The road to the manger is not an Interstate. Nor is the journey sentimental. The path is decorated neither with candy canes nor red-nosed reindeer. There are no shortcuts. The Advent journey begins in a darkness so deep you can see the stars.

From there it leads by the Jordan River and its stern prophet, John. If we could only get to the babe without having to hear the Baptist cry, "Repent!" But we cannot see Jesus without first hearing John. Repentance is hard unChristmasy stuff. This strange man, dressed in skins, hair uncut and uncombed, insists those who hear him get their lives turned around. It is not a comfortable message. John would never make the list of the ten best dressed, nor win anybody's popularity contests.

John says that when the Messiah appears the world will change rad…