Christmas is about Jesus. His name means “The Lord Saves”. It is a name of action that leads us to expect great things from God. “Expecting!” is the theme of our Christmas Message Series. We think of the people of Israel – they waited for a Messiah and a Saviour. We think of Mary – expecting a child given through God’s miraculous power. But what of us — waiting for the Lord Jesus to return – do we really expect him? Perhaps we need to refresh our spirit of expectation – to have a renewal of faith and hope so that together, we can become a people who truly expect great things from God.
Aiden Hatchard, Pastoral Intern, is speaker for episode 2 which focuses on the following scripture:
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
