Making a Way for the Lord

Happy Wednesday, Everyone. 😊 This week, we hear another prophecy from the prophet Isaiah. In 40:3 he foretells the life of John the Baptist, whose life mission was to prepare the way for Jesus.

He spent his adult life preaching about repentance and forgiveness of sins. We mostly hear about him around the Jordan River. And he is the one who baptized Jesus in that same river.

John’s preaching led some to believe that he was the Messiah. However, he was very clear that was not true. When asked who he was, he responded with the words of this prophecy.

He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:23, 25-27 ESV)

The next day John continued his proclamation about Jesus:

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29-34 ESV)

As we approach the celebration of the birth of our Messiah, how do we proclaim His coming? How do we cry out in the Advent wilderness to make a straight path for the Son of God? Are we too wrapped up in wrapping presents and decorating and baking to take the time to proclaim the true Reason for the Season?

I pray we will all remember that were it not for Jesus, there would not be a Christmas to celebrate. Were it not for Jesus we would not have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Maybe that’s the Present we should be wrapping up for everyone as we get closer and closer to the Manger.

Blessings, 😊 Ceri