When John the Baptist initially encountered Jesus, his “gut instinct” told him . . . “THIS is the one!!!!”

He knew Jesus was the one they had been waiting for! He was mortified that Jesus would want John to baptize him!
“You’re the one who should be baptizing me,” he told Jesus (Matthew 3:14).

But, Jesus didn’t agree so they waded on into the Jordan anyway and he did the honors.

After he heard Jesus’ message, however, he had a few doubts.

John had been preaching things like, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3: 7-12).

Jesus’ message was quite different from John’s

! In fact, the way they communicated the message and lived out their callings seemed quite opposite of one another.

John ate locusts and honey; Jesus ate whatever he felt like with WHOMEVER he desired!

John avoided the sleazy sinners; Jesus seemed to prefer their company.

John preached “you better turn before it is too late.” Jesus told parables like the prodigal son and it is NEVER too late to come home.

What if our purpose this Christmas can be to revolutionize that message to people, “It’s never too late to come home!”

And what if Home is defined in a NEW way!

How can we live that out today?