That word, “righteousness,” is absolutely full of meaning. Matthew uses it seven times in his Gospel, and each use signals a slightly different understanding of the word.

On this occasion, Matthew 3:13-17, perhaps it is Jesus' way of saying,

“Come on John, Let’s do this! It’s part of God’s plan to redeem the world!”

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In Luke 2:41-52, Mary and Jospeh are in a panic, they cannot find Jesus!

With great anxiety they search for him and, three days later, they find him.

Mary’s first words are, “Child, why have you treated us like this?”

What I really hear is a loud, “Where have you been young man? Your father and I did not survive angels visits, birth in a stable, and living like refugees in Egypt only to have you get lost in Jerusalem.”

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As we read Matthew 2:13-23 we realise that the Christmas story takes a dark turn. Christmas cards never show this scene. No angels singing. No wise men bringing gifts. No shepherds kneeling.

Instead, we hear of fear, flight, and tragedy.

Just after the immense joy of Jesus’ birth, Matthew’s Gospel takes us into danger and darkness. The child who has come to save the world is immediately threatened by the powers of the world.

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Did God take leave of his senses?

If God is the almighty creator of the universe, what would possess Him to to be born as a helpless baby, to put himself in a position of complete dependence on human parents, to make himself vulnerable to all the pain and suffering of life on earth?

What on earth would be the point of it?

What sort of God decides to do something like that?

It's noting more than the power of love !!

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The final Sunday in Advent marks the beginning of the transition from Advent to Christmas.

It is at this time that Christmas narratives often shine the spotlight on Mary, on shepherds, and of course on the Christ Child Himself.

However, I want to draw our focus to Joseph. His role is quiet, but it is powerfully instructive. In Matthew 1:18–25, we encounter a man who shows us what faithful obedience looks like - especially when God’s plan is confusing, unexpected, and costly.

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Matthew 11:2-11 offers a very different picture of John The Baptiser.

He is a prisoner with a question, “Are you the one, or are we to wait for another?”

So what happened? How did John get from pointing to Jesus as the one who will baptise with fire and the Holy Spirit to this position where he is, clearly, not so sure?

How did he go from being a prophet with all the answers to a prisoner with questions?

What does this mean for us?

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You brood of vipers !!! The wrath of God is coming. It doesn’t matter who you are. The axe is out and ready. Right now the blade is against the tree. The chopping is about to begin. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is being cut down and burned. The unquenchable fire is raging, waiting to be fed with the chaff. And that’s just the beginning!

Wow! That’s some way to start!

Well, the words of John The Baptiser clearly show us that we should strenuously avoid the tendency to reduce Advent to some kind of warm, cosy, sentimental season.

In fact it’s anything but … I would say to you that Advent really is a kind of preparation for, a waiting for, ….. REVOLUTION !

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Life is filled with periods of waiting.

Some of us wait patiently. Some of us do not.

Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for Jesus as a babe in a manger and also reminding us to be waiting, looking ahead, FULL OF HOPE, ready for His second coming.

Readiness is the key concept in Matthew 24:36-44.

Okay - so what can we be doing to help us get ready while we wait ?

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