welcome to joy

Saturday December 18th, Matthew 11: 11 I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. There were miraculous births bringing spirit filled leaders to the people of God in the Old Testament and John was the last of that Old Testament line. Zac and Elizabeth, John’s parents were too old or barren to have children, as was Sarah and Hannah before them. John’s calling was to introduce something new that God was doing. In the New Testament we start anew with a miraculous birth, this one from a young maiden, some say virgin. John’s greatness was to bring an end to what was and to usher in what will be. What he ushered in and the reality in Jesus is salvation for all of creation, including ourselves. Welcome to the Advent week of Joy.