Prepare The Way Of The Lord
There is a saying that is popular these days, “if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready”. It is a great reminder about preparation. Athletes train so that they are ready when the call comes for them to go into the game. Soldiers train so that they are ready for the battle if the enemy should attack. Neither athletes nor soldiers know when the call will come, so they ready themselves in advance. Likewise, Christians need to be ready, in anticipation for what the Bible has assured us… that Jesus will return. In Luke 3:2b-6; 15-17, John the Baptist answers God’s call to prepare the hearts God’s people to receive the coming Messiah. I pray this week leading up to Christmas, that you will make the preparation necessary to receive Christ into your heart and that you will also help others to receive Him into their hearts as well. Amen.
the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:2b-3) From before his birth, John had been set apart by God for the purpose of prophetically proclaiming Christs coming. So at God’s appointed time, the word of God came to him. He had been living in the wilderness at that time but he went from there into all the areas around the Jordan river, preaching a message of baptism of repentance to receive God’s forgiveness. Note that the baptism John performed was a baptism of repentance. This baptism was different from the Christian baptism, which symbolizes our death to our old selves and resurrection into new life in Christ. The baptism of repentance was typically performed on gentiles who were converting to Judaism. However, John’s message to the Jewish people was that they too needed to repent, in preparation for the Messiah who would bring their salvation. Are you helping anyone else prepare themselves for Jesus’ coming?
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’” (Luke 3:4-6) John fulfilled the Prophet Isiah’s words, that the proclamation of the Messiah would come from a voice in the wilderness. As Isaiah prophesied, John would call for all people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord. Notably, the message was not just for Jews, it was inclusive (“All people will see God’s salvation”). Have you prepared your heart for Christ’s coming? Would He be comfortable living with you?
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. (Luke 3:15-17) There was a spirit of expectation for the coming of the Messiah. People wondered whether John was the Messiah, but he dismissed that notion immediately. Instead, John was obedient to his mission and pointed people to the Messiah that was still to come. John minimized himself and with adoration for the Lord, said that he was unworthy of even the most menial task in service to the Messiah. What John was doing (baptizing with water) was but a foreshadowing of what the Lord would do (baptizing with the fire of the Holy Spirit). The Messiah would separate out people who refused to repent and they would be burned in the fire (like chaff). Those who did repent would be saved (i.e. “gather the wheat into His barn”). John exhorted people to repent as he proclaimed the good news of salvation. Are you waiting expectantly for the coming of the Lord?
If Jesus came back today, would you be ready? And would those you love be ready? The season of Advent is a time for preparation and anticipation for Christ’s return. Unfortunately, some of us are so busy during this season with buying presents and attending holiday parties, that we are doing very little to prepare our hearts for the Lord’s appearing. But the Lord calls us, especially during Advent, to embrace virtues that He engendered during His first Advent… Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. These are virtues that the Lord wants us to not only embrace for ourselves, but to share with others during this season. Christmas is more than just a time for us to buy and receive gifts, Christmas is a time when we are reminded of God’s greatest gift to the world. His name is Jesus, and He’s coming back. Now is the time to prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Blessings,
Rev Glenn
Listen as the All Star Chorus sings “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration
