PREPARE THE WAY

This advent season, the opportunity to study and reflect upon John the Baptist, the forerunner and one who prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry, presented itself. It made me delve deeper into seeing the parallels between John’s and Jesus’ lives and what their purposes on this earth were all about.

John’s life purpose on earth echoes our own in my opinion.

First, let’s look at some differences and similarities that surrounded John and Jesus’ earliest beginnings.

 

 

Summary:

–Zechariah & Elizabeth were very advanced in age, barren, and desperately wanted a child.

–The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah on a day, he was chosen by lot, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

–Gabriel told Zechariah Elizabeth would bear him a son whose name would be John.

–John would bring joy and delight to them, and many would rejoice in his birth.

–John would be great in the sight of the Lord.

–John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

–John’s ministry would be to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

–Zechariah, because he did not believe what Gabriel had said, could not speak until after John was born and circumcised on the eighth day.

 

Summary:

–Mary, a young virgin, was pledged to be married to Joseph.

–The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, telling her she was highly favored, and the Lord was with her.

–Mary wondered what this meant. Gabriel reassured her not to be afraid as she found favor with God.

–Mary would be with child, a son whose name would be Jesus. Mary wondered how this would happen since she was a virgin.

–Gabriel said the Holy Spirit would come upon her with the power of the Most High overshadowing her.

–Jesus would be great, being called the Son of the Most High and the Son of God.

–God would give Jesus the throne of his father David, reigning over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom would never end.

–Mary trusted and said she was the Lord’s servant and “may it be to me as you have said.”

 

Similarities:

–The angel Gabriel appeared to both Zechariah and Mary.

–The Holy Spirit was at work in both John and Jesus, even while in the womb.

–Elizabeth and Mary both would have special babies, overlapping in their pregnancies.

Differences:

–Elizabeth old; Mary young.

–Zechariah not trusting in God to have a baby; Mary accepting God would do as Gabriel foretold.

–John was to point all to Jesus; Jesus was the Savior of the world.

 

 

 

What few things did he say that pointed all to Jesus?

“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ”  –Matthew 3:11  (NLT)

From the beginning of John’s ministry, he knew there was one coming greater than he was.

 

Twice John the Baptist announces that Jesus is the “Lamb of God.”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  –John 1:29  (NLT)

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples.  As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!”  –John 1:35-36  (NLT)

John recognized Jesus was the Lamb of God, the one who would be the sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world.

 

“He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”  –John 3:30  (NLT)

John realized the importance of Jesus shining through in our lives; more of Him, less of us.  

 

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”  –John 1:19-20  (ESV)

John was honest, stating he was not the Christ, even encouraging his followers to follow Jesus, not him.  That act embraces humbleness and shows John was not prideful.

 

 

–Both started their public ministries preaching repentance:

John:  In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  –Matthew 3:1-2  (NLT)

Jesus:  From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  –Matthew 4:17  (NLT)

 

–Both encouraged people to share with others:

John:  John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”  –Luke 3:11  (NLT)

Jesus:  Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  –Matthew 19:21  (NLT)

 

–Both were arrested unjustly:

John:  Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”  –Matthew 14:3-4  (NIV)

Jesus:  So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance.  –Luke 22:54  (NLT)

 

–Both suffered terrible deaths:

John:  But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.  –Matthew 14:6-11  (NLT)

Jesus:  But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed.  So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.  –Luke 23:23-24  (NLT)

 

 

With thinking about John the Baptist’s life purpose this week, take time to reflect on your life purpose…

*How is God calling you to prepare the way of the Lord?

*How are you pointing others to Jesus?

*How are you glorifying Him?

 

*Have you repented of your sins and turned to God?

*Do you recognize the Lamb of God in your life and point others to Him?

*Do you ask God to help you decrease in your life and have Christ increase in you?

*Do you keep in mind that you are NOT the Christ, which lifts a weight off your shoulders?

 

Remember…

*Look for the angels that God sends in your life.

*Let the Holy Spirit work in your life and through you.

*God can do the impossible in the young and the old.

*God’s divine will prevails.

*Be attentive to the Spirit’s guidance.

*Trust the Lord in all circumstances.

 

Allow God to fulfill His life purpose for your life.

 

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'”  –Matthew 3:3  (NIV)

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.  –Psalm 138:8  (ESV)