Prepare The Way
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19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 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.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.” 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” 9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. 11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
Context
Context
Isaiah is a prophet in the eighth century BC. Book of Isaiah is written in three parts:
Judgement of God’s people and the nations (Is 1-39).
Restoration and salvation of God’s people (Is 40-55). Isaiah 40-66 addresses the period of the exile of God’s people after Judah fell to Babylon, and the following return of God’s people.
The final section (Is 56-66) centers on the themes of salvation and judgement, which include restoration of God’s people, Yahweh’s judgement of the nations, and the creation of a new heaven and earth where Yahweh will be worshipped by all.
The second part of the book of Isaiah is, therefore, probably not written by Isaiah himself, but a disciple of Isaiah, more than 100 years after Isaiah died. But he was called for a message of restoration instead of judgement. Not sure if Isaiah wrote this chapter many years in advance or written close to returning.
Comfort, speak, proclaim
Comfort, speak, proclaim
Shift from Is 1-39 starts with calling comfort after 70 years of exile. Reversal of exiles’ complaint (Lam 1:2). God still identifies with His people.
People are close to return from exile, comfort is on the doorstep. Maybe hesitant to return to homeland. Assurance of God’s forgiveness and promise.
Speak comfort = speak to the heart (reassurance / winning someone back)
Punishment is accepted, the Lord forgives.
Situation is going to change, you guys are going back.
Double portion, complete/full punishment for all her sins (Ex 22:4,7,9, Deut 21:17, Jer 16:18, Rev 18:6).
Prepare The Way
Prepare The Way
Role out the red carpet.
The exodus from Egypt defined salvation. It meant deliverance from enslavement, a new identity, possession of an inheritance, and restoration of relationship with God.
Is 40:1-11: return from exile, back to the land and restoration of relationship. Calling the people from spiritual wilderness to get ready for the appearing of the Lord. The glory becomes visible through the restoration of His people.
John the Baptist. This verse is mentioned in all four gospels (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23). John prepared the way for Jesus (Mal 3:1). John led people to repentance, a cleaning of the soul, so they could receive the good news of salvation. He baptized in the Jordan in the wilderness, the place of repentance and renewal. He announced a new exodus.
Jesus takes on Israel’s role. Jesus passed through waters, traveling through the desert and delivering people from bondage (Luk 13:16, Rom 6:18). He gives believers a new identity (Matt 16:18, Gal 4:7), an inheritance (Matt 25:34, Heb 9:15) and restores their relationship with God (Col 1:21-22) and each other (Eph 2:14-16). Through salvation the glory of God is revealed (Ex 40:34-38, Is 40:5, John 1:14-18).
It’s repentance which makes rough ground level.
Glory of God revealed
Glory of God revealed
Glory of God revealed = Jesus
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
18 “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, 19 and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Outpouring of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
Do you love the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God?
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Word of God
Word of God
Contrast between people and God. Our faithfulness and promises are nothing compared to the Lord’s.
Promise that the Israelites return to the land.
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
The word, in its final form as gospel, is no longer the mere contrast to our transience but the cure of it. Jesus is the Word and He remains forever (John 12:34, 1 John 2:17).
Judgement comes to the flesh, the Word remains forever.
Call Out
Call Out
Proclaim = Evangelizomenos not just for Jerusalem, but for all the world to hear (Matt 10:26-33)
Good tidings = good news = gospel
The message is the same, your God is here!
Mighty hand, acts of judgement and deliverance (Exodus 6:6).
Is 40:9-11 describes Jesus as victorious warrior and ruler. That’s what the Israelites were expecting.
His reward, the people that are delivered (Rev 22:12).
Is 49:4
Shepherd his flock (Jer 31:10, Ezek 34:23, 31, 37:24, Mic 5:4, Zec 11:7, 13:7, John 10:11-16, Heb 13:20, 1 Pet 2:25). Shepherd was a familiar image for a ruler. Judah had been subject to weak and evil shepherds or kings, but a good shepherd is coming.
Gospel message
Gospel message
Accept His grace and comfort.
Prepare for the Lords coming (inside of you). Are there low places in your life that should be raised to a higher level of fellowship or obedience? Are there places that needs to be made straight? Is there sin unconfessed and uncleansed?
Bring your life in line with the eternal Word of God. All flesh need to die. Life starts with death.
Believe before you see and cry out.
God Himself will come.
Final coming
Final coming
Do we long His coming? Prepare the way of the Lord. Are we speaking comfort to those around us? Are we speaking the eternal Word of God?
