Lessons for December 11, 2005 – Third Sunday in Advent The first lesson Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. 3To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. 4They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities long ago destroyed. They will revive them, though they have been empty for many generations. "For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their descendants will be known and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed." 10I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. 11The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, filled with young plants springing up everywhere. (NLT) Psalm 126 L. When the Lord restored his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! C. We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. L. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them." C. Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! L. Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. C. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. L. They weep as they go to plant their seed, C. but they sing as they return with the harvest. (NLT) The second lesson 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Always be joyful. 17Keep on praying. 18No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20Do not scoff at prophecies, 21but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22Keep away from every kind of evil. 23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson John 1:6-8, 19-28 God sent John the Baptist 7to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah. 20He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said. 21"Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet?" "No." 22"Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" 23John replied in the words of Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming!' " 24Then those who were sent by the Pharisees 25asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?" 26John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know, 27who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave." 28This incident took place at Bethany, a village east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. (NLT)