Prepare the Way: Shine the Light of Hope
Malachi 3:1 NKJV - "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.
OBSERVATION:
As we light the fifth candle, representing Jesus, the Light of the World, we see the fulfillment of a prophecy from Malachi, marking the beginning of the plan of redemption with the arrival of the herald of the Messiah, John the Baptist. As John's birth is fulfilled, we see the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy about John; and the work and mission he would do for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We know that Malachi 3:1 is fulfilled and begins in Luke 1:57-80.
Luke 1:67 NKJV - Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
OBSERVATION:
As we light the fifth candle, representing Jesus, the Light of the World, we see the fulfillment of a prophecy from Malachi, marking the beginning of the plan of redemption with the arrival of the herald of the Messiah, John the Baptist. As John's birth is fulfilled, we see the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy about John; and the work and mission he would do for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We know that Malachi 3:1 is fulfilled and begins in Luke 1:57-80.
Luke 1:67 NKJV - Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
The prophetic voice of the Lord had been silent for 400 years.
Now, God spoke through Gabriel (Luke 1:13, 1:28), through Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-42), through Mary (Luke 1:46-55),
and now through Zacharias. When God spoke again, it was all connected to the theme of Jesus and His work. – David Guzik.
Now, God spoke through Gabriel (Luke 1:13, 1:28), through Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-42), through Mary (Luke 1:46-55),
and now through Zacharias. When God spoke again, it was all connected to the theme of Jesus and His work. – David Guzik.
Zachariah’s song and prophecy are a “blessing and a praise” to God the Father for what He was about to fulfill, a promise made long ago, revealed by the prophets of old, announced by John, and fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
Message of Salvation – As Zechariah prophesies about John’s message, we see God’s plan unfold in what Jesus would accomplish.
Luke 1:68-70 NKJV - "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,
God has visited us, His own creation, with a plan to save us, to “raise up a horn of salvation from the house of David.” Verses 68-75 describe the work Jesus would do. Zechariah does not begin with John but with Jesus. John's message would be all about Jesus.
Luke 1:71-75 NKJV - That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
“Salvation has come” would be John's message. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4 NKJV).
Mission of Salvation – Though the mission of salvation was Jesus’ alone to bear, John’s mission was to invite people to salvation.
Luke 1:76-79 NKJV - "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
Method of Preaching Salvation – We see that John grew up in the desert, waiting for the appointed time for Jesus to grow from a child into a man and step into the spotlight. As the day approached, John began preaching, not as we might imagine the herald of Jesus would do, but as God intended.
Luke 1:80 NKJV - So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Mark 1:6-8 NKJV - Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Some have called John the “original Hippie,” who emerged from the wilderness wearing camel’s hair, eating locusts and wild honey, and bearing a message of change, hope, and salvation.
Matthew 3:1-3 NKJV - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' "
Message of Salvation – As Zechariah prophesies about John’s message, we see God’s plan unfold in what Jesus would accomplish.
Luke 1:68-70 NKJV - "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,
God has visited us, His own creation, with a plan to save us, to “raise up a horn of salvation from the house of David.” Verses 68-75 describe the work Jesus would do. Zechariah does not begin with John but with Jesus. John's message would be all about Jesus.
Luke 1:71-75 NKJV - That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
“Salvation has come” would be John's message. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4 NKJV).
Mission of Salvation – Though the mission of salvation was Jesus’ alone to bear, John’s mission was to invite people to salvation.
Luke 1:76-79 NKJV - "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
Method of Preaching Salvation – We see that John grew up in the desert, waiting for the appointed time for Jesus to grow from a child into a man and step into the spotlight. As the day approached, John began preaching, not as we might imagine the herald of Jesus would do, but as God intended.
Luke 1:80 NKJV - So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Mark 1:6-8 NKJV - Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Some have called John the “original Hippie,” who emerged from the wilderness wearing camel’s hair, eating locusts and wild honey, and bearing a message of change, hope, and salvation.
Matthew 3:1-3 NKJV - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' "
APPLICATON:
We, like John, have a message, mission, and method for preaching Salvation to the lost. We have not only seen it but also experienced it in our own lives. Let us this Christmas season, as we gather with our families (some of whom still don’t know the glorious gift of Salvation), remember the message of Jesus, His mission to save His people, and the method by which He accomplished it – The Cross!
John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
We, like John, have a message, mission, and method for preaching Salvation to the lost. We have not only seen it but also experienced it in our own lives. Let us this Christmas season, as we gather with our families (some of whom still don’t know the glorious gift of Salvation), remember the message of Jesus, His mission to save His people, and the method by which He accomplished it – The Cross!
John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
PRAYER:
Father, thank You for salvation and the hope given through Your son, Jesus. This Christmas season, may I bring the hope of salvation to those who have yet to hear, respond, or receive the Good News.
Father, thank You for salvation and the hope given through Your son, Jesus. This Christmas season, may I bring the hope of salvation to those who have yet to hear, respond, or receive the Good News.
Salvation by the remission of sins, through the tender mercies of our God.