“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prapare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” Luke 3:3
When John the Baptist came on the scene of history, he came “…in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah).” (Luke 1:17) His message was similar to that given to Jeremiah, whose objective was to “…root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” (Jer. 1:10) The mission for both men was that of preparation for the Lord’s coming, perhaps not in the strict sense of the second coming of Christ, but in the visitation from on High, the moving of the Spirit, and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom in the hearts of men. The ministry of John the Baptist was not some personally conceived idea about serving God, or of announcing Jesus’ coming as the Messiah. It was the Almighty who led a faithful and devout couple, Zacharias and Elisabeth to pray, and believe God for a son. We do not know when they prayed that prayer, for it was very late in life, when both were old, and Elisabeth beyond the years of child bearing, that God told Zacharias that his prayer had been heard, and now it would be answered. The manner in which God answered the prayer, especially with regard to the timing, was not only unique but convincingly evident that the matter was from God. God formed John the Baptist in the womb of his mother, and called him to be that one who would prepare the way of the Lord. God would also, in the case of Jeremiah, form him in the womb, and call him to bring Israel back to God. Like John, his was to be a witness of the power and certainty of God’s words, revealing His will, in such a manner, that the way would be prepared in many hearts for God’s working, and blessing. Both men called the people back to consider the “old paths,” and the “new perspective” of God’s will for the people. But that which is presently essential to grasp is the imperativeness of their message, a message of preparation according to the ways of God. The message of John to the people was very specific. It would be the “…preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Lk. 3:3) It was a message of change, radical change of direction, thought, and attitude. It was a turning again to, and only to God. The “completeness” of the calling to turn is seen in the word “baptism.” This is not just a sprinkling, it is an immersion into the whole matter. If there would be forgiveness of sins, then there must be the whole-hearted turning to God from sin, to follow the coming Messiah.
Jeremiah’s message was similar: “Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause My anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful.” (Jer. 3:12) Jeremiah goes on to give the Lord’s words to Israel by saying: “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13) Herein is revealed the preparatory work of both John and Jeremiah. Their’s was a call to forsake the thoughts and ways of men, to embrace fully those of Christ pertaining to His kingdom and His reign. What would be the results of such a preparatory work?
In the case of John the Baptist, in bringing the people back to God, to a living faith in God, believing in the coming of the Messiah, the reorientation of their hearts brings about the normalcy of what God intended to be in the relationship, principally with Himself, but also in the family unit. Luke writes: “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Lk. 1:17)
Dear Father, Prepare our hearts today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.