The Way of Hope

The Way of HOPE

Sunday Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1–6

Luke 3:1–6 NIV

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, 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 country 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, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’ ”

Introduction

If you have ever driven a rocky, one-lane mountain road, you can understand the desire for straight paths. On your right is a sharp dropoff and on your left sheer rock. If another car comes around the bend at the last second, one of you must creatively and meticulously pull halfway over onto the tiny shoulder. If you don’t see each other in time, disaster could strike. This kind of road is especially fear-inducing for people who are only familiar with straight paths. If you grew up in an area of the country that is flat, or in a well-lit city, imagine the fear that a dark, winding path could inspire.

In the context of Scripture, there weren’t any cars driving up winding mountain roads, but not being able to see could still put you in harm’s way. Thieves or wildlife could be around a bend, with the potential to cause you physical harm or leave you without resources. Mountains make walking more difficult. Have you ever climbed up a mountain or gone hiking in the hills? The change in elevation can make make anyone’s journey tough, not to mention the difficulty of keeping your footing on a rough, rocky trail.

The danger and difficulty of craggy, curvy mountain paths are something the listeners to the words in Isaiah would have related to, but this text isn’t talking about literal mountains and valleys; it’s talk- ing about preparing the way for the Lord so that people might see, hear, and know the way of hope that the Lord offers to all who believe.

Body

Prophets speak truth to power, and John is a prophet.

a. Luke starts out this chapter with a listing of the rulers of the day. He lists both the political leaders of Rome, the ruling empire, and the religious leaders of the Jewish people.

This list alludes first to the original context of the Isaiah passage being quoted, which was spoken to a people in exile. And it was spoken that they might have hope that the Messiah would one day come to free them; that they would know that, though they were in a different land, God still heard their cries.

Though the New Testament Jews are not in exile, they are an oppressed people. They are still in a wilderness place, crying out for God to save them from their oppressors. They are in need of saving.

iii. These political and religious rulers are listed seemingly as a contrast to the coming of the true King, the Messiah who will reorder things. Jesus does not come in through the vein of politics or religious celebrity; rather, he comes to the world as a humble servant, declaring life and salvation for all.

b. John is speaking a truth that counters the systems of the day.

He is not declaring Caesar as Lord. This is significant during Roman rule, when people are commanded to declare Caesar not only as the ruler of Rome but also as a god.

John is not speaking of following religious law, making sacrifices and following rules the way they have done in the past.

John is declaring baptism and repentance; a reordering of what they have known. This is completely different from the current systems. It is a radical and countercultural call that urges people to think differently.

c. This baptizing and call for repentance is preparing the way of the Lord, preparing hearts to hear the good news of Jesus, the Christ.

During Advent, we also need to make straight paths for the way of the Lord.

a. We can list the rulers of our day—both political and religious—who often take up too much space in our hearts.

i. The systems of the world are often in direct opposition to the kingdom of God. ii. The Messiah wants to reorder these systems in our hearts and lives.

b. The call to live counterculturally hasn’t changed.

The political leaders in our world are not Lord either. We must be careful about declaring them such, whether by our words or our actions.

While we don’t have a caesar who will throw us to the lions, our traps can be even more

insidious because they seem good.

It’s easy to place our hope in political systems or politicians, and while they can do good,

and we can hope and work for good, it is important to recognize that our hope is not in

them.

The kingdom we serve is not of this world. It is the kingdom of God. A kingdom where all is

made right. It is our hope and desire to long for this already/not-yet kingdom.

We aren’t called to religious legalism. Legalism can often become easier and more attrac- tive than repentance and grace, but we are called to the messy work of love and grace.

Setting up more rules for ourselves and others to follow in order to please God misses the

intent of Scripture. Instead of drawing us closer into relationship with Jesus, this practice

can induce shame at our inability to achieve impossible standards.

While the Jews were looking for the rebuilding of the temple to be their hope, we often

look for the best church with the perfect pastor or just the right music, missing that

maybe there is more to being in relationship with God and others than that.

The work of Christ is the pouring out of oneself and the loving of others. Turning away

from the way things have always been done and looking at the world with a new lens of love, grace, and hope.

We too are called to repent and to think differently.

This is no small task. Reorienting your life is difficult. It could mean a new schedule throughout the week, in order that space is made to listen to Christ.

It is a reordering of mindset. Finding the things that are keeping you from seeing God at work or keeping your mind too busy to hear from God, and changing those things.

It is a reordering of heart. Finding those things, even good things, that have taken the place of worship in our hearts, and removing them.

c. We too must prepare our hearts for the coming of the Messiah. But we also look for Christ to be present here with us, and we are hopeful for his return. We will miss where Jesus is already work- ing if we aren’t open to the work God wants to do in our world.

i. This often requires seeing things with new eyes. Taking time to be restored and renewed, that we might see where Christ is at work, not just in us but also in the world around us.

The way of hope is the way of holiness

a. As we seek a new way of doing things, the landscape begins to change. The rough places are made smooth, and the mountains are laid low. God works out in our hearts a way of holiness.

b. This way of holiness is hope for all people. The text says God’s salvation is for all people. We help to bring wholeness and hope to those around us when we make straight the path for the Lord.

i. Often circumstances, whether from life or from our choices, make it difficult for us or others to see Jesus. We need the voices of others, like John, to declare the way, that we might see Jesus through it all. We often need to be that voice for others so they can see the salvation of Jesus.

Conclusion

Advent, of all times, might be one when the road curves a bit more. The lure of commercialism and the idolatry of prioritizing even good things, like family, over Jesus are ever-present. The way gets windy, curvy, and a little difficult to see Jesus in light of it all. Others struggle year round to see any kind of hope. All they see are mountains in the way.

Christ came to show a new way. A way of hope, of healing, of holiness. He revealed a kingdom that is different from that of this world, and we can repent and live in this kingdom now. We can make straight the paths for Jesus, that others may see and hear that salvation is for them too.