Isaiah Saw It Coming!

INTRODUCTION

We are a day away from Christmas!

I imagine the excitement is building for many people as folks are anticipating what gifts await them under the tree on Monday morning!

Imagine a time when there was no Christmas.

Imagine a time when we could not say Jesus was the reason for the season because there was no Christmas season to celebrate.

Today is the conclusion of our Comfort and Joy series.

The foundation of this series comes to us from Isaiah 40:1-5.

When Isaiah was given the message from God, there was definitely no Christmas.

The nation was a mess, and people longed for change to come.

Through the book of Isaiah, the Prophet delivered a great deal of bad news to the people; however, in Isaiah 40:1-5, God offered hope.

I often wonder what was running through the minds of the Prophets when God gave them a message to share with the people.

Imagine being in Isaiah's shoes when God was giving you bad news after bad news and warning after warning to give to the people.

I am sure the burden on the hearts of the Prophets, and Isaiah was heavy.

Chapter 40 is a turning point in the message; hope that days will be better.

The tricky part was the wait.

Wait, they would do!

Decades and centuries passed before the fulfillment happened!

Mark 1:1–2 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah……

Last week, we looked at the joy the shepherds experienced when the angel delivered the good news.

Over 700 years of waiting was OVER!

The fulfillment began with the birth of Jesus, Jesus, the one and only Son of God!

The greatest gift we can ever receive begins with a birth!

When we talk to others about Jesus, it can become uncomfortable quickly; however, when we talk about a baby in a manger, not too many folks get worked up over that.

Why does it go down this way?

A baby is not a threat; adult Jesus threatens everything we have stood for and every thought we used to have about life and its' purpose.

Today, we will examine what Isaiah saw coming and why it is significant for us today.

Big Idea of the Message: Isaiah foreshadowed John the Baptist preparing a way for Christ.

Let's begin in Isaiah 40:3.

Isaiah 40:3 (NET 2nd ed.)

3 A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; build a level road through the rift valley for our God.

SERMON

I. The prophecy.

In Isaiah 40:3, the prophet foretells a remarkable prophecy, revealing God's plan for the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord.

Isaiah is speaking of Jesus, and he is speaking of John The Baptist.

"Clear a way" (Isaiah 40:3).

We do this when we prepare for and announce people of honor.

If you go to sports games, you've probably heard the announcer introduce members of the home team.

They will usually call out their number and position to a thunder of applause from the crowd.

Another way you may see someone prepare the way is when a special honor is about to be conferred.

A respected member of the community will announce the great deeds of this person and prepare the audience for the honored guest.

God did not send His son without an announcer!

The prophecy from Isaiah holds significant meaning for us today as it speaks of God's faithfulness, His redemptive plan, and the call to prepare our hearts and lives for His arrival.

The Promise of God's Faithfulness.

Isaiah's prophecy reminds us that God is faithful to His promises.

Throughout history, He has consistently fulfilled His Word; this prophecy is no exception.

Just as God sent a messenger to prepare the way before, He will fulfill His promise to send the Messiah, our Savior.

This assurance of God's faithfulness brings hope and strengthens our trust in Him, even in uncertain times.

Sometimes we question God's faithfulness because of timing; God's, timing usually does not line up with ours.

I can imagine the people of Isaiah's time feeling somewhat let down when the one preparing the path for the Lord had not shown yet, much less the Messiah.

God is faithful; if He promised it, it will be done, both good and evil promises.

The Redemptive Plan of God.

Isaiah's prophecy points to the redemptive plan of God.

The messenger mentioned here prepares the way for the Lord, paving the path for salvation and reconciliation between God and humanity.

This prophecy is fulfilled in John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Through Christ, we find forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life.

The Call to Prepare.

The Major Prophets (Prologue: God's Incomparable Word (Isaiah 40:1–11))

The Evangelists identified this preparatory messenger as John the Baptist.

The figure used is that of royal road builders who smooth the way for the king that his journey might be somewhat easier.

As a result of the work of this preparatory messenger “the glory of the Lord,” a visible manifestation of the presence of God, would be revealed (40:3–5).

Isaiah's prophecy serves as a call for us to prepare our hearts and lives for the coming of the Lord.

Just as John the Baptist prepared the way physically, we are called to prepare spiritually.

This entails examining our lives, repenting sin, and aligning ourselves with God's purposes.

It involves cultivating a heart of humility, worship, and anticipation for the fulfillment of God's promises.

The Gospel did not unfold according to uninspired men but according to the word spoken by the inspiration of God through His prophets.

God inspired the preaching that John would do, and John's message had a purpose.

Let's move to Mark 1:2-3.

Mark 1:2–3 (NET 2nd ed.)

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,

3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”

II. The purpose.

Isaiah's prophecy speaks of one who will prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.

The Gospel of Mark is a story of God fulfilling His promises about the coming Messiah and the Kingdom of God!

In Mark 1:2-3, Mark references Isaiah's prophetic words, emphasizing the purpose behind the coming of Jesus Christ.

This passage reveals that Jesus was not merely a random occurrence but a fulfillment of divine purpose. Understanding this purpose can transform our perspective and ignite a more profound passion for following Christ.

Mark tells us that John was the one Isaiah spoke of in his prophecy.

John was Jesus's cousin, who was six months older than Jesus.

The Major Prophets (Prologue: God's Incomparable Word (Isaiah 40:1–11))

The Evangelists identified this preparatory messenger as John the Baptist.

The figure used is that of royal road builders who smooth the way for the king that his journey might be somewhat easier.

As a result of the work of this preparatory messenger “the glory of the Lord,” a visible manifestation of the presence of God, would be revealed (40:3–5).

This preparatory work aimed to make the people aware of their need for redemption, turn their hearts toward God, and create an openness to receive Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

As I mentioned earlier, the people needed to be prepared for the coming Messiah.

John was preparing the world for Jesus to come onto the scene.

The world had waited thousands of years for this Lamb who would "take away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Israel had read the promise over and over for thousands of years that a Messiah would make the world right and establish God's kingdom someday.

When Jesus started his ministry, people were already excited at the possibility of God doing a new work.

John the Baptist prepared people's hearts to meet the Messiah.

Preparation is vital before someone accepts the message of Jesus.

When you are going to host people in your home, we usually prepare for the visit before the visit happens.

We shop, clean, cook, and do other things to be ready for our honored guests.

The people of Israel had some misconceptions about the Messiah; part of John's mission of preparation was to help people's hearts be open to hearing and accepting the Messiah.

One of our most difficult tasks is getting people's attention so they can listen.

John got the people's attention; he had large crowds, and people listened to his words.

John was not a boring speaker and was not afraid to take on the powerful when needed.

Part of John's mission was also to fulfill prophecy.

Mark highlights how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy spoken by Isaiah.

By quoting Isaiah's words, he emphasizes that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling God's plan.

This fulfillment demonstrates God's Word's trustworthiness and faithfulness to bring His promises to pass.

It also assures us that God has a purpose for each of our lives and is faithful to fulfill it in His perfect timing.

Jesus' coming was to reveal God's salvation to humanity.

He came to bring forgiveness, healing, restoration, and eternal life. Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection embodied God's love, mercy, and grace.

Through His sacrifice, we find redemption and reconciliation with God.

Jesus aimed to bridge the gap between humanity and the divine, offering us a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Let's move to verse 4.

Mark 1:4 (NET 2nd ed.)

4 In the wilderness John the baptizer began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

III. The message.

Have you received a gift you were really excited about?

Have you ever received a gift that you really did not want?

What is the difference in your reaction, and what is your internal response to receiving a gift you did not want or did not need?

The gift you wanted you are overjoyed to have; the one you did not want or need is one where you are thinking about how you can regift it or get rid of it.

John's purpose was to prepare the hearts to make people aware of their need for Jesus.

If you do not think you need Jesus, you will never give your life to Jesus.

On Christmas, many people will gladly receive gifts they want while rejecting the greatest gift ever offered to them.

The gift is often times rejected because people do not think they need repentance; they may understand the need for forgiveness, but they are not going to the right place for forgiveness.

John preached a baptism of repentance and forgiveness.

John's baptism was a one-time event administered by another, and it was connected with repentance and forgiveness of shin.

This would pave the way for what we call Christian Baptism, an act commanded by God that a person who has placed their faith in Jesus, confessed Jesus, and repented to Jesus MUST do to be saved.

When we are baptized into Christ, our sins are forgiven, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our future is in heaven!

CONCLUSION

We prepare our house for when company comes over—especially for special guests or family members.

We clean the house, vacuum the carpet, wear nice clothes, and cook good meals.

We get things ready for them to feel welcome.

How are we preparing our hearts, minds, homes, families, and communities for Jesus?

The call to proclaim and prepare didn't end with John the Baptist.

We, too, have a responsibility to declare and prepare for Jesus.

It began with the birth of a child, and it appeared to end in the death of that child as an adult, but that Child, Jesus, DEFEATED DEATH!

THAT CHILD IS MY JESUS!

Jesus gave me the greatest gift ever: forgiveness of my sins and eternal life with Him that began when I was saved!

What do you want this Christmas?

What do you need this Christmas?

If you do not have Jesus, you need Him today!

Application Point: We will proclaim Jesus and prepare our lives to receive him.