(Audio)
John the Baptist, clothed in camel's hair, feeding on locusts and wild honey, was a shocking figure. Yet people didn't dismiss him as crazy. They were drawn to him in vast numbers including people "of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem." Probably they understood the allusion of his clothing to Elijah who was known for similar attire (see Second Kings 1:8). With the Messianic expectation that was already present among the people of Israel, this hint reminded them that Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come again to before the great and awesome day of the LORD (see Malachi 4:5).
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
In addition to associating himself with Elijah, John the Baptist identified himself as the voice spoken of by the prophet Isaiah. The mission of this voice was to make "straight in the wasteland a highway for" the Lord.
For Isaiah, this journey through the desert bypassed the usual, less direct, but well-watered routes from Mesopotamia to Israel (see NAB footnote on 40:3-5). And John the Baptist also chose the desert as the place for his ministry. The eagerness for the end of exile and the eagerness for the coming of the Messiah were so great that detours and distractions could not be allowed. The most direct path of the heart to God must be chosen.
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The people in the time of John the Baptist were excited for a Messiah that they did not yet know. They were willing to step outside of their normal lives and even commit to a change of heart in order to be prepared for his coming. We who know him should be prepared to do much more to welcome his coming this Christmas. We should be willing to go out to the desert where the water of our baptism will be much sweeter and more poignant, where we can set our hearts firmly on the desire for more of the Holy Spirit that Jesus comes to give us.
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
As we prepare the way for Jesus this Christmas we also prepare for his final coming. We do this precisely by offering him the shortest route to our hearts. Ultimately only his grace can make his way straight in us. Our hope and our desire meet him and his coming as valleys of addiction and distraction are leveled and mountains of idolatry and sin are brought low. This is how we can be "found without spot or blemish before him, at peace." This is how our conduct is not only waiting, but "hastening the coming of the day of God." Maranatha!
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
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