Prepare the Way of the Lord

Pre or Post Covid?

The Covid blur. The distinction of life before and life following the pandemic

Our world changed.

Remember when? Was that pre/post or during lockdown.

The Man, the Myth, the Legend?

Nope — The Man, the Historical Figure, the Historical Narrative.

Luke is telling the story of Jesus and as we read in the opening of the book — his aim is to tell it as accurately as possible.

The first part of today’s reading is about more than listing off some weird sounding names, titles and locations. It is about rooting the story of Jesus in history, and its about establishing the context for John’s and Jesus’ ministry

The list of authority figures places the ministry of John at about AD 29.

Context

It also shows that this is a brutal period in Israel’s history.

A period of oppression that is at a breaking point

Rome put down the Maccabean freedom fighters about 100 years before.

The authorities were corrupt and brutal — the Priesthood was not much better.

There is a sense of // between AD 29 and the groaning of the slaves in Egypt from Exodus 1.

Something has to give. Will God hear his people? Will he again deliver them from this current oppression as he did so long before?

John the Prophet

“Creepy John” The Chosen

In Luke John is descried as an OT prophet AND then later as a fulfilment of OT prophecy.

“The word of God came to John” Just as it did to Samuel, Jeremiah, Jonah…

What is interesting is that this is the first time a prophetic word came to any one since Malachi nearly 500 years before!

So the need is great, and God has provided a prophet — there is a real sense of anticipation happening here.

What John Came to Do

Avoiding the Cities — John stayed close to the Jordan River and he preached a baptism of repentance

Malachi 3:7 (ESV)

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

John is comng to show the people how they might return — by a changing of mind (Repentance) and a Fresh Start (Baptism)

Repentance is not a word of guilt but a word of hope. It is an invitation to start again. We are sinners — but we are beloved sinners and God’s is in the process of healing and transforming us.

Baptism

Baptism was used for converts to Judaism.

John’s use of baptism was a sign of just how far gone the people of God had strayed from him. But there is Hope: God is faigthful to hid people

Never before had baptism been used to prepare for the arrival of rescue.

For Christians baptism is about cleansing, its about death to self, its about entering into a life with Jesus — Because Jesus changed the nature of baptism through his own baptism

Chuck Norris — when church Norris does a push up he does not push himself up - he pushes the world away. When Jesus gets baptized — he doesn’t get baptized —baptism gets Jesus. And it is a means of his grace for us.

Martin Luther — was tormented by devils and he would loudly affirm — I have been baptized!! We have been marked as Christ’s own forever — it has been done to us, and the promises of Jesus are sure.

John the Fulfiller of Prophecy

The quote from Isaiah 40 -is that the Lord himself is coming to bring salvation to his people

Read the OT! Israel tried again and again to do it on their own, to make decisions based on their own understanding. They failed time and again — and things just got worse for them.

The promise here is not based on their effort but on God’s faithfulness. God will rescue.

The passage quoted is that God would remove any barriers and quicken his arrival.

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.

5 Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.

6 And all people will see God’s salvation

The prophecy basically says our rescuer is coming, what are we to do to speed his coming?

So What?

Like many of us I struggle with guilt. Guilt is of the enemy, conviction is of the Lord. You’re worthless vs. You were made for more than this.

The Shack — working on the messy garden, not with condemnation, but dreaming what could be. In light of that:

What areas in my life need to be built up? What garden walls have collapsed? What paving stones have sunken? What needs to be built up to allow more effecient work of the gardener in my life.

Where am I wayward? Where have weeds or sappers robbed me of energy in my life? Where is correction needed? Where do I depart from God’s way?

What things need to be brought low? Are there prideful ways in myb life that are blocking out the light of Christ?

New life in Christ is not for the elite — it is offered for everyone. But it does require our intention. It does require care and practice. Being careful to remember that the life of Christ is not dependant on my efforts alone, but are in response to what God is doing.

For me there is tremendous peace in this — God is in charge not me. And God’s desire is for me to know his perfect Shalom.