Isaiah 40:1-5 Prepare the Way for the LORD (Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)
“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.”
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.”
Matthew 3:1-3 The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”
Mark 1:1-8 The Mission of John the Baptist “This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.” “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, e but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 3:1-6 The Mission of John the Baptist
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 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, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”
John 1:19-28 The Mission of John the Baptist
And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin and a miracle baby, the son born to Zechariah and Elizabeth when they had despaired of ever becoming pregnant. When Mary visited Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit entered John while he was in Elizabeth’s womb. As a child in a priestly family, John would have been tutored extensively in the Scriptures and would certainly know the prophecies of Isaiah. Who knows how shocked John may have been to realize that he was the chosen messenger referred to in Isaiah 40.
Notice how modestly and carefully John answered the religious authorities. Technically, John was the embodiment of Elijah and the prophet mentioned in the Scriptures; however, he merely quotes Isaiah 40:3. When the religious leaders demanded to know the source of John’s authority to baptize, he doesn’t answer directly but advises them that the Messiah is actually among them.
What can we learn from John the Baptist? While God chose John as the messenger to announce the coming of the Messiah, John did not involve himself in senseless religious arguments. John knew his mission and fulfilled it, leaving others to assume whatever they chose. When God gives you a task, stick to that task and don’t be distracted by critics.
John knew that he was preparing the way for the Messiah, although he was not certain who the Messiah would be. To that end, John was calling all those listening to him to repentance of sins. We have the advantage of knowing that Jesus the Messiah has come and has sacrificed Himself for the sins of the world. Our task is to confess our sins to God, ask for forgiveness, and to repent, changing to follow God for the rest of our lives. There’s a fine old hymn traditionally sung in Advent. As you read these words, may they enter your heart!
PRAYER:Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, only You can help us prepare our hearts for Your coming. Please forgive our sins, clean us, and make us wholly Yours. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
- Prepare the way, O Zion! Ye awful deeps, rise high;
Sink low, ye towering mountains, the Lord is drawing nigh;
The righteous King of glory, foretold in sacred story.
Refrain: O blest is He that came in God the Father’s Name. - O Zion, He approacheth, thy Lord and King for aye!
Strew palms where He advanceth, spread garments in His way.
God’s promise faileth never, Hosanna sound forever!
Refrain: O blest is He that came in God the Father’s Name. - Fling wide thy portals, Zion and hail thy glorious King;
His tidings of salvation to every people bring,
Who, waiting yet in sadness, would sing His praise in gladness.
Refrain: O blest is He that came in God the Father’s Name. - He cometh not with warriors, and not with pomp and show,
Yet smiteth He with terror sin, death, and every foe.
The Spirit’s sword He wieldeth, not e’en to death He yieldeth.
Refrain: O blest is He that came in God the Father’s Name. - Give heed, thou sinful people, thy King and Savior own;
The kingdom He hath founded is not an earthly one;
No power can overthrow it, nor earthly wisdom know it.
Refrain: O blest is He that came in God the Father’s Name.
The throne which He ascendeth is fixed in heaven above:
His sanctified dominion is light alone and love.
His praise be ever sounding for grace and peace abounding.
Refrain: O blest is He that came in God the Father’s Name.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment