Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40: 1-11 & Mark 1:1-8
As we enter the season of Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation, in Isaiah 40:1-11, we hear the prophet’s comforting words, and in Mark 1:1-8, we encounter the voice crying out in the wilderness. Both passages speak of preparing the way for the Lord.
Isaiah 40 is a call to comfort. The prophetic task has changed from the hardening of God’s people to comforting them. Such comfort was God’s response to the lamentations of his people, who had cried that they had no comforter. The people are reminded that God can provide comfort.
Here, we witness the weight of God’s commands. When God’s people are burdened by the consequences of their sins, and God’s command is to comfort them. The heaviness of guilt and punishment is met with the gracious command to be comforted. Isaiah begins with a message of comfort to people in need. “Comfort, comfort my people,” declares your God. These words are a strength to weary souls, an invitation to receive comfort from God’s mercy.
Isaiah continues with a proclamation, “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.”
This proclamation sets the stage for the arrival of God Himself. The imagery of preparing a way in the wilderness and making the paths straight signifies the coming of the Lord. It’s a call to prepare our hearts for His presence, a proclamation that God is about to do something extraordinary.
As Israel initially experienced salvation through an escape into the wilderness, God planned a new wilderness experience. To prepare for this, He called for a highway to be built— a flat path ensuring that God’s people would encounter no trouble as they followed their God to freedom.
This historical act aimed to reveal the true glory of God to the entire world, as God would accomplish what people were not ready to do. God’s highway was designed to deliver His people in a moment of historical crisis. The prophet proclaimed its certainty, emphasizing that its source was God Himself. The highway in the desert, a straight path for our God, evokes a sense of hope in the midst of barrenness.
Isaiah contrasts the temporary nature of humanity with the eternal nature of God’s word. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” In a world where everything fades away, God’s commands and promises stand firm, providing a foundation for our faith.
In Isaiah 40, we discover a profound contrast between God’s commands and His proclamation of comfort. God’s command to proclaim His arrival is coupled with the concept of a caring shepherd. It reinforces the contrast between the might and majesty of God and His tender, compassionate care for His people.
Today’s text invites us to go up to a high mountain, lift up your voice with strength, and behold our God. This passage also shows us who God is, “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
God is coming with power. No one can stand against his arm. He comes with a reward for his people and brings all they need. But he comes to his people not as a military warrior but as a caring shepherd. He knows those with special needs and treats them with mercy and a mighty arm. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart and gently leads those that have young. This is the comfort we need.
God is shepherding His flock tenderly. The valleys and mountains symbolize the highs and lows of our lives, and God is making a way through them. As we journey through the Advent season, let us open our hearts to God’s comfort, allowing Him to smooth the rough patches and bring down the mountains of pride and lift the valleys of despair. The divine Shepherd reveals his glory by fulfilling the promises of his eternal word and comforting his people. May we find comfort in His forgiveness and behold our God all the time.
Turning to Mark’s Gospel, we encounter John the Baptist, the voice in the wilderness crying out, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” John’s urgent message calls for repentance, a turning away from sin, and a baptism of renewal.
John’s call to prepare the way for the Lord is not merely a physical path but a call to prepare our hearts. In this season of Advent, we are invited to reflect on our lives, repent of our sins, and make room for the coming of the Lord. John’s baptism symbolizes a cleansing, a purification of our hearts, making them ready to receive the Savior.
Fulfilling Old Testament prophecies, John served as the messenger to prepare the way for the Lord and make straight paths for Him. John’s baptism was with water, and he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John made it clear that his ministry was only preparatory and temporary. He pointed out that Jesus’ baptism would bring about lasting change through the Holy Spirit, delivering his followers from the guilt and power of sin, and bringing them into fellowship with God.
Many people prepare Christmas lunch or dinner for family or close people. Through Christ, God’s plan for salvation and heavenly feast have already been begun and continues in small, imperfect ways in the world. In gratitude, let us wait for the coming of the Lord and his return and the heavenly feast.
The perfect fulfillment of God’s plan will come when death and sorrow will be no more, when the Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces, when the disgrace of injustice is taken away from the nations, when all people are seated comfortably around the table, in love and longing. Let us prepare the way for the Lord.
How do we practically prepare the way for the Lord in our lives today? It starts with self-examination and repentance. Advent is an opportunity for spiritual housecleaning, allowing God to clear away the chaos and make room for His presence. We can also prepare the way by sharing the good news with others, being witnesses of the hope found in Christ.
Do we have a special place we can go daily for quality time with the Lord? God is at work on our behalf, whether we see anything happening or not. May we spend time with the Lord, thanking Him for His ongoing work and eagerly expecting Him to act. God is faithful to do what he has promised. May we trust in the fact that God keeps his word and submit our fears and anxiety to him.
Comfort comes not from mankind but from God. As we continue this Advent journey, may we find comfort in God’s promises. Let us rejoice that God will use all our experiences to prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us. As we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth, may we also eagerly await His second coming, trusting God to protect, preserve, and provide for us even in the desert times of our lives.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)