I don’t imagine John the Baptist will make it on any holiday greeting cards this year.  It’s unlikely that he will join the ranks of Frosty and Rudolf with his own Christmas special. And while he may never near the popularity of Jack Frost or Buddy the Elf, here he stands on the second week of Advent playing the pivotal role of announcing the coming of the King. The timing of the passage is critical. The opening phrase “In those days” prepares the reader for the possibility that the present...

Isaiah 65:17-25 When was the last time you saw something new? Not just different, but really new. Even in a world that changes at the...