With a woman at look at culture from a Christian worldview, I'm John Stone Street with a point.

In anticipation of Christmas, revisit the account from Luke 1 of the Angel Gabriel Visiting

Zachariah to announce the birth of his son John.

According to Gabriel, John's role was to quote, make ready for the Lord a people prepare.

Famous 20th Century Theologian Carl Bart was inspired by a particular depiction of John

the Baptist by a Renaissance painter named Matthias Grunewalt.

In it, John stands to the right of the crucified Christ, pointing as Bart once put it, in an

almost impossible way toward his savior.

Bart had a print of the work hanging in his office that reminded him that his job was

not merely to critique theology, but to always point people to Christ.

As we enter Christmas and the New Year, let's do the same.

Let's keep pointing to Christ.

As we point to Christ, we point to reality.

Because in him, as the Apostle Paul said, all things hold together.

For the Carlson Center, I'm John Stone Street, Merry Christmas.