The scheduled reading for today is Luke 1:57-66. It tells the story of John the Baptist’s birth and the controversy over his name. The people assumed he would be called Zechariah, after his father (imagine a guy named Jr. baptizing people in the desert?). His parents insisted that God wanted the baby to be named John.
This is an image I made for a sermon on this passage from Advent Last year. Notice the meaning of the names and the direction of the arrows.
The Promise of God, the Gospel and Mission of God, does not call us backward. It propels us forward. May you move forward into God’s Promise this Christmas.
