Natalie's Grace Notes

  Friends, now that we’re in the second week of Advent, we’re also in the second part of this four part sermon series lightly inspired by Names for the Messiah by UCC pastor and Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann. The next “Name for the Messiah”, suggested by the prophet Isaiah is “everlasting father”. Per the revised common lectionary, this week we also get to spend some time with a very important branch on Jesus’ family tree, one that I get a lot of personal amusement from preaching about: Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. Conceived by Mary’s much older cousin Elizabeth, John is 6 months older than Jesus, and as aware as Jesus that he lives on this spinning rock for a very specific, Divine reason. Luke wrote to a Gentile audience, emphasized the inclusion of the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the lame, and, in a story like this one, wanted to get straight to business. His contemporary, Matthew, on the other hand, wrote to a Jewish audience about a Messiah who came to fulf...

  Scripture Reading Luke 1: 5-20 The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold 5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. 8 Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, ...

  Mark 6: 14-29 The Death of John the Baptist 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’s[a] name had become known. Some were[b] saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod[c] had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed,[d] and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birt...