When God Comes: What does Advent Mean?
There is a theme in scripture that we get to emphasize at this time of year. God has come! One of the truths underlined in the four gospels is that…
8. John the Prophet
Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 8 (Matthew 3:1-6)
Our picture of prophets is a little skewed. Most of us think of prophets more as oracles or fortune-tellers. The Bible is filled with prophets who boldly proclaim God’s Word to in a timely way to people who need to hear it. Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah are all great prophets from ancient days who did just that. Now in our journey we meet another prophet who prepares the way for those who will journey with Jesus.
While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”
John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy:
Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!
John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life. (Matthew 3:1-6, MSG)
We have heard about prophetic fulfillment and we have already seen several pretend kings. Now we hear from a real life prophet. (more…)