The beauty of Advent came to me in my 45 minute commute to Elim last Sunday morning. I had a glimpse of God when I least expected it. I woke up to a world of white and it was gorgeous and peaceful. The trees still cradled the snow that had fallen the day before and my neighbors' Christmas lights twinkled and danced on white lawns.
     Yet, I was still a little bit nervous. The night had been cold and I was a bit afraid that my Sunday morning pre-sunrise commute might be a little icy. I started off, tuned my radio to the station playing non-stop Christmas music and soon realized that the side roads by my house weren't bad. The freeway was even better -- practically dry! About 30 minutes into my commute, the radio began playing this beautiful song -- just piano -- no words, and it was then that I saw it.
     First, the mountains to the west -- seemingly floating in mid air and glowing with a pink hue that only God could create. Then, I looked east. The sun had not risen over our great Wasatch front yet, but it's light was escaping through every crack, crevice and canyon that it could. As the light touched just a couple of spots along the range, those mountain sides also glowed pink over the white landscape. My breath caught for a second -- surprised by the beauty.
     In awe of it. And then I just took it in. As I drove, I just looked and looked. As the light pierced out into the darkness of the morning, the peace of Christ pierced me. I didn't need faith in that moment because God was right there. Making the sun rise. Creating beauty that, in that moment, I swear was just for me. Filling me with a peace that only God can bring.
     Last week we focused on how Jesus will recognize us when he comes again. Remember your Advent look? Bright eyes, wearing love, putting on the armor of light and Christ himself. Today, our focus is on how we will recognize Jesus.      John the baptist gives us one idea. He tells us he will come with a winnowing fork is in his hand, "and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." His description of Jesus is almost scary. It's a real possibility that we are the chaff and then what? We're going to talk more about John and his message next week. Today, I want to focus on the reading from Isaiah.
     The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, also readies us for this one who is to come. In our reading for today, he refers to the root of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David -- an ancestor of Jesus. As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy -- that Jesus is the shoot coming out of the stump of Jesse. Isaiah tells us that we will recognize Jesus in several ways. First of all, He is coming with judgement. To judge the wicked, yes, but it is more than that. His judgement is not strictly for punishment or to separate the good from the bad. Jesus is bringing a righteous judgement -- an equalizing judgement. His judgement is for the poor. It is for the meek of the earth. We will recognize Jesus Christ when the gap between the rich and the poor is filled with sharing and harmony and equality.
     According to Isaiah, we'll also recognize Jesus because of the belts he wears. Belts of righteousness and faithfulness. Jesus is the one who comes without sin and without guilt. In that way, he is unlike every single one of us sitting here this morning. Sin is part of our nature. Guilt for past thoughts and deeds is part of the baggage many of us carry around on a daily basis. We all have moments of righteousness -- moments free of sin and guilt. Jesus is forever righteous. And he is faithful.
     His faithfulness has a two-fold meaning. First, His faithfulness speaks to our faith in Him. It means that he is worthy of our faith in Him. He is worthy of our trust in Him. He is worthy of our hope in Him. His actions on the cross free us to extend our faith, trust and hope. Secondly, his faithfulness speaks to His ability to be faithful to us. Have you ever thought about it that way before? That Jesus is faithful to you? He is, you know. And the faith he has in you as a Beloved Child of God will never allow him to let you go. No matter how far you stray. No matter how often you try to run away. We recognize Jesus by His righteousness and faithfulness.
     Finally, one of the prevailing images Isaiah gives to help us recognize Jesus is one of peace. When Jesus comes, peace will accompany him. Isaiah says, "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid. . .they will not hurt or destroy on my holy mountain. . ."
     We're not there yet, are we? War still rages in Iraq. Peace is not accomplished between Israel and Palestine. People are killed meaninglessly around the world and in our own home town. We don't get along even with our own family members sometimes. This Advent, we still await the fullness of Christ. We await his fullness that we trust will come in God's time even as we experience little snippets of Him here and there and when we least expect it.
     That sunrise last Sunday? For me, it was a glimpse of the fullness of Christ. There was a peacefulness that accompanied it. It created in me a yearning for God that is almost unexplainable. It was just a glimpse, though. It faded as colors faded and the morning light grew stronger. My sense is that many of you also experience distinct moments of the fullness of Christ. You have people in your life who give you glimpses of Jesus. Who make you know that God is real and not just coming at some time in the unknown future, but is here now, on this day, in this moment.
     You have experiences that are both ordinary and divinely exquisite all at the same time. You experience unexplained moments of overwhelming love or peace. This is the beauty of Advent - experiencing Christ in glimpses even as we wait for him to come in ultimate fullness. Blessings to you this Season as you seek to recognize Jesus as He comes into your life today. Amen.


Put out my manger scene - have kids place all the people in places around the church.