Does it seem that Christmas is a long way off? Here’s another thought from our “Love Story” to help you during this period of anticipation.
February 2, 1941…continued. My father had met this new girl, and he immediately wrote home to his parents, “Her name is Joan Lee-Cole, and her father is a minister in Dublin, Ireland. She’s over here on a fellowship from the English Speaking Union, and it seems she has been here in NY for two months, and Friday was her last day here before going up to the Harvard Graduate School to study biology until June.”
Can you imagine the consternation that my father must have experienced, meeting a wonderful woman only to learn that she was leaving New York the next day to head to Massachusetts?
Before Jesus’ cousin ever began baptizing, God had revealed that John would one day meet the Messiah. In the gospel of John, the Baptizer reported, “I didn’t know [Jesus] was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, you will know this is the one you are looking for.’” I wonder how many months went by as John eagerly anticipated meeting the Christ. Would this person be the one? Or perhaps that man standing over there?
At last, John baptized his cousin. There were no doubts. “I saw it myself and I have born witness. This is God’s Chosen One.” (John 1:34) Then Jesus immediately disappeared into the wilderness for over a month. Picture how John must have felt: He finally realized that his own cousin was to be the Messiah, only to see Jesus leave town that same day! John went from elation to confusion in less than 24 hours!
Have you ever thought everything was moving smoothly in one direction, only to be jolted as you suddenly faced obstacles and delays? Never fear, God’s timing is perfect…to the day and hour! So stay tuned!
