SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, December 14, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

“Are you the one?” How often is this the question asked? The contemporary ask may be ominous or the question may reflect a spiritual longing or, as in our context in The Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptizer, prophet in/of the desert, languishes in a lightless cell and anguishes – is his cousin Jesus the one foretold?

It’s not an unreasonable question to ask. John was a Jew. His expectation was of a Messiah who would wield a winnowing fork and put things right. But things are not "right" and his cousin isn’t giving evidence of a plan that would accomplish the expectations of an oppressed and disheartened people.

But we’ve read the story. We are aware of the power that transformed the ancient world and the only power that will transform ours.

Come this Sunday. We will engage the centuries old question that is asked and must be answered by each generation.

The children will be heralds and we will bear witness to the one who comes, in humility, bearing our salvation.

In anticipation,