Wednesday December 15, 2021 Jesse Tree-Elijah Luke 7:18b-23
In Luke’s Gospel today, Jesus is approached by some of John the Baptizer’s followers. They ask if he is the one foretold by John, or should they look for another. Jesus confirms that he is the one who heals the sick and restores sight to the blind—the things the promised Messiah will do. (though Jesus never claims the title). In another scripture passage, Jesus refers to John the Baptizer as the new Elijah—the one who will precede the Messiah. Today we hang a symbol for Elijah on our Jesse Tree. Elijah, the great prophet of the Hebrew Scriptures, was a wild man just as John is portrayed as being. Elijah was not afraid to speak an uncomfortable truth, and neither was John. Today we are asked to recognize the forerunner to our Messiah in John. He prepared the way for Jesus. Are we making ready our world for Jesus?