Should We Keep Looking?

Third Sunday in Advent

Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:2-11

From “Saving the Ants”   

http://susanreep.com/blog/2009/08/09/

One more Sunday and Christmas will almost be here. Have you been keeping the path to your heart open for Jesus to come in? During this time of the year, when it seems like everyone is searching for just the right gifts for their family and friends, we need to remember to look for Jesus, the Savior, and make room in our hearts for him.

The Gospel lesson for today talks about the disciples of John the Baptist. They asked Jesus, “Are you really the Messiah we’ve been waiting for? Or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen; the blind see . . . the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor” (Matt. 11:3-5 NLT).

John and his disciples had been waiting and looking for the Messiah for so long, they wanted to be sure Jesus was the one. Jesus had to remind them of all the miracles and wonderful things that had been happening since he began preaching. So many things pointed to the truth that Jesus was the true Messiah. The Savior of the world was here.

This search for the Messiah is like waiting for Christmas Day to arrive. We know that Christmas is coming. The signs are everywhere. Lights glow on houses and stores, green trees are decorated with beautiful ornaments, presents are appearing under the trees, and packages arrive in the mail. Christmas is coming, but it seems like such a long time to wait until it’s finally here!

To the disciples, it seemed as if they had been waiting forever for God’s Promised One, the Messiah, to arrive. When Jesus finally came, did they need to keep looking? No. The Savior sent by God was finally with them. It would have been foolish to keep looking. When Christmas morning finally arrives, do we have to keep waiting and counting the days until it’s here? No. When Christmas comes, we can celebrate! We don’t have to keep waiting.

As we wait for Christmas to come, we know that we have found the one that the world has been waiting for. Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of our world. We don’t have to keep looking. We have found God’s son, Jesus. And that is why we celebrate Christmas.

Prayer:  Father in heaven, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to the world. Weíre glad that we donít have to keep looking and searching. We have found the Messiah.