Messiah

  As we approach the commemoration of the birth of Jesus, we turn to the title "Messiah."  The Messiah was the longed-for Savior and Redeemer of the Jewish people who would set them free.  Although many thought that the freedom the Messiah would bring would include freedom from their physical oppressors, what he brought instead was freedom from spiritual oppression.  So some rejected Jesus as Messiah because he did not meet their expectations by getting them out from under the Romans.  They weren't looking for someone who thought it more important to be set free from sin than from occupation by a foreign army.
  So when Andrew went to his brother Simon (Peter) and said, "We have found the Messiah", why did he say that?  He said it based on the testimony of John the Baptist (that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit) and on the time he had already spent listening to Jesus' teaching (John 1:29-42).
  And why did Philip say, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:44-45)?  He said it because he had listened to Jesus' teaching.
  Jesus' teaching was not of a revolution of overthrowing the Roman government.  As we know, governments come and go.  They are temporary things.  Jesus' revolution was one of forgiveness, healing and justice; one of humility and service.  These are things that permanently change the world.  His revolution is for all times and places.  For Reflection:   "You say you want a revolution, well, you know, we all want to change the world" - so sang the Beatles.  What type of revolution do we want?  What needs to change in our world today?  How can we bring it about through the Messiah's teaching?
  Let us pray.  Jesus, you are the Messiah, the true Revolutionary.  You conquered sin and death and brought everlasting life.

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