Prompt: If John the Baptist was helping us get ready for Christmas today, what would he say? Have some fun! Write a letter to WPC to prepare us for Christmas.
Get Ready, Folks!
Gather around, WPC, it’s me—John. Yes, that John. The Baptizer. The desert guy. Camel-hair couture, organic locust diet—you remember.
Now, I’ve seen a lot in my day. We’re talking prophets, kings, Pharisees with eyebrows so judgmental they could curdle milk. But nothing—nothing—compares to the day I first heard about my cousin, little Jesus.
Picture it: I’m minding my own business, practicing my sermon—“Repent!” (It was a short sermon.) Suddenly my mother bounces in waving her arms all meshuggeneh: “Aunt Mary had her baby!” And I said, “Cool! Mazel tov!” Then she goes, “Oh, and by the way, He’s the Messiah.” I nearly coughed up my honey-glazed locust!
Understand—real Messiahs were not exactly popping up on every corner. We’d been waiting centuries just for The One. But, out of Bethlehem, literally from nowhere, He arrived! And not as some larger-than-life superhero but as a baby! One that cries and burps and everything else babies do!
Fast forward to a few years later, I’m out at the river, doing my thing—baptizing folks, telling them to straighten up because Someone Big is coming. And then Cousin Jesus enters the scene. I said, “You’re early! I’m still warming up the crowd!” And He flashes that peaceful, ‘I-know-how-the-story-ends’ smile and says to baptize him.
I said, “I’m not worthy to untie your sandals!” And He goes, “True but relax—they have Velcro, which might not mean anything to you now but trust me, Velcro’s going to be a thing.” What could I do? I dunked Him. Nicest baptism ever! He didn’t complain once about the temperature.
So as we prepare for His birth this season, remember: the Messiah showed up in humility, enjoyed a little humor like mine, and loved us enough to join us in our mess. And trust me—I’ve seen the world. It’s a big mess.
But He’s bigger.
― John the Baptist with help from Patricia Smart and her minions
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