Prepare The Way- December 14, 2008
Mark 1:1-8 (NRSV)
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
30 years ago I moved with my job at NCR Corporation from Dayton, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia. (It was an offer I could not refuse.) Shortly after that, we learned that the president of the company was coming to visit the facility for the first time ever. I thought we would need to do some thorough housekeeping prior to the visit, but I had no idea of what would actually be involved.
We painted all the walls, installed new carpet, remodeled the rest rooms, and purchased a huge new sign to place in front of the building. We replaced old equipment, hired additional administrative staff, and arranged meetings with the largest customer accounts in the area. Altogether, the costs easily exceeded $50,000.00 in 1985 dollars.
I am reminded of all this preparation for a mere human visitor when I hear the John the Baptist proclaiming the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” It is only natural that we all want to present ourselves in the best light possible when an important visitor comes to us. However, everything we have talked about here is external in nature. The real work begins with the internal spiritual matters that are so important when we speak of a visit from God’s own Son.
The very life of John the Baptist was part of the preparation for the coming of Jesus. He was born miraculously to a couple too old to have children anymore, and especially called by God to tell people to prepare for the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Over 300 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah predicted that the Messiah was coming and that a prophet would come before Him, telling everyone it was time to get ready.
Of course, this announcement was a mixture of good news and bad news. People were called to change their behavior and their hearts because Jesus was coming. They knew from the Scriptures that there was salvation in the coming of Messiah. It was the beginning of the kingdom of God on earth, and the Jewish people knew that they could place their hope for salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.
Even tax collectors and soldiers (both groups considered especially ungodly at the time) came to be baptized by John in the River Jordan. When they asked what they should do to prepare for the coming of Messiah, John told them to start dealing honestly with people, and stop extorting money from people by abusing their authority over others. When the Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized, John asked them: “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” Clearly John saw life style change an important part of preparing for the coming of the Lord.
I sometimes wonder if John was surprised by the tremendous response to his own preaching. We know that the prophet Jonah was surprised when the Ninevites repented of their sins and changed their behavior in response to God’s message. Maybe John was too.
John seems like a pretty serious fellow though. I picture him as about 7 feet tall, with skin tougher than a buffalo hide, and dark piercing eyes that see right through to your very soul. I know that anyone who eats locusts as a staple in their diet is serious. Considering how dedicated he was to God’s call on his own life, it would not be too much of a stretch to find him expecting everyone to respond with complete obedience to God’s Word. I know I would not like to be the one to tell him anything he did not want to hear.
Augustine of Hippo once said there is a “God shaped void” in the heart of every person. I suspect that void had much to do with the response of the people, both in Nineveh and in Jerusalem. Knowing that God was coming to earth to bring hope to people suffering from the burden of sin was more than enough good news to compensate for the work of being convicted of sin and turning to God in repentance.
Isn’t that what the season of Advent is all about? We implore God to come down to earth to save us from ourselves. And, He answers with the Eternal Word made flesh – Jesus Christ. In Jesus there is hope for salvation, now and in the future. Despite our fallen nature and our sin, in Jesus there is the hope for fellowship with God.
Yet, even at this time of year we are surrounded with our failures as human beings. Yes, Santa Claus is coming to town. But there is a catch to pleasing Santa. You remember the song, don’t you: “You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout; I’m telling you why.” The message is that you get out of Santa exactly what you deserve.
The threat continues: “He sees you when you’re sleeping, and he knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.” I personally never received a lump of coal on Christmas, but my parents did threaten me with it from time to time. Aren’t you glad that God does not give us what we deserve?
Back in my seminary days, I took a course that examined Christianity in children’s books. I discovered something amazing. Do you remember the story of the little engine that could? You know, the little engine said: “I think I can. I think I can.” The words have become synonymous with positive self-esteem for several generations of Americans.
Now, do you remember what the little engine was doing that was so important? He was bringing food to the other side of the mountain for good little girls and boys. Even in the beloved childhood story, the requirement for being good is emphasized. The food was not intended for bad girls and boys. I look back on how I behaved and I have to wonder if the “little engine that could” would have tried quiet as hard to bring food to people like me and my friends. I know I was not always a good boy.
Fortunately, Jesus is not the savior of perfect people. Jesus is the savior of imperfect people like you and me. Jesus is actually in the recycling business. He changes lives, setting people free from sin. Throughout the gospel narratives we see that Jesus has fellowship with sinners. He eats with them. He teaches them about the kingdom of God. He cures them of illnesses. He enables sinners to become saints.
So it was with the people that lived in the city of Corinth during the time of the apostle Paul. Historians tell us that Corinth was such an immoral city that it was considered insulting to call anyone a “Corinthian.” It was synonymous with terms like “liar,” “cheater,” and “thief.” Yet our Bible contains not one but two letters addressed to the people who comprised the church that grew up in Corinth. Paul calls them “brothers and sisters” and he calls them “saints.” You see, anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ is a saint. According to the Bible, you don’t have to have your picture on a stained glass window to be a saint. You just have to be a believing Christian.
Paul tells the people at Corinth that he gives thanks to God always for them. The grace of God has been given to them in Jesus Christ. Since grace is, by definition, a free gift, this means that they did not get what they deserved. Instead, they received a gift from God – the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Paul also says that the “testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you.” That means that people in other towns look at what has happened to the Christians at Corinth. They are not perfect, but they no longer lie or cheat or steal as a way of living. Their lives have changed dramatically, and that change is testimony all over the world to the power of Jesus Christ in the lives of believers.
Many of you have met my wife Ginger, and you know that she is the better half of our relationship. I tell people I “married up,” and so far, no one has ever argued with me about it. She is answered prayer in my life.
I am looking forward to her visit here in less than a week. It is the first time she has been in California since last summer. We have been able to spend some time together because I have been traveling to Atlanta to work on my doctoral studies at Columbia Seminary. However, traveling is difficult for her right now due to the deteriorating condition of a bad hip. (X-rays show that the cartilage is gone, so that the bones are now rubbing together when she walks.) we are planning for her to have surgery on it some time this spring.
Naturally, I am exciting about seeing her, as I always am. However, there is a bit of a problem involved with her upcoming visit. Like most women, Ginger likes things nice and neat in the home. Like most men, housekeeping is not the area of greatest interest or talent for me. Right now, things are not as bad as a college dorm room, but they are also not nearly as good as they would be if Ginger were here. I have lots of work to do in the next few days.
I need to prepare the way for Ginger’s upcoming visit. It will be well worth the effort to find she approves of my housekeeping and feels comfortable with the cleanliness of the home. In like manner, so it is for all of us with Christmas and preparing for it spiritually. That is what the season of Advent is all about, and why we have been preparing our hearts for the past several weeks for the coming of the Christ child.
It is a good time to think seriously about who we are and how we behave. Consider the following:
- Am I praying regularly, lifting my friends and loved ones to the Lord, in addition to asking God to supply my own needs?
- Do I study the Bible faithfully on a routine basis, and does it change my life?
- Do I reach out to those who are sick and hurting?
- Do I spend all my time worrying about tomorrow, or, after reasonable diligence, do I allow God to decide what the future will bring?
- Do I share from all that God has given me to those who are in need?
- Do I build others up with love and kindness, or do I criticize others who receive praise for what they have done?
- Do I look for ways to share Jesus with others, in word or in deed?
And so, on this third Sunday in Advent we anxiously await the coming of Christ. We think about what it means for God to become a human being. We think of the Christ child lying in a manger, totally dependent upon others to provide for every need. We see that same child, become a man, sentenced to death on a cross to pay the price for our sins. How can we ignore that kind of love?
Charles Wesley put all of this to words in the year 1744. It was then that the brother of the great evangelist John Wesley wrote a song that expresses the meaning of Advent. We sang this song a few minutes ago. Now listen to the words:
Come thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring,
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
