Prepare the Way - Advent 2

​ ​Prepare the Way There are several talent show programs on television these days. Some offer a variety of talents. Some focus on singing. Some on dancing. Some on cooking. Some on surviving time on a desert island. Week by week, contestants compete, until one by one they are voted out, leaving one contestant as the ultimate winner; giving that one-person recognition as being the best. It is natural for all of us to want recognition for a job well done. It makes us happy to get credit for the hard work we've put into a project, when we ace a final school exam, when we receive an award of merit. We can quickly forget important lessons our parents, our pastors, our friends, our mentors gave to us in order to receive such recognition. In fact, our society loves everything new and easily forgets all the past events which led up to this present moment in time. To listen to our political leaders, business leaders, even some church leaders, you would think nothing good ever happened before them! To me, it is interesting that when it comes to Jesus, he is modestly introduced in today's scripture reading. The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" - "a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1:1-8 The Gospel of Mark starts the Jesus story by looking back to Isaiah, who said, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Even the Lord needs people to prepare the way. Today, I believe it is important for us all to remember the humility that comes with honoring where we've come from. If Jesus can admit it, so can we. We all have ancestors in our callings, people who prepared the way. After Isaiah's prophecy, John the Baptist, makes a grand appearance. John could have decided that he was the lead in this story. I'm sure many of his followers were thinking that. Imagine the reaction among his followers when John said, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me". People who are willing to follow someone at least want the reassurance that they are following the right person, and not wasting their time. Who wants to follow the one who is preparing the way for someone else? If John were running a "successful" business today, those are words he probably wouldn't say publicly. But John is not operating from a commercial perspective; he is a servant of God. Therefore, as a servant, he has no leadership technique-just the call to tell the truth. Thank God for John. Thank God for sending this preparer. Thank God for those who refuse to buy the publicity the world throws their way and trust instead in God's promises. In fact, I believe that preparers of the way are still around today. We may be preparers ourselves. "I have baptized you with water," John says, "but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Thank God is our Advent prayer. Thank God we get to prepare, but Christ gets to do the rest. Thank God we can wait, and trust that he will get here in the end. On those talent shows, in the finale, there is a moment when the winning act sings its winning song. It is often the high point of their careers. And shortly after the program is finished, the crown is tarnished. The accolades fade as another season begins, and another act enters the spotlight. No one gets the last word but the living God. Let us continue to prepare the way. * God of timeless grace, you fill us with joyful expectation. Make us ready for the message that prepares the way, that with uprightness of heart and holy joy we may eagerly await the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.