Second Sunday in Advent
December 8, 2024
(Luke 3:1–6, NIV84) “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ ””
Scripture identifies a very specific time in history for this event.
Not only is it identified in the history of the world, but this is exactly what the Apostle Paul tells us about: “But when the fulness of the time was come,” “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4–5) This was God’s right time!
John whom we call “the Baptist” was sent out by God to accomplish what God wanted at this time in history to prepare the way for the public earthly ministry, the service on earth, of his Only-begotten Son.
John was preaching “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
This fulfilled the Word of God given to Isaiah about 700 years earlier.
The time was right for the Savior to come to earth.
And now, today, is the right time for the Savior to come into your heart again, just as he wants to every day!
Prayer
O Lord, stir up our hearts to make ready the way of Thine only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds. This we ask through Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord. Amen
