus to get him out of jail. John had been put in jail for ridiculing the King for breaking marriage laws in Scripture. Jesus, basically, said he would not do it because he had come to build a Kingdom, and not overthrow the government.

All my Episcopal life I’ve been amazed at the bible stories the Episcopal Church uses for Advent.

On November 28th, we had a lesson on the second coming of Jesus.
Then, on December 5^th, we had a lesson on repentance.
Today, we have a lesson on John’s confusion about Jesus as the messiah.

First, we should get ready for the birth of Jesus.
Second, we should make sure we are living right, before he arrives.
Third, he is coming to build a Kingdom.

Having practiced jail ministry at the Polk County Central Jail and having visited the South County Jail, I can share with you - that jails are frightening places.

They would, however, be considered a luxury compared to the jails Jesus, Paul, and John endured.

The ‘first third’ of the Gospel today can be summed up by saying John wanted to know if Jesus was really the Messiah, why wasn’t he busting him out of jail.

The answer Jesus gave was, and I paraphrase, “Please don’t be offended John, but I (Jesus) did not come to overthrow the government, but to care for the people.

Jesus went on to say in this Gospel that John was a good man, a divine messenger, who had prepared the way for him.

He said, “The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist.”

The prime mover in beginning the theological college that would become Regent’s College, Oxford was a man who lived in the 18^th century by the name of Abraham Booth.

On exactly who is “least”, he once said, "... Of such also, or of those who make a credible profession of being such, all those particular churches consist, which constitute our Lord's visible kingdom. ... Consequently, all the subjects of His government must have spiritual dispositions, , and yield spiritual obedience- obedience proceeding from an enlightened understanding, an awakened conscience, and a renewed heart."

Translated in plain English, he means “Churches with people with spiritual dispositions, who are obedient because they are born again.”

The blind can see. They are there. They are grateful!
The lame can walk. They are there. They are grateful!
Those will diseases are healed. They are there. They are grateful!
The deaf can hear. They are there. They are grateful!
The spiritually dead are raised. They are there. They are grateful!
The poor are celebrating hope. They are there. They are grateful!

A fellow walked into a watch company and asked for a job that paid $100 a week. But after talking to the manager about it he announced that he wanted $200 a week.

The manager was puzzled and said, “Have you ever done precision watch work before?”

The fellow answered, “because it’s harder when you don’t know how to do it!”

Jesus says we should become the least. We should be humble, as we prepare a place in our hearts for Him and as we examine how we are living our lives and how we treat others.

This Christmas, together with him, we will experience – like no other season of our lives – the joys of being a spiritual family.