Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. – Malachi 3:1
On Christmas Eve the preparations for the holiday celebration are nearly complete. For young families, there may still be items to assemble or recover from a neighbor’s garage. A grandmother may still need to bake the yule log cake. Children show their anticipation in a myriad of ways. The coming of the Christ Child will be the center of attention when, at last, the manger in the creche receives its baby.
Unlike the books of Matthew and Luke, Mark begins by declaring that he is writing, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God.” He quotes today’s verse and then tells the story of John the Baptist, the messenger charged with preparing the way for Jesus to declare His public ministry. Jesus and John had met before, when both were yet to be born (Luke 1:39-45).
Pastor and author W.A. Criswell wrote, “The preparation work of John was that of calling the people to repentance. Repentance means a ‘change of mind and heart, which alters the conduct‘“ (2 Corinthians 7:10). The prophet Isaiah had discussed the preparation work of John the Baptist – “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. … And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Malachi was the last of the prophets. There would be 400 years of silence before John the Baptist would appear. The people had been longing for Him. Now that you have seen Him, arriving as God in the flesh, a babe in the manger, a child rescued from danger, is your heart prepared to receive Him as the Lord of your life? This same Jesus, who lived, died, and was resurrected, then ascended into Heaven, is coming back. “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” (Revelation 1:7). Are you prepared? Are you longing for that day?
“Born Thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a King. Born to reign in us forever, now Thy glorious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone. By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
Today’s Verse: Malachi 3:1
“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; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Mark 1:1-11
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
