Preparing the Way
Preparing the Way
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,[a] make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
As I read through the first 3 verses of Luke chapter 3, I am reminded about how God revealed His word to me and gave me a mission. At the time, I was hanging out with Christians and was living the Christian lifestyle. My problem was that I knew who Jesus was, I just didn't have a relationship with him. While I was at a conference with hundreds of other college students, I heard God's voice. It was so loud and so clear that it pierced my ears and went straight into my heart. God spoke to me that night and said: "Get off the bandwagon, come follow me and I will make you a fisher of men." It was at that time that God revealed Himself to me in such a real way, that I stopped acting like a Christian and truly started following after God. My life was changed forever.
Just like John the Baptist, shortly after God revealed Himself to me, God called me into his service using Isaiah 40:3-5, the same verses listed in Luke 3:4-6. I knew that I am supposed to "Prepare the way of the Lord," through preaching and teaching others about who Christ is, the grace & mercy of God towards all of us, and the forgiveness of sin through Christ.
Think about the spiritual link between the visual elements listed in Luke 3:5 & 6 and we, as humans and how God works in us. "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways..." Those who are empty will be filled up, and all the proud will be brought down. Think about all the verses in God’s Word that talk about giving hope to the hopeless, and raising people up to be in a relationship with God. Or think about Proverbs 16:18, the pride comes before the fall. What about people who are crooked and corrupt? Every day people come to Jesus and change the way that they live their life. All the rough edges we have as humans can become smooth over time as we follow after Christ. Think about all the people throughout the world that are part of gangs, drugs, and criminal activity. Through the ministries like Teen Challenge, their rough spots are smoothed by God's Word, and their crooked ways are made straight in Christ's ways.
I think that as we are discipled, and we learn more about God’s word, we all are humbled and smoothed out to be the way God intends for us to be.
When I read the first 6 verses of Luke 3, the Great Commission comes to mind that Jesus gave all of his Disciples (past, present, and future) in Matthew 28:19 & 20. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
After God revealed Himself to John the Baptist, he also called him to prepare the way for Jesus. When John was alive, Jesus walked on earth. John preached the Gospel to everyone he could up until the day he was executed. John paved the path for people’s hearts to receive salvation through Christ.
Just like John, we are all called to "prepare the way." Even though Christ doesn't walk on the earth in human form, the Bible teaches us that He will return someday. When Jesus returns, he will separate out those who follow Him, and those who don't. Those who follow him with spend eternity in heaven, and those who don't will spend eternity away from him. It's our calling to reveal the salvation that only Jesus brings to as many people as possible, and follow through by making Disciples.
Things to think about / discuss:
When and how did God reveal Himself to you?
How has God filled you up?
How has God humbled you?
Are there any crooked and rough things that God is working out in your life?
God called John to prepare the way in the wilderness around Jordan, where has God called you to "prepare the way"?
In what ways can you "prepare the way" for Jesus' Return?
How can you help make the empty filled, the proud humble, the crooked straight, and the rough smooth?
If God hasn't called you into full-time ministry, how can you serve the local church to make Jesus known to others?
