The voice of one crying
in the wilderness
"Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Mark 1:2-4
In fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Mal. 3:1; Isa. 40:3ff.) God sent John the Baptist into the spiritual wasteland of his day to prepare people for the coming of their Lord and Savior. He warned of God's coming judgment and called upon all to repent of their self-centered and sinful ways and take hold of in faith the salvation which Messiah Jesus provided for all lost sinners of this world.
John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins and pointed people to Messiah Jesus who baptized with the Holy Spirit -- who washed away sins in His shed blood and regenerates by the mighty working of His Spirit through Word and Sacrament.
We too are called to prepare the way of the Lord, for He is coming to judge this world and all its inhabitants (cf. Mk. 16:15-16; Lk. 24:46-48; Acts 2:38-40; 3:19; 10:42-43. And, like John's day, the world around us is a spiritual wasteland and desert. The people of this world wander to and fro without a clue of what life is all about or of the judgment which is to come. Churches preach peace and love but fail to warn of God's judgment or to call sinners to repentance and faith in Christ. People count themselves good and righteous and don't see their utter sinfulness and shortcomings and so remain proud and unprepared for that day.
We are to prepare people for the second coming of our risen Lord Jesus by preaching the Law of God and making known to people their utter sinfulness and hopeless condition. And we are to preach to them the saving Gospel of the forgiveness and life God offers and gives for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jesus for the sins of the world.
In such a way, we prepare a smooth and straight road for the coming of our God and Savior. Instead of hearts in rebellion and opposition to Christ, hearts are humbled, acknowledging their sins, and then lifted up and comforted through the news that in Christ Jesus they are forgiven and acceptable to God -- ready for His judgment and the coming of His kingdom.
Prepare our hearts, O Lord, for Your coming, and enable us to prepare Your way by making known the truth of Your Word. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible. More devotions at goodshepherdrogers.org.]
Editorial on 12/10/2014