The Rev. Matthew Hunter, associate priest at Hexham Abbey, comments on Matthew 11:2-11

During Advent, Christians reflect upon the incarnation, God’s coming among us – literally Emmanuel, ‘God, with us’ – in the person of Jesus, and look forward to his return.

In between a distant past and an unspecified future, we seek to respond to the possibilities of the present and look to the Bible for guidance.

The gospels also provide a spectrum of times and response: the earliest anticipations of the good news; the sometimes surprising reality of the way; the development of traditions surrounding Jesus; the wider relevance of this story for the world. This week we focus upon the second of these.

Expect the Unexpected: John the Baptist had an odd life. You might think that this was fairly self-evident from the whole wandering around in the desert wearing camel hair, eating honey and wild locusts thing.

But seriously, let’s think it through: you speak the truth; you baptise the man who will come to be thought of as the son of God; you’re jailed because even though Herod enjoys your chats, the message cuts too close to home when you say he shouldn’t have married his brother’s wife… and from your cell, you send your disciples to double-check that you haven’t made a monumental mistake. And after all that, and Jesus’ affirmation, you lose your life on the vengeful whim of butchery masquerading as entertainment.

What John needs to be reassured of in the midst of his misery, is that even though the story has passed beyond his influence, Jesus’ ministry is the true fulfilment of God’s plan.

May Christ’s kingdom come in our lives this advent. Amen.