Preparing the way for the Messiah
by Pastor Glenn Crouch
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He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3).
Read Luke 3:1–14
How do you prepare the way for the coming Messiah? John does it by calling for repentance – turning back to the Lord God. He realises that some will say that they are sons of Abraham, are circumcised and have no need to repent because they have never turned away from God. John challenges this stand. Their actions do not match their claims. Note how others not only are repenting and being baptised, but they also want to know what to do.
This is the preparation. John is not the promised Messiah, though he is preparing the way. In our passage today, the Messiah is about to come. John is saying to his listeners that now is a good time to come before your Lord God, to confess your sins, receive his mercy and start acting like you are his children by loving your neighbour.
When you are in an important relationship, you want to do whatever you can to make it work and thrive. However, we allow the things in this world to draw us away from that relationship with our Creator. But our God is faithful, and his Messiah is the solution. Our Lord Jesus has defeated sin, death and the devil. John was preparing his listeners for this! What do we need to do? We need to daily repent of our sins – to come to the foot of the cross, hand over our sins and receive the righteousness of Christ – and then go out and be followers of Jesus. Not in our strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Faithful Father, it amazes me that even though I continually mess up, you continually forgive me. I need your help to be a better follower of Jesus. Help me to see the opportunities you give me to help others and to point them to Jesus. Make me a better student of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and also looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder. Glenn has been married to Karen for 38 years, and they have two grown sons – and their first grandchild is on the way (due March 2024).
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