Better than advice
“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” shouted John the Baptist in the wilderness. (Matt. 3:3). John was sent as the forerunner of the Messiah. John was prepared as a unique prophet (Luke 1). John’s great somersault in the womb of Elizabeth took place when Mary (also pregnant with Jesus) proclaimed that she was to give birth to the Messiah promised of old. John was prepared even from his mother’s womb to proclaim the coming of the King who would set people free from the bondage of sin. John prepared the Way of the Lord. It was the Holy Spirit’s intent that the people see their great need for the Messiah and rejoice at His coming.
John never lost his zeal for preparation. His life in the desert eating the simple foods of locust and honey was a constant reminder to people that “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4) John lived by the commands and promises of God; they empowered him to do his work of preparing people for the King who comes to trample Satan under foot, and to deal eternal death its ugliest blow. The ultimate expression of his own preparation was in the triple confession: “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:2a), “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30) and “I am not even fit to untie His sandals.” (John 1:27). What humble adoration! What a proper attitude of preparation! John, by faith, clung to this Living Lord for eternal salvation. Jesus in all grace and truth, the splendor of His deity is veiled in humanity. His ability to be your sufficient Savior is revealed divinely. His human and divine natures say to you “All is well and forgiven.”
Preparation begins with you. Will you be hearing God’s saving word this summer? He has promised to meet us in power by Word and Sacrament, but will you and I take advantage of these opportunities? Prepare the royal highway, the King of Kings is here, working among us mightily by His means of grace.
Worship with us at Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church at 8:45 a.m. or Grace Lutheran Church at 10:45 a.m.
(The Rev. Kent Puls serves both Grace Lutheran and Mammoth Lakes Lutheran churches. Grace Lutheran Church is located at 711 N. Fowler St. Bishop. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (760) 872-9791.)