“Prepare the way for the Lord”

Read Luke 3:1-6

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The Christmas story is a much-loved prologue, but it’s not an essential part of the message, as Mark makes clear by launching straight into the ministry of Jesus with this declaration: “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk.1:1). Luke, whose stated intention is to be historically accurate (1:1-4), here sets that beginning firmly in the context of secular history (1-2).

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In all four Gospels, John the Baptist is “a voice calling in the wilderness” preparing the way for Jesus (4-6; Is.40:3-5). Wilderness also describes the spiritual state of the nation. John’s message heralded that the king was about to arrive (cf. Mt.3:2 “the kingdom of heaven is near”) and that in preparation for his coming, repentance was needed. Repentance is more than being sorry; it contains also a resolve to live differently. Baptism was used by John as an outward sign of that inner repentance (3).

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We too live in a time of spiritual wilderness, and so the need is still to prepare the way for people to “see God’s salvation” (6). We do this not by wearing a prophet’s clothes (Mt.3:4; 2 Kgs.1:8) but by faithful witness to Jesus as Lord, in all we say and do – see 1 Pet.3:15.