Prepare The Way
Mark 1:1-11
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight—" John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." Mark 1:1-11 9RSV)
Introduction: Are you prepared for Christmas?
Trees, Lights, Decorations (story of neighbors decorating), Letters/Cards,
Stores-changing displays, Shopping
How do you prepare for Christmas?
If we prepare with decorations, for what are we preparing?
A family gathering?, A social get together?
What is Christmas about?
Social holiday?
Winter vacation?
A time to demonstrate our purchasing power?
What are we preparing for?
I. The Prophet’s Call (vss 1-3)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight—"
Different Kingdoms
Old order
--------------------------- Kingdom of God
--------------------------
Kingdom is ushered in by the Day of the Lord
A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."...Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. Isaiah 40:3-5, 10 (RSV)
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but after them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them....The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his host is exceedingly great; he that executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it? Joel 2:1-3, 10-11 (RSV)
A moment that would lead to God’s unending reign
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:1-4 (RSV)
But before that Day
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes." Malachi 4:5 (RSV)
II. John (vss 4-5)
"John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins".
Baptism of repentance
Preparing the way for the Lord
ill– preparations for Presidential motorcade
removing all hazardous obstacles making for a smooth, secure journey
In Isaiah’s prophecy the one who prepares the way makes straight-no curves
makes level-no bumps, ridges
John, as the herald of Christ preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins
"I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1:8 (RSV)
III. Make Ready
Instead of making physical preparations John is saying get your hearts ready. Clean up your act
We want to look our best for meeting people, especially dignitaries
Nobody wears rags to meet the President
"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 (RSV)
Yet the Lord requires of us a pure heart
"For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls upon the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." Leviticus 11:44-45 (RSV)
John is crying out, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight
"Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? "For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD." Malachi 3:1-3 (RSV)
Conclusion: How are you preparing for Christmas?
-usual stuff
-or are you hearing the call of John. Repent. Make His way easy.
Are you preparing by confessing your sins, or by hanging greens?
Are you reading the Word, seeking His will for your life, or shopping till you drop?
When you say "Merry Christmas" do you mean "hello friend, I share in your consumer spirit", or are you wishing the blessings of knowing Christ as Lord and Savior upon another?
How are you preparing for Christmas?
