Matthew 3
Prepare the way
That means, “Get ready. The King is
coming.”
Job once, long ago, working in the
office of a college development director.
person
responsible to bring in large amounts of money
create
positive image for the organization
can
make or break the future of the college, regardless of academics
My job was to prepare the way. The
offices had been gutted. Rubble from old walls, broken things all
around, filthy place, dust mask required
Get ready.
get
rid of the trash
clear
out the rubble
Salvage?
Maybe, but not much
trees
that are not bearing fruit are cut down and burned
chaff
is swept away from the threshing floor - burns very fast
husks,
weeds, rubble - everything that isn’t fastened down - it goes
We shoveled plaster, wires, wood, old
blinds, broken glass into trash cans, removed it to dumpsters, had
those removed to the landfill - all to ruin.
Was it time for the development
director to move in?
Another crew came in, several crews -
fresh paint, new light fixtures, carpet, windows, decorations - a new
scene without chaos and destruction
Where do we stand in this time of
Advent, the time of preparation for the coming king?
no
depending on history “we always did…”
no
depending on heritage “my parents were, I used to be…”
no
depending on current situation “always in church, try to be a good
person…”
All our goodness, all our righteousness
- it’s chaff, goodness mixed with sin, good for burning
What will we do? Absolutely nothing.
It’s all our striving and trying that gets us into the fix of the
Pharisees and Saducees, the people who would be looked up to, the
religious elite.
We bring nothing to the bargaining
table. We bring nothing but a need for forgiveness and restoration.
John baptized for repentance. Jesus
will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. We look to Jesus.
bringing judgment and destruction
bringing healing and restoration
He will take us, broken, rebellious,
toxic, and wash us. He will cleanse us to be useful to him. And he
will give us the message, the same message of the Gospel which has
been since Genesis chapter 3, that sin will be judged in the Son of
Man, Jesus, our Lord.
Jesus alone will come to present us to
the Father without fault, blameless, by taking the blame and guilt we
deserve upon himself. He receives our scorn and death so we can
receive his life and hope. We are found in him.
Lord Jesus, cleanse us, your people,
and use us as your servants, bringing your peace, life and hope in
this world of darkness. Come to deliver us.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the
Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment