As we gather on this Third Sunday of Advent, our hearts are filled with anticipation and joy for the coming celebration of our Savior’s birth. The Advent season is a profound journey, one that takes us through the depths of reflection to the heights of joy. Today, we turn our attention to the Gospel of John, specifically to John 1:6-8, 19-28, A Voice in the Wilderness: Preparing the Way, where we are introduced to a pivotal figure in the story of salvation—John the Baptist.
In these verses, we encounter a man who understood his mission with clarity and embraced it with humility. John the Baptist was not the light; he was the witness to that light, preparing the way for the One who would illuminate every darkness and bring hope to a waiting world. As we delve into the scripture, let us consider our own call to be witnesses to the light of Christ, to prepare His way in our hearts, and to joyfully declare His presence in our lives.
Let us revisit the text:
We thank You for the prophets of old, especially for John, who was not the light but came to bear witness to that Light. As John pointed to Christ, the True Light, help us also to bear witness to Your love and truth in our world.
Lord, as we await the fullness of Your glory, grant us the courage to prepare Your way in our hearts and lives. May we, like John, be voices crying out in the wilderness of our time, making straight the path for Your coming.
Fill us with the light of Christ that we may illuminate the dark places, bringing hope, peace, and joy to those who walk in shadow. May our lives reflect Your love as we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In this time of worship, open our ears to hear Your word, our minds to understand Your truth, and our hearts to receive the fullness of Your grace.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, our coming King. Amen.
In these verses, we encounter a man who understood his mission with clarity and embraced it with humility. John the Baptist was not the light; he was the witness to that light, preparing the way for the One who would illuminate every darkness and bring hope to a waiting world. As we delve into the scripture, let us consider our own call to be witnesses to the light of Christ, to prepare His way in our hearts, and to joyfully declare His presence in our lives.
Let us revisit the text:
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.Gracious and Loving God, as we gather on this Third Sunday of Advent, we embrace the joy of Your presence among us. In the spirit of this season of anticipation, we turn our hearts to the message of John the Baptist, as told in the Gospel of John.
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (John 1:6-8, 19-28, NIV)
We thank You for the prophets of old, especially for John, who was not the light but came to bear witness to that Light. As John pointed to Christ, the True Light, help us also to bear witness to Your love and truth in our world.
Lord, as we await the fullness of Your glory, grant us the courage to prepare Your way in our hearts and lives. May we, like John, be voices crying out in the wilderness of our time, making straight the path for Your coming.
Fill us with the light of Christ that we may illuminate the dark places, bringing hope, peace, and joy to those who walk in shadow. May our lives reflect Your love as we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
In this time of worship, open our ears to hear Your word, our minds to understand Your truth, and our hearts to receive the fullness of Your grace.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, our coming King. Amen.
“A Voice in the Wilderness:
Reflecting the True Light”
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Introduction:
Dear beloved in Christ, on this Third Sunday of Advent, we are called to be still in the midst of our preparations and consider a solitary figure, a voice in the wilderness, who emerged as a herald of the coming Messiah. In our scripture today from John 1:6-8, 19-28, we encounter John the Baptist, a man sent from God, not to be the light, but to bear witness to that light.
Imagine with me, if you will, the wilderness—a place both desolate and teeming with life. It is here that John the Baptist chooses to make his proclamation, a place unadorned by the trappings of civilization, where the spirit's voice might be heard more clearly. The wilderness is not just a physical location; it is a spiritual landscape we all must navigate. It is in the honesty of our own wilderness where we, like John, can become clear about who we are and, more importantly, whose we are.
John the Baptist was questioned by many about his identity. "Who are you?" the priests and Levites from Jerusalem asked. They wanted to know if he was the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. But John humbly denied these titles, instead claiming, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" He knew his role was to point beyond himself to Christ, the true light coming into the world.
Reflection:
Our guiding text, taken from John 1:6-8, 19-28, introduces us to John the Baptist, a man not born to be the light, but to testify to the light. This morning, I invite you to consider the concept of reflection in our lives as we delve into the essence of John's message and mission.
1. The Witness of a True Reflection
John the Baptist's life was a testament to the True Light that was coming into the world. His role was clear: to bear witness to the light. This is our calling as well—to be mirrors reflecting the light of Christ. In the mundane and the extraordinary, in our joys and in our struggles, we are to live in such a way that others see not us, but the radiance of Christ within us.
2. The Wilderness as a Place of Clarity
The wilderness is traditionally a place of trials and clarity. It strips away distractions, leaving us with the unfiltered truth of our condition. In our modern wilderness, we find clarity as we wait upon the Lord. The wilderness experience of Advent is not just about the absence of noise, but about the presence of divine truth. In this clarity, we hear the voice of God more clearly, guiding us back to the path of righteousness.
3. Preparing the Way in Our Hearts
The message of John the Baptist was one of preparation. "Make straight the way for the Lord," he cried. As we reflect upon our lives, what crooked paths need straightening? What rough places need to be smoothed? Our preparation is not just an external act but an internal transformation — a heart made ready for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
4. Joy in Being a Witness
There is profound joy in being a witness to the light. John's life was marked not by his own light but by the light he signified. Our Advent journey is similarly marked by the joy of the light we anticipate. This joy does not depend on our circumstances but on the steadfast promise of Christ's presence in our lives.
Conclusion:
In our world today, we are often tempted to seek the spotlight, to be the main character in our narrative. But the Advent season calls us to a different role—one of reflection, not self-glorification. We are reminded that our joy does not come from our own achievements or status but from the light that we reflect—the light of Christ.
As we light the third Advent candle, the candle of joy, we are reminded of the joy that comes from being part of something greater than ourselves. This joy is not a fleeting emotion but a profound truth rooted in the very heart of God's plan for humanity. It is the joy of being called to prepare the way for the Lord in the lives of those around us.
Like John, we are asked to be witnesses to the light. We do this not by drawing attention to ourselves but by allowing Christ to shine through our actions, our words, and our very being. When we feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, and stand for justice, we reflect the light of Christ. When we forgive as we have been forgiven, love as we have been loved, and extend grace as we have received grace, we are a beacon of the true light that enlightens everyone.
The Baptist's message was one of repentance, of turning back to God. This Advent, let us also turn our hearts toward God, making room for the light of Christ to penetrate the wilderness areas of our lives. As we do so, we will find that we are not just bystanders to the light; we become mirrors of that divine radiance, casting light into the darkness around us.
So, as we continue our Advent journey, let us listen for the voice calling out in our own wildernesses, urging us to prepare the way. Let us reflect the true light, that all might see and rejoice in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we close this time of worship on the Third Sunday of Advent, we thank You for the message of hope and preparation that You have placed upon our hearts. We are deeply grateful for the example of John the Baptist, a voice crying out in the wilderness, who showed us the way to bear witness to Your True Light.
Lord, as we prepare to leave this sacred space, we ask that You would guide us to be Your voices in the wilderness of this world. Help us to reflect Your light in all that we say and do. May the words we have heard today take root in our hearts, transforming us into beacons of Your love and grace.
We pray for the courage to make straight the paths for Your coming in our lives, to clear the clutter of our hearts, to confess and forsake our wrongs, and to live in a manner worthy of the calling You have given us.
As we light the candles of hope, peace, and joy, let their flames remind us of the light of Christ, which no darkness can overcome. May we carry this light into the darkness of the world, reflecting the brightness of Your love to all we encounter.
As John the Baptist diminished so that Christ might increase, may we also humble ourselves, so that it is not our voice but Your voice that is heard, not our will but Your will that is done.
Grant us the peace that comes from trusting in Your sovereignty, the joy that comes from walking in Your ways, and the love that comes from dwelling in Your presence.
We look forward with great anticipation to the celebration of Your Son's birth, and we pray that we would be true reflections of His light, this season and always.
In the precious name of Jesus, who is the Christ, the Light of the World, we pray.
Amen.
Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Gospel message by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
As we gather on this Third Sunday of Advent, our hearts are filled with anticipation and joy for the coming celebration of our Savior’s birth. The Advent season is a profound journey, one that takes us through the depths of reflection to the heights of joy. Today, we turn our attention to the Gospel of John, specifically to John 1:6-8, 19-28, "A Voice in the Wilderness: Preparing the Way," where we are introduced to a pivotal figure in the story of salvation—John the Baptist.
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