A strange man appeared in the wilderness, calling people to repent and to be baptized. People were excited and huge crowds flocked to him. Some, perhaps, were just thrill seekers. But most likely the majority went because they sincerely hoped he would be The Messiah.

In one respect, 1^st century Judea was not much different from 21^st century Canada, or any other country: crowds make leaders nervous. In 30 AD that was especially true for crowds gathered around someone who might or might not be sent by God, and who might or might not upset the Jewish leaders’ religious or political apple cart. Therefore, they sent a delegation to ask this strange man "Who are you?" John the Baptist firmly ‘confessed, "I am not the Messiah."’

Twice more they questioned him, and twice more he denied being who they thought he might be—he was not Elijah, he was not "the prophet," he was not anyone expected by various groups of Jews.

In effect, John said, "Whoever it is you are looking for, it’s not me."

John declared to them that his role was solely to bear witness to the one who was to come, who indeed had already come, but who stood unknown in their midst.

John stood as a herald to the coming Messiah, as a signpost to the coming of the Kingdom.

Signposts are valuable, especially if you’re on an unknown road, which you have never traveled before. The children in the back seat call out "Are we there yet," and we can tell them to watch for the signs. Then we see it: the sign says "Centreville 30 km" and we say to the children "Almost there. Just twenty minutes or so…" The sign has told us what is coming, and give us the assurance that we are on the right road. That’s comforting knowledge.

Imagine yourself lost in that strange district, looking for a place you’ve never visited before. You’re driving down a lonely road, wondering if you’re even headed in the right direction, and getting more anxious by the minute. Then you see that sign—"Centreville 30 km." Anxiety vanishes, and you feel the joy of knowing that your destination is near, just down this road—maybe closer than you thought. The signpost has turned our anxiety into joy. We greet it with cries of delight, but just as John was not the Messiah, the signpost is not the destination. You are still on the road, still driving down that unknown road, still looking for the place you’re headed to. Nonetheless, there is joy in knowing that this road will shortly lead us to your goal.

John brought a message of hope to the people of Judea, a people who longed for the coming of God’s Kingdom, and for the long-awaited Messiah who would bring that Kingdom into being. John pointed ahead, telling them that they were on the right road, and that the journey ahead was shorter than they thought.

People responded to John by repenting and accepting baptism in token of repentance, preparing themselves for the Lord’s coming. Final preparations are in order when the signposts to the Kingdom are in view. As the airline pilot says "Now on final approach. Please fasten your seatbelts, and return seats and trays to the upright position."

My friends, the signs are in view. There are signposts to the Kingdom all around us, if we just take the time to look. So let us look, and see…

• Let us see people striving to live lives of faithful devotion to Christ, whether gathered to sing God’s praises, or alone in their homes.
• Let us see people reaching out to others in love, in the name of Christ.
• Let us see the scriptures, the principal written record of God’s ongoing relationship with the human race.
• Let us see people in our fellowship and beyond, working for the good of all.
• Let us look around today, and see signposts to the kingdom here in our very midst—and let us rejoice!

But let us always remember: this is not the kingdom of God. Not yet! The kingdom was ushered in through the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ, but we still await its coming in its fullness. The church stands like John the Baptist as the herald of that kingdom, calling people to repentance, to baptism, and onward to life in the kingdom.

Our calling as church is to proclaim the kingdom, to celebrate the kingdom, and to model the kingdom—living the life of that kingdom to the best of our ability, and by the grace of God.

So let us remember in this Advent season that we are called to stand—both individually and as a church—as signposts to the coming Kingdom of Christ.

Let us seek to be people who give joy and hope to others, as we joyfully and joyously live into the hope that God has set before us.

And let us lift our voices in praise of the one who came at Bethlehem, the one who comes to us daily, the one who will come again at the last day.

The signpost says, "God’s Kingdom—any time now."

Thanks be to God.