(Mrk) 1:2-4, 17 CJB “It is written in the prophet Yesha‘yahu, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare the way before you.” “The voice of someone crying out: ‘In the desert prepare the way for Adonai! Make straight paths for him!’” So it was that Yochanan the Immerser appeared in the desert, proclaiming an immersion involving turning to God from sin in order to be forgiven. Yeshua said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you into fishers for men!”
Prepare the Way for Jesus was the message of John the Baptist before Christ’s first coming. Today, every follower of Jesus has been given a remarkably similar mission. We are not preparing people for His first appearance but for His glorious return as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Before God came to earth clothed in human flesh, He sent a messenger.
John the Baptist.
John’s assignment was simple.
Prepare the people for the arrival of their King.
His message was not complicated.
Turn to God.
Turn from your sins.
Be baptized as a public declaration that your heart has turned toward God.
Then look for the One who is coming.
John understood something every Christian must remember.
He was not the Savior.
He was the herald.
Prepare the Way for Jesus Through the Gospel
John never pointed people to himself.
He pointed them to Christ.
He understood that only Jesus could forgive sins.
Only Jesus could baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Only Jesus possessed the authority and power to redeem humanity.
Likewise, our mission is not to build our reputation.
It is to announce the King.
We proclaim that Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose from the grave, reigns at the Father’s right hand, and will return to judge the living and the dead.
Like John, we cannot change hearts.
Only the Holy Spirit can do that.
Our responsibility is faithfulness.
God’s responsibility is fruitfulness.
The Same Call Before Christ’s Second Coming
John prepared the world for Jesus’ first appearance.
The Church prepares the world for His second.
Jesus will return just as surely as He first came.
The first time He came in humility.
The second time He will come in glory.
The first time He came to provide salvation.
The second time He will come to execute perfect justice and establish His eternal kingdom.
Every person will stand before Him.
Those who have repented of their sins, trusted in Christ alone for their forgiveness, and publicly identified with Him will rejoice at His appearing.
Those who rejected Him will face His righteous judgment.
That reality gives urgency to our mission.
Fishers of Men Herald the King
Immediately after beginning His public ministry, Jesus said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
Notice the order.
First, follow Jesus.
Then Jesus transforms us.
Then He sends us.
A Christian is not merely someone who has accepted an invitation to heaven.
A Christian is someone who follows Christ and joins Him in His mission.
We become heralds of the coming King.
Like fishermen, we cast the net of the gospel.
We call people to repentance.
We invite them to trust Christ.
We urge them to obey His Word.
We encourage them to publicly identify with Him through baptism.
But we never forget that the catch belongs to God.
We fish.
The Holy Spirit gives life.
Our Greatest Calling
Jesus said that among those born of women, no one was greater than John the Baptist.
Why?
Because he had the unique privilege of introducing the Messiah to Israel.
Yet every Christian has been entrusted with an equally glorious responsibility.
We now proclaim that the crucified, risen, and reigning Christ is coming again.
Every conversation.
Every act of kindness.
Every gospel presentation.
Every disciple we make.
Every person we baptize.
Every opportunity to speak the truth.
All of it prepares people to meet the King.
The greatest investment you can make with your life is not simply building a successful career or accumulating possessions.
It is faithfully announcing the return of Jesus Christ.
One day the trumpet will sound.
The King will appear.
On that day, nothing will matter more than hearing these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into your Master’s joy.”
May we spend our lives preparing as many people as possible to meet Him.
Run Today’s Play
Ask yourself who in my life is unprepared to meet Jesus because I have never clearly shared the gospel with them?
Then, pray by name for one person who needs Christ and ask God to prepare their heart to receive the gospel.
And, look for one opportunity this week to speak about Jesus, calling someone to repentance, faith, and the hope found only in Him.
John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ’s first coming.
Now Christ has entrusted His Church with preparing the world for His return.
Live like a herald.
