THE WAY OF REPENTANCE- Isaiah 40:1-5

The second Sunday of Advent focuses on the Way to God. In Genesis chapter 3, immediately after the fall, God tells Adam that there will be a Seed, the Seed of the woman, that will come and crush Adam’s enemy’s head (Gen. 3:15).

This way comes all throughout the Old Testament, pictured in people and things such as Abraham and Isaac, the incredible leader Moses, the Tabernacle, King David, and many of the prophecies are, as Paul describes them, “a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col. 2:17) To Christ, to Messiah, the way to God.

In Isaiah’s day, he did not know this Messiah. He prophesied about Him, but like Peter comments (1 Pet. 1:10-12), it was beyond Isaiah’s grasp. John the Baptist, that privileged man, was this voice crying in the wilderness. Imagine, after 400 years of silence from God, John the Baptist is born (see Luke 1:5-66).

The depression and struggles Israel had faced were now coming to an end. God was speaking through this voice. Joy and excitement immediately entered the hearts of Israel. The excitement would quickly pass, though. Why? Why would their emotions change?

Have you ever had expectations about something that came out far different than you expected? For example, I once had an opportunity to meet someone I held as a hero of sorts. I had expectations that we would carry on a long conversation and it would be an enjoyable time. It turns out, however, that this individual did not have time to talk to me. I was very disappointed.

At this time of the year, we have expectations that often go unmet. Things do not work out the way that we expect. Like Israel, we expect things to go one way, and it turns out they go completely different.

This morning, as we look at the Way of Repentance, we see it is completely different than what we expect, we will see

The Way of Repentance comes through Messiah and brings us to God.

But though our expectations may not be met, they are far exceeded, or as Paul says, “He who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20) {Song comparison}

I. The Way of Repentance Brings Comfort- 40:1-2

It is ironic that a sermon focused on repentance would bring comfort. Typically, when we hear the word repentance we think of judgmental and holier-than-thou attitudes. Love all is the cry of the hour. So, how does repentance bring comfort?

Notice the situation. Here are the people of God in exile. They sinned against YHWH, broke His Covenant and were punished, and that severely. If you remember, we discussed part of this when we worked through the books of Obadiah and Ezra.

Now the judgment was rendered, now there is the call to repentance. But this call comes through comfort. It is not just any comfort either, it is comfort through God. God is speaking Himself. You see, when Adam fell, he was helpless. God stepped in to help him promising that Seed of the woman. God spoke, and that brought comfort to Adam, it brought comfort to Israel, and it brings comfort to us.

Isaiah reminds them of their pardon, and he discusses the means by which they are pardoned in chapter 53. What glorious news! The way of Repentance brings comfort. Your sins no longer separate you from God. He is Your God, after all, says Isaiah.

II. The Way of Repentance Brings Good News- 40:3-4

This is good news, this is the gospel! The glorious, eternity-changing, present-infusing-good news that dead men and women can be made alive in Messiah! This voice cries, it calls out, it heralds this wonderful news! The way of repentance brings good news, the Gospel of Jesus Messiah.

John the Baptist proclaimed this good news in Matthew 3:1-2. Jesus spent His perfect life freeing people from all the results of sin, whether physical or spiritual, ultimately giving His life as a ransom, procuring salvation and adoption for His brothers and sisters, for us who believe and repent.

The entire Gospel of Matthew depicts this deliverance, this good news. Every valley and every mountain, things normally impeding one’s journey, level in the presence of God almighty. Likewise, every challenge faced by Jesus was effortlessly overcome.

If a man was leprous, Jesus touched and healed Him (Matt. 8:2-3). If a man could not walk, Jesus spoke and healed him (Matt. 9:2). If throngs of people were disease-ridden, He healed them (Matt. 9:35).

Though not from the book of Matthew, if death took a friend, like Lazarus, Jesus raised him from the dead (John 11).

Even sin, that horrific and unimaginably destructive sin, could not stop Jesus from reaching His people. That veil, long separating all but one man once a year from God, was torn in two at the death of Jesus, opening the way to God (Matt. 27:51). In the words of Paul, Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” This is glorious news! The way of repentance is good news!

III. The Way of Repentance Brings Hope- 40:5 (1 Pet. 4:13b)

The glory of the Lord will be revealed. It is coming, from Isaiah’s perspective. And yet we, New Covenant believers, have eye-witness testimony of this glory revealed. Listen to John’s testimony in John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” And John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

You will notice an important phrase in 40:5, though. Isaiah says “all flesh shall see it together.” Every year we celebrate the First Advent we are reminded of the Second Advent. All flesh will see Him. No one will miss this coming. John records this in Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” Everyone will see Him. The way of repentance brings hope because He is coming again!

But you may not have hope at this thought. In fact, you may not have comfort or even consider this good news. Could it be that you have not repented? The Kingdom of Heaven, as John said, is at hand. The message of comfort with good news and hope is only comfort, good news, and hope when we follow the way of repentance.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through Him.

Christian, be comforted this Advent, the King who came comes again. Be comforted, my brothers and sisters.

Unrepentant, use your time on this earth wisely. Repent, while there is time. You can enjoy comfort through the good news and hope of Jesus, or you can look forward to the wailing on account of Him.