The Story Begins in the Wilderness

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Scripture:

 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;
 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
(Mark 1:2–3 NRSV)

Observation:

Mark begins this gospel journey by taking us to the words of the prophets. He refers to Isaiah but this a mix of words found in Exodus 23:20, Isaiah 40:3 and also from Malachi 3:1. These are quotes from the law, and one major and minor prophet. Malachi is the final voice that points toward what lies ahead. This is the expectation of all of the holy prophets 

In all of the circumstances the people of God are in need of being led out through the wilderness. In Exodus they are, quite literally, in the wilderness. In Isaiah they are a people in exile, and finally in Malachi they are awaiting the salvation that will come with the Messiah. Everything in history is pointing toward this day, and that their time of wandering in the wilderness is coming to an end. 

It is then, that we will discover in the next verse that John the Baptist appears as a man of the wilderness, calling people to repentance, as the new Elijah. He is the prophetic voice crying out that it is time for the people to prepare a way for the Lord. 

Application:

Expectation is something that builds up inside of us when we are waiting for something with great anticipation. This was the feeling of the prophets who were awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. Now, his arrival would come, much like the birth of a long-awaited baby, the hope for God’s people. But the waiting — the wilderness — that is a difficult place in which to find ourselves. 

The reality is that we all begin in a wilderness, of sorts. It’s the good news of the gospel that draws us out from that place and into a relationship with Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God. We go from wilderness to discipleship, and somehow everyone is somewhere on that continuum. Along the way there is the presence of grace that draws us into the future where we find fellowship with the Triune God. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for those who find themselves wandering in the wilderness of life. When it feels as if there is no hope and we are discouraged, we are invited into the hopeful expectation of what lies ahead, a place where Christ is awaiting with love and grace. This is the good news!

Prayer:

Lord of heaven and earth, lead us to live into your good news. Amen.

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