Jesus, John and secrets

John the Baptist might have had a hard time keeping his Christmas presents a secret. In this week's Gospel (John 1:6-8,19-28), he knows a secret about God -- and he tells everyone!

John the Baptist was getting people ready for Jesus' coming, and they got confused. "Are you God, or a prophet?" they asked John. "No," John told them. "Then why are you baptizing people?" they asked. John answered, "I'm only baptizing you with water. Jesus is coming soon, and He's really God! He's so great, I don't even deserve to untie his shoes."

In a way, Jesus was "under wraps" like a Christmas present. Few who knew Him knew that He was God -- except John. John kept giving hints about it, too: He said there was somebody coming who was greater than him, someone so important, John wasn't good enough to untie His shoes!

Sometimes, people act like they already know what their present is, just so you'll tell them. But you know it's important to keep the secret!

People thought they knew what John's secret was, too -- that John was God. But John told them they were wrong. Just because he baptized people didn't make him God.

Then John told them the real secret: Jesus was God, and He was coming soon! John's secret was even better than a Christmas present.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me keep all my Christmas secrets -- except the one about you! Amen.

(12-09-99)