Making the way for the lord (John 1:6-9)

Scripture reading:
(6) There came a man who was sent from god: his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him all men might believe. (8) He himself was not the light: he came only as a witness to the light. (9) The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.


Observations:
I make two key observations here.

(1) It is interesting to note the description we are given about John the Baptist. We are not told here where he grew up, his occupation or any other of the things we might expect to learn about a man.

We are simply told (a) who he was sent from; (god) (b) his name; (c) the purpose and mission of his life (a witness to Jesus); and (d) that he himself was not the savior of the world.

In writing this, the gospel writer considered how John related to Jesus to be of far greater importance than any of the worldly facts about John’s life.

I’m sure John did other things in his life. I’m sure he didn’t simply baptize people from dawn until dusk every day. But it is clear that the god’s entire reason ever creating John was for John to be a witness to Jesus.

This has led me to thinking - what will others say about me after I die? I hope I have plenty of worthy achievements for others to talk about. I hope others can honestly say that I was a man of integrity, loyalty, courage, compassion and love.

However, above all, I hope others get up and say “there was a true witness to Jesus.”

(2) The second key observation that I make about this passage is the deliberate manner in which god prepared for the arrival of Jesus.

In the Old Testament times, prophets and angels foretold the coming of Christ. Now, we see god send a man sent from god whose entire purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus to come into the world and to prepare the world to accept Jesus.

God was not casual or haphazard in preparing for the coming of Christ. On the contrary, he was meticulous and very deliberate the specific way in which it had to happen.

The purposeful manner of god in this passage underlines two further observations we can make.

Firstly, god himself is very deliberate. He is not, impulsive, haphazard or rash in what he does.

There are many other examples in the scripture of god being very deliberate about his plans and actions for the world.

Secondly, we can observe the great importance which god himself placed upon the coming of
Christ into the world. Poor planning is a sign of lack of importance attached to an event. This event, the coming of Christ, was thoroughly and perfectly planned. Everything had to be right before the world was ready for Jesus, our savior, to enter into the world.

From god’s point of view, the coming of Christ into the world was of critical importance.

We too, should view Christ’s coming in the same way.


Prayer:
Dear heavenly father,

Lord, whatever else I do with my life, let me be a true witness of Christ.

Grant me the courage, wisdom and the desire to life my life as a witness to Christ – both in terms of spreading your word and in terms of how I live out the life you have granted me.

Father, we can see the great emphasis you placed on the coming of your son – your own coming
– into the world. Let us sit up and take notice. Let my heart dwell always on the fact that you came from heaven to earth to pay the sacrifice for sins and to win eternal life for your chosen people.

The coming of Christ fundamentally altered the state of our relationship with you. Before, we were under your wrath. But Christ (or you) earned forgiveness for all believers. Now, we can live as your children and are free to live in an intimate relationship with you.

In the name of Christ Jesus

Amen.