Thoughts for the Day

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.’......

Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
‘Here is your God!’
See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today, we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. We usually think about him before Christmas, but this gives us a chance to place him into the long history of Israel and see his importance to us as Christians. John came to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus, to turn their hearts towards God and to bring them to a realisation of their sin.

However, centuries before this, Isaiah prophesied his coming. First Isaiah warns of the day when the people will be defeated by the Babylonians (586 BCE) and taken into exile, then in Chapter 40 Second Isaiah offers some hope. God will rescue His people, he says. The passage is one of comfort and tenderness. After a long dark night of judgement a remnant will return to Jerusalem. We see this return happening in books like Ezra and Nehemiah.

Five hundred years later the nation is now under Roman rule, and the people desperately hope for a Messiah to save them. Isaiah's prophecy is looked at again. He says the Lord is coming to His people as a triumphant King. When John the Baptist appears he is seen as the voice crying in the wilderness. He warns the people to prepare for one who is greater than him, and we have a reference to the fact that this King would be a Shepherd, rather than a warrior. He would lead His sheep, to good pasture, He would feed them and protect them. Ultimately he would offer His life for His sheep.

Today we are called to praise God for His great plan to rescue His people, and to call us to faith, and we thank God for His involvement in our life.

Heavenly Father,
we thank you that Zechariah answered Your call
to be the father of John the baptizer,
who was to call the people back to You,
and prepare the way for the work of Your Son.
We also thank You that we have heard Your call
to be the sheep of Your flock.
Help us never to forget our relationship with You,
and our responsibility as Your peope.
Amen.