In her sermon, Kelli reflects on the Gospel passage as a profound love story, focusing on the connection between John the Baptist and Jesus, and its implications for our own relationship with Christ. She emphasizes that, although much of Jesus’ life remains hidden, John the Baptist’s life points us to Jesus, a ministry that began even before their births, when John leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb upon encountering the unborn Jesus. This love story between John and Jesus continued into adulthood, with John baptizing Jesus and preparing the way for Jesus’s ministry. Kelli encourages us to reflect on how we can listen to God’s word and share the message of Christ’s coming. She draws a parallel between John’s prophetic role and our own calling during Advent: to prepare for Jesus’s arrival by pointing others to him and sharing God’s love in the context of our lives.
Kelli compares God’s love to her own experience of love with her husband, noting how love can exist even without fully knowing one another. This mirrors our relationship with God: God loves us deeply and unconditionally, and this love calls us to love others. Advent, then, is not just a time of waiting but also of action, an invitation to embody John the Baptist’s example by proclaiming Jesus’s presence and enacting love in the world. Kelli reminds us that life’s path is rarely straight, but the crooked, messy journey becomes meaningful when walked in relationship—with God and others. Through our love and witness, we participate in God’s enduring love story, one that calls us to point others toward Christ and live out his love in tangible ways.
Reflection Questions for this Week:
- Kelli highlights John the Baptist’s role as someone who points others to Jesus. Reflect on your own life—who has acted as a “John the Baptist” for you, pointing you toward Christ? How can you take on that role for others during this Advent season?
- The sermon suggests that God’s love for us begins before we even know God, much like John’s love for Jesus began in the womb. How does this understanding of God’s love influence the way you view your relationship with God and with others?
- Advent is described as both a time of waiting and a time of action. How can we balance the anticipation of Christ’s coming with actively showing God’s love in our daily lives? What practical actions can you take to “point the way” to Jesus in your own context?