Advent Perspective: Be the Voice

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Be the Voice

A voice cries out:

"In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all people shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Isaiah 40:3-5 (NRSV)

Go, tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born

From "Go, Tell It on the Mountain,"

an African-American Spiritual

As I noted previously, during the season of Advent, churches read the words of ancient prophets that are thought to point to the Messiah, the leader who will bring liberation and peace to God's people.  Some of these prophecies point to the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah.  One prophet spoke of a voice that cried out, demanding that that a straight and level highway be constructed in the wilderness, so that the Lord may come to the people.

The Gospels identify this voice as John the Baptist.  On the day he was born, his father proclaimed that he would "be called the prophet of the Most High" and that he would "go before the Lord to prepare his ways."¹  John grew up to become an rather eccentric prophet, and many people journeyed to the wilderness to hear him speak.  He called the people to change their ways, and he gave them the opportunity to undergo the ritual of baptism as a sign of their penitence.  John gave the people practical instructions for living differently.  He encouraged those in authority not to abuse their power, and he encouraged those with excess to share with those in need.²

When people began to wonder if John was their long awaited Messiah, he spoke of someone yet to come who was greater than he.³  Christians believe that the One of whom John spoke was Jesus.

John the Baptist was not the only voice who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus.  According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus once sent out as many as seventy-two messengers in pairs to all of the places He was planning to visit.  He instructed these messengers to cure people who were sick in the places they visited and to proclaim to all who would hear, "The kingdom of God has come near to you."⁴

Perhaps it is the task of everyone who follows Jesus to be a voice who prepares the way for Him by challenging people to do what is right, starting with the person in the mirror, by being an agent of healing, and by bearing good news to all who will hear.  During Advent, we look back to Christ's coming to earth as an infant two thousand years ago, and we look forward to the return of Christ at the end of this age.  I think it is important that, as we remember the past and future actions of God in Christ, we do not forget that God is always at work.  One of the morning prayers I pray acknowledges that "all day long [God] is working for good in the world."⁵

This Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ two thousand years ago, may we not forget that God is at work today.  As we remember the voice who prepared the way in the wilderness, may we be voices who prepare the way wherever we find ourselves.


Notes:

1. Luke 1:76 (NRSV)
2. Luke 3:1-14
3. Luke 3:15-17
4. Luke 10:1-9 (NRSV)
5. This prayer is part of "An Order for Morning Praise and Prayer" in the United Methodist Book of Worship.

St. John the Baptist Preaching was painted by Mattia Preti in the 17th century.