Preparing the Way

Beginning the Good News about Jesus Christ, God's Son. It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look! I will send my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way for You. A voice will be calling in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord; make the paths straight for Him." Mark 1:1-3

This is the beginning of the Gospel of Mark. These are the verses that describe the calling that John the Baptist had on his life. His mission. His entire purpose. His reason for being, and he would live up to that calling.

"So John the Baptizer came into the wilderness, preaching that people repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were coming out to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River." Mark 1:4-5

John lived up to the calling that was on his life. He prepared the way for Jesus and I would suggest that, at least to some degree, that is our calling. See, we think that it is our job to get people saved. Think about that. We can't save anyone. We aren't perfect, or flawless. We didn't die for the world, and no matter how hard our life has been, we didn't go through Hell.

Our job is not to get people saved, it is to lead people to Jesus, and, along the way to prepare the way for the Lord. There is a such a huge difference there - it is not just a point of view thing. Think about it like this: you walk up to a friend, and offer them a drink. They just had a drink, they are satisfied, they don't want any. But you go on a hike with that same person, over life's hills and rough paths, over the obstacles. Then you offer the drink. They trust you, they have seen who you are. They are much more likely to accept that drink.

People are thirsty for the water of life, they often just don't know it. We need to show our friends, our family, everyone, that when that drink is offered that it is something that they want. That is our job, to prepare the way so that when they see Jesus, they want Him. That is preparing the way of the Lord in this day and age.

Sam