Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for Him Mark 1:3b NIV
Lent is a period of time that allows us to mark out our trail. We know where we are headed – Easter, the Last Supper, Good Friday, and then an empty tomb. We know how this story ends. But we intentionally set aside this time each year to once again prepare ourselves – For although we know the path, it has been a year since we journeyed on it and it may need to be marked again (or marked more clearly!) so we can find our way.
The prophet Isaiah (40:3–5) first wrote about this:
A voice is crying out:”Clear the Lord’s way in the desert! Make a level highway in the wilderness for our God! Every valley will be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be flattened. Uneven ground will become level, and rough terrain a valley plain. The Lord’s glory will appear, and all humanity will see it together; the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.”
The people clearly would have anticipated the idea of an easier path than the ones they were left to travel – Mountains, hills, uneven ground, rough terrain … having just recently walked this land – Oh how we longed for level and even ground to walk!
In Mark’s gospel, we are clearly told that John was sent to 'prepare the way' for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:2-3), but what exactly did John the Baptist do in preparing the way?
Luke tells us (3:3-4a) that John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet. Also in Matthew (3:1-3) we learn that in those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke.
The people in that day responded to John’s message and helped prepare the way for Jesus. They confessed their sins and were baptized as a sign that they had turned from their sins. Matthew 3:6 tells us, "And [they] were baptized in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for Him
But how did these actions 'prepare the way'? Preparing a way can mean to “create a favorable environment or to make it easy for one to come to you and operate in your life.”John the Baptist was creating a favorable environment by making it easy for Jesus to enter into and operate in the lives of the people. He preached the repentance of sins and baptized people for the remissions of their sins. He was getting people ready for Jesus' arrival by getting them to turn from their sins and repent!
How does this apply to us today?
I believe God gave me a beautiful revelation about how we can 'prepare the way' for the Lord in our own lives while we were in the Holy Lands: The Romans were the first people to build highways. They would make highways to the places that they wanted to conquer and to create trade routes. One of these routes Jesus would have walked from Caesarea through Nazareth to the area of Galilee. We walked in this area – The Valley of the Winds - that was ‘the way’ for trade, supplies – all the sustenance of life. Part of the Gospel Trail being marked out for others to walk or hike …Perhaps this was the place where Jesus first said, “I am the way.”
But this place is not like the paths and roads we know. This was no Cardinal Greenway. This was no hiking trail in a park. This was a rocky place that wound through a carved out valley. This path was still hard to travel, but was better than traveling over the rocky hills and mountains. Making a way … Marking a trail was no easy endeavor, but the rewards were great. Many of the paths cleared of stone are still used today. Many areas are still hard to access because the path is winding and/or covered with rocks and stones.
Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for Him
What can we do?
A common practice of Lent has been fasting or more commonly the action of giving something up. The list of those that practiced fasting is a veritable who’s who of faith: Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and the list could continue on and on.
There are over 60 references to fasting in the Bible. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:16 about fasting using the words “When you fast.” It is interesting that he does not choose to say “you must fast” or “if you fast.” Fasting is not a commandment but rather an act of devotion and purpose. When we talk of Christian devotion, or discipline, we often speak of financial giving, and prayer, and bible study, and even service or work, but rarely do we speak of fasting. We have lost the discipline of fasting.
Jesus commented on fasting (MATTHEW 6:16-18) be teaching us to fast in secret. God is the only one that needs to know.
The rewards for fasting (or giving something up) are a promise from God:
- Helps us to focus our attention on God
- Reminds us that we are sustained by God and not food alone
- Keeps our lives balanced
- Reveals that which controls us
- Increases our concentration
- Can lead to revelations in our lives
- Can provide guidance for our lives
Fasting is about gaining fellowship with God. Fasting is not to focus attention on you, but rather it should focus your attention elsewhere.The call is issued once again:
Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for Him.
As you remove the “things” that are in the way, you should be able to get closer to God. When you crave the chocolate I gave up, you are to be reminded that you need to crave God. When you set aside all the electronics (texting, facebook, ipads, computers, cell phones) you are 'forced' to interact with people personally. What needs to be cleared from your path to make the way clear for God? Jesus warned Peter about the dangers of the unclear path when he said, You are a stone that could make me stumble, for you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts (Math 16:23 CEB).
What thoughts or things are in the way to more clearly connecting you with God?
The call is issued again, Prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for Him.
Perhaps your path to God has become cluttered, as you prepare to celebrate Easter, perhaps something needs to be cleared from your path. What is keeping you from your relationship with God?
Through the repentance of our sins, we 'prepare the way' for Jesus to operate in our lives! The Bible teaches us that if we confess our sins, we not only will receive forgiveness for them, but they are removed as far from the east to the west (1 John 1:9 ; Psalms 103:12)! If we fail to acknowledge our sins, however, Proverbs 28:13 tells us those who hide their sins won’t succeed, but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy. But I must warn you that simply acknowledging our sins is not enough.John the Baptist rebuked the Pharisees for not living up to their confessions in Matthew:
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. 'You brood of snakes!' he exclaimed. 'Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment? Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God’ (Matthew: 3:7-8 NLT).
What needs to be cleared from your path? Can you identify the things that have cluttered your path? What will you do about it? As we begin our walk along the path to Easter, a voice is heard:
Prepare the way for the Lord and make) straight paths for Him.
Photo Above [Walking the path today in the Valley of the Winds]
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