Matthew 14:1-12 page 1

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One story above all comes back to me every year when it comes to the Third Sunday in Advent every year and we mark the rôle of John the Baptist in the coming of Christ. I'll try not to tell it every year here!

It concerns a time in my teens. I was part of quite a strong church youth group. Most of them could sing and/or play an instrument. I was the only completely non-musical person. The others decided to form a Christian singing group, to which they gave the incredibly cheesy name of 'Tapestry'. Clearly I could have no part in it.

However on one occasion when they performed a big concert at our home church. They asked me to introduce them at the beginning of the concert and then again at the start of the second half. I was, in other words, the compère.

The next day was the Third Sunday in Advent. Our Superintendent Minister, Peter Curry, was preaching about John the Baptist. He described John as ... the compère. The compère introduces the main act and then gets out of the way. That had been my task the night before, and it had been John's ministry. Elsewhere he had said that Jesus had to increase, but he had to decrease.

In today's reading, however, we encounter not John willingly getting out of the way for Jesus, the main act, but rather his enemies in the royal court getting him out of the way - for good, they hoped. Ironically, at a time of year when we celebrate a birth - the birth of Jesus - this story is all about death. And the theme of death in this reading is one that raises big challenges about the spiritual life.

To see what I mean, come with me as we explore the characters in the story.

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Copyright © David D Faulkner, 2006 except where other sources are attributed or noted as inspiration.