VIDEO ON MARK 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”.
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
INTRODUCTION TO ADVENT DEVOTIONALS
As the days shorten and the year comes to a close, we find ourselves in a world fraught with discord, restlessness, and violence. It’s tempting to shelter against the onslaught of troubling news by looking out only for ourselves and turning our backs on our neighbors.
It is into that world that Jesus comes — meek when power seems to have the loudest voice, giving when entitlement reigns, and ultimately victorious when it seems that disorder is winning.
During the season of Advent, we anticipate his coming and hope for a different way of living. We long for the peace he offers in anxious times. We lean into his light to reveal places of joy. We are inspired by his embodiment of love to guide how we care for others. In surrendering control, we greet Jesus’ arrival with hearts open to these themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.
This year’s Advent Devotional series begins each week with a Pastor’s video on the sermon scripture, followed on Mondays by an essay on the same text. Various writers reflect on familiar passages through the lens of the weekly Advent themes on following days. Our Friday prayer and Saturday journal prompt come from Kate Bowler, our 2025 Willard Lecturer.
Join me in daily reading and in the practice of looking for signs of God with us in every facet of our lives.
-Garrell Keesler