Prepare the Way of the Lord!

Luke 3:1-14 This time of year is filled with preparations that go into making sure that gifts are bought, meals are planned, and social obligations are kept--preparations that don’t really have much to do with Jesus at all. 

Now, there is certainly nothing wrong with all the festivities during this time of year.  But all too often the opportunities for spiritual preparation–opportunities to deepen our faith that this season should afford--get pushed aside in the hustle and bustle of buying and giving and feasting.

During Advent, our minds are naturally drawn to our Lord’s coming as the Babe of Bethlehem.  But the next time the Lord comes, he will not come as a tiny, newborn baby.

The preparations we must make this Advent Season are the ones necessary to stand before the one who will come as the Mighty Conqueror and Righteous Judge and Almighty King–the One who will judge the living and the dead and destroy this broken world with fire. 

The call of John the Baptist to “Prepare the Way of the Lord!” takes on new meaning when it is heard in this light!  And so…

The preparations we must make to receive our king when he comes again are spiritual preparations that affect the very core of our being–the way we think and act and live out our lives.  To be truly prepared for our Lord’s return means that we must repent of our sins and turn our eyes of faith to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.  That is the heart of God’s message to us today.  St. Luke writes that:

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, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

Luke begins his account of John the Baptist’s work by setting the historical scene.  While we may be tempted to read over these introductory words of historical setting, it is important for us to remember that these words of that record times and places and people are no less inspired–no less true–no less filled with Divine purpose-- than any other words of the Bible-- and they have an important purpose in strengthening our faith. 

They tell us that the story of Christianity is not like Greek or Roman mythology.  The story of salvation takes place in real places and real times among real historical people.  These words about rulers and reigns are recorded in the bible because the Holy Spirit wants us to know that what he is saying about the King is true–grounded in historical fact:  that at just the right moment–in the fullness of time-- God sent his Son to be our Savior and he will come again.

The Spirit also wants us to recognize the difference between earthly kingdoms and rulers who come and go-- and the Kingdom of God and it Ruler who endure forever.  And so he talks about earthly kings and rulers and the preparations that must be made for their arrival-- and by comparison --the right kind of preparation to meet our heavenly King.  Luke writes that John the Baptist:

…went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 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, make his paths straight.  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, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 

I, the ancient world, if Tiberius Caesar or Pontius Pilate were coming to town you can be sure that, months, perhaps even years, before the visit-- extensive preparations would have been made.  The town would be cleaned up, the pot holes would be patched, and the roads cleared of all obstacles.

The point is this: If those kinds of preparations would be made for an earthly king, how much more should we prepare for the arrival of our heavenly king?!

But it is not outward preparations that must be made for his arrival.  To meet Jesus we must prepare inwardly and spiritually and throughout our life. 

To be prepared, John the Baptist, the one sent to prepare the King’s way-- simply says to us, “Repent!”  And so what does that mean?  What is repentance and how does it prepare us to stand in the presence of the King who comes to judge?

Repentance begins with taking a good, hard look at ourselves–not according to the standard of those around us–but in comparison to the holiness and goodness of God–measuring our lives by his holy will revealed in the Law—asking ourselves…

Have I kept the Ten Commandments–not only outwardly but inwardly?  And not only have I kept the commandments that deal with my neighbor, but have I kept the commandments that deal with my relationship with God?  Have I trusted him as I should?  Have I worshiped him as I should?  Have I called upon his name as I should? 

John the Baptist quoted the prophet Isaiah who spoke of every valley filled in– every mountain and hill brought low and every crooked way made straight.

When we examine ourselves in the light of the bright holiness of God we cannot help but recognize the dark truth about our sinfulness that permeates even our best works and good intentions–the truth that we are indeed poor sinful beings who deserve God’s judgment.

The Holy Spirit does not bring us to that place because he wants to see us suffer-- but because he wants to see us saved-- and the first step of salvation is the recognition that we need a Savior–that we cannot save ourselves. 

God wants us to see this truth about ourselves because there are so many who are confused about their spiritual condition—just like the folks there that day to be baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist who said:

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 

These hard words are still necessary for those who desire to be properly prepared to meet the King-- because people haven’t changed much in the last two thousand years. 

How many people around us in the world today have this terrible, terrible delusion that they are right in God’s sight because they are not as bad as someone else they know?  How many people will go to everlasting torment in hell because they believe that their good works entitle them to everlasting life?  How many people are unprepared to meet the King because they think that having their names on the membership roll of some congregation will save them?  How many people simply refuse to throw themselves wholeheartedly on the mercy of God?

It is better- by far- to be heart-broken over our sins than to spend a moment in the fires of hell!  The voice of God through his prophet John the Baptist calls us to godly sorrow over sins-- but he does not call us to despair.  Instead, he calls us to faith in Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. 

That’s the second part of repentance:  a genuine, heartfelt trust that by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross our sins are forgiven-- and we are raised from a life of sin to eternal life by our Lord’s rising from the grave.  Repentance involves a complete change of heart and mind and spirit–a change in the direction of our lives away from ourselves-- and towards Jesus.

It is in him--the God who condescends to put on human flesh and come to the rescue of his creatures-- that we find salvation.  It is in the cross and empty tomb that we find forgiveness and hope and peace.  It is in Word and Sacrament that we receive these gifts.

Though we are stricken and cut to the heart at the recognition of our sinfulness, how much more are we lifted up by the glorious promise of God that there is forgiveness of sins and new life in the crucified and risen King of heaven—a new life that is intended by God to be lovingly lived out in our day-to-day lives.  Luke tells us that:

And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

            As we prepare for the arrival of the King, we are not called to go on a pilgrimage or enter a monastery or engage in some great act of heroic faith.  Instead, we are called to live as who we are—his baptized, believing children—acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with God. 

Living this way we will be prepared to meet our king whenever his comes.  That is why the message of John the Baptist to us today is so important—but also his example. 

John conducted his ministry, not in the hub-bub of the city, but in the quiet, empty places of the wilderness-- so that the people would be drawn aside from their daily lives–so that they would have those all-important moments to hear the voice of the Lord.

That is still the Lord’s desire for you in this busy season:  that you would come away with him to a quiet place–perhaps in your Advent devotions or in Mid-week vespers–and hear of what is truly needed during this season of watching and waiting–and that is to turn away from sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness. 

May God grant that in this way we are all truly prepared to meet our King when he comes again!  Amen.