WAKE UP!!
We continue our time of preparing for and celebrating the coming of Christ in history (Christmas) mystery (now) and in majesty (when God’s will be finally done on earth as in heaven) with Isaiah and Mark shouting – “Wake up!” In Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) the writer grabs his listeners by the metaphorical lapels and shakes them out of their despair, longing, and complacency. They were far from home in exile, feeling crushed and forgotten. Jerusalem was sacked and the temple with the Ark was long gone. And the writer yells, “wake up. You are not forgotten. God is coming ready or not, and nothing will get in the way. It’s time to go home, time to start again. You are on the threshold of a new time. The time is urgent, and you need to get ready.” John stands on the Jordan side of the Jordan, on or near where the Hebrew people ended the Exodus and crossed into the promised land. Below the hill Elijah was gathered up into heaven on a flaming chariot. On this place of thre...