日期： 12/09/2007

经 文：《 馬太福音》 3 ： 1-12

题 目：有一聲音

主旨：將臨期，在眾說不一的聲音里，我們要仔細聆聽那呼召我們歸回神的聲音。

引言：

如果我說 : “我聽見一個聲音……”恐怕你們的第一反應是：“他還好吧？是不是產生了幻覺？他最近一次檢查身體是什么時候？”我們都害怕聽到聲音，對于那些自稱聽到聲音的人總是心存懷疑。

在舊約里，聽到聲音，尤其是神的聲音，并不罕見。亞伯拉罕和雅各聽到神對他們說話。摩西聽到神在曠野對他說話。年輕的撒母耳在晚上聽到神呼喊他的名字。剛才我們一起誦讀的經文里也提到聲音。這是一個來自曠野的聲音。

馬太引用了《以賽亞書》 40 ： 3 的經文“有人聲喊著說、 在曠野預備耶和華的路 、在沙漠地修平我們神的道 。”以賽亞預言：在未來有一天，有一人將在曠野為彌賽亞預備道路。先知在《瑪拉基書》 3 ： 1 和 4 ： 5 說“萬軍之耶和華說 、我要差遣我的使者、 在我前面預備道路 。”“ 看哪 、耶和華大而可畏之日未到以前 、我必差遣先知以利亞到你們那裡去 。”在瑪拉基之后的 400 百年里，神沒有向人類給出任何啟示。這段時間被稱作新約和舊約之間的沉默期。

在《馬太福音》 3 ： 1 “那時 、有施洗的約翰出來 、在猶太的曠野傳道。” 3 ： 3 “這人就是先知以賽亞所說的 、他說 、『在曠野有人聲喊著說 、預備主的道 、修直他的路 。』”馬太告訴我們這個約翰就是舊約所預言的那一位。在四福音書里，有兩本（《馬太福音》和《路加福音》）是以耶穌基督的誕生作為開始的。所有的福音書里都提到在耶穌開始世上的事工前，約翰已經在做準備。福音書的作者，特別是馬太，清楚的看見施洗約翰就是那位連接新約和舊約的人物。隨著約翰的出現，神再次開始向他的子民發出啟示。

上周，我做了將臨期的第一個講道，在我們紀念主耶穌兩千多年前的誕生時，也不要忘記期待他的第二次降臨。這兩次“降臨”是密不可分的。今天，是將臨期的第二個主日，我們要學習如何預備我們自己來迎接耶穌的誕生；學習施洗約翰和他的事工對當代生活的意義。

1•  將臨期是呼召我們定睛於神所喜悅的事 。

馬太和馬可告訴了我們有關約翰的生活方式． 太３：４， “　“ 首先，他住在曠野。曠野是一個非常寂寞的地方。在舊約的歷史上，先知們經常預言將從曠野里再次上演一回《出埃及記》。曠野是神與他的子民相會的地方。上帝在曠野里和摩西相見；他在西奈山向猶太人顯現；當大衛試圖躲避掃羅的時候，神在曠野遇到他；以西結也在曠野里看到一些異象。后來，耶穌和保羅都在曠野里度過一段時間，受到試探，從而更加親近神。現在，我們看到約翰也住在曠野里。

其次，約翰吃的是蝗蟲野蜜。吃蝗蟲和蜂蜜在當時并不稀奇。在死海書卷里記載有關于如何根據猶太律法制作蝗蟲使其清潔的方法。這里的重點是約翰只吃蝗蟲野蜜。

如今，為了健康，許多人早餐吃燕麥。這可真不好受。幾周前，我們受朋友邀請去吃午飯。他問我們喜歡米飯還是燕麥。我說：“什么？燕麥？”吃早飯的話還能對付，午餐怎么行呢？然后，他告訴我們：他和太太一日三餐都是吃燕麥（另外加一些菜，但是他們不吃米飯）。他說味道就像粥一樣，非常健康。

第三，約翰的衣服是由駱駝毛制成的。這身服飾和以利亞的穿著很相似，也是窮人的打扮。

從這段簡單的介紹來看，約翰的生活方式非常簡單。沒有什么給人印象深刻的地方。沒有時髦的衣服或者豪華的居所。作為發自曠野的聲音，作為為彌賽亞預備道路的先知，約翰堅持做生命中最重要的事：定睛于神所喜悅的事，生活簡單。約翰的生活方式和現在的宗教領袖截然不同。他們住在寬敞舒適的大房子里，看人類傳統重于神的律法。看到約翰的簡單生活方式，對于當代的宗教領袖將是一個沉重的控訴。約翰的簡單生活，對于我們這些一味追求生活舒適，物質奢華的人來說，是不是也是一個反思？

幾周前， Oprah Winfrey 主持了一檔節目叫做“透視一個儲藏者的生活”。在一個家庭里，母親是個購物狂。她的三個孩子向 Oprah 尋求幫助。在他們 3000 平方英尺的房子里，已經幾乎沒有行走的空間了。大約 100 人前來幫助他們打掃房子。他們用了 8 個星期的時間，清理了 75 頓重的垃圾，租下了 10 ， 000 平方英尺的倉庫來放置準備變賣的東西，其中包括 3000 只手袋， 3000 雙鞋子。此次變賣總共獲得 13 ， 000 美元。

當然，他們肯定不是普通人家，我們和他們也是相差甚遠。但是，我們是否應該在這段將臨期對自己的生活方式做一些反思？我們知道：耶穌并沒有出生在豪華的宮殿里，相反，他降生在一個卑微的馬槽里。后來，他告訴門徒：人子連放枕頭的地方都沒有。如果大君王彌賽亞的生活都如此簡單，那么我們的生活是不是也應該簡單一些呢？一個不負債的生活方式能令我們定睛于神所喜悅的事。

最近，我聽說有一對夫婦打算賣掉現在的大宅，搬進一個小一些的公寓。理由是可以減輕一些債務，從而專注于討神喜悅的事。

當我看到中國的許多傳道人和信徒時，我被他們的簡單生活所感動。這也解釋了為什么他們能夠自由前往神所指派他們去的地方，在一些偏遠的地區傳道。他們沒有什么牽掛。他們的簡單生活方式使我感到謙卑，令我時常反省自己的生活。

那么我們呢？如果施洗約翰或者來自烏干達和中國的信徒出現在我們當中，我們會有什么感受？從我們的生活方式上，其他人能看出什么才是我們生命中最重要的東西嗎？

2 ． 將臨期是呼召我們與神和好 。

約翰的外表令我們感到不舒服。讓我們再來聽聽他的講道。事實上，這是一個帶有警示性的講道。馬太 ３：７－９ ，“ 7 約翰看見許多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受他的洗，就對他們說： “ 毒蛇所生的啊，誰指示你們逃避那將要來的忿怒呢？ 8 應當結出果子來，與悔改的心相稱。 9 你們心裡不要以為： ‘ 我們有亞伯拉罕作我們的祖宗。 ’ 我告訴你們，　神能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起後裔來。

首先，他的聽眾是誰？誰來到曠野聽約翰講道？有猶太人，也有外邦人。但是，約翰主要是針對猶太人講道。他們是亞伯拉罕的后代。他們以為身為亞伯拉罕的后裔，就萬事大吉了。但是，約翰說：即使是亞伯拉罕的后代，也不意味著一定與神有和好的關系。

其次，約翰稱他們為毒蛇的種類。在中東地區的傳統里，這是非常貶義和羞辱的說法。就好象是把人稱作“弒父殺母”的惡人一般。約翰警告他們沒有按照與神的契約內容而生活。在神與人的契約里，神的責任是無條件地永遠愛人；作為人的責任，是按照神的律法生活。但是，以色列人卻沒有做到。他們偏離了神，沒有和神保持和好的關系。

第三，約翰告訴他們未來要有審判。隨著彌撒亞的來臨，將有大審判。在耶穌的事工過程中，無論他在何處講道和行神跡，總有人起來跟隨他，也有人反對他。我們知道：當彌撒亞第二次再來的時候，將施行末世大審判。凡是信靠他的人，都會得到提升，與他同在，進入永 恒 。不信的人則與神永遠隔離。

那么，約翰的信息究竟有什么內容？你已近偏離了神，你已經對神犯了罪。因此，要悔改。不要以為跟亞伯蘭汗有聯系就可以令你避開神的最終審判。避開審判的唯一方法是悔改。什么是悔改？

有一位主日學老師問學生：什么是悔改？許多人說：悔改就是說對不起 , 感覺萬分的後悔 。過了一會兒，一個小女孩站起來說：“悔改就是懊悔到一個地步要停止所作的錯事”。你或許對于你說過的話非常懊悔；對自己犯的罪非常自責；但是，這還不是悔改。悔改不僅僅是停留在感情上或者內心里，它意味著生命的改變和轉換。這就是約翰在第八節經文里說的“你們要結出果子來 、與悔改 的心相稱 。”光有心里的懊悔還不夠，還要有明確的行為改變來表明你的悔改。

這對我們今天有什么意義呢？如果你收到邀請參加一個驚喜生日派對，你意識到和過生日的人關系并不好，你會去嗎？去參加一個和你關系不怎么好的人的派對恐怕比較困難。這和紀念基督的誕生是一樣的。當我們正在積極準備慶祝耶穌誕生的時候，要捫心自問：我們和神的關系和好了嗎？如果我們和他的關系不好，那么很難全心地來慶祝他的生日。

你會如何形容現在和神的關系呢？有人會說 , 我在過去的幾個月或者幾年里，堅持來教會。或者，我的太太，先生是基督徒；我的父母，祖父母是基督徒。或者我已經當了 50 多年的基督徒。請大家記住：來教會聚會，或者配偶也是基督徒；父母、祖父母都是基督徒，這些都不代表你和神的關系是和好的。使我們和神隔絕的是罪。我們的罪令我們逐漸偏離了神。我們的罪令我們和神的關系破裂。我們的罪令我們對神失去信心。如果我們要和神恢復和好，那么就要來到他面前悔改。我們對于自己的罪是如此懊悔，要決心遠離它。

我們應該如何預備自己來迎接基督的誕生？還有什么比一個和神良好的關系更好呢？讓我們首先告訴他我們對于自己的罪有多么懊悔。然后，請他幫助改變我們的行為，習慣和思考方式。請他繼續改變我們，成為更像主耶穌的基督徒。

3 •  將臨期是呼召我們認識耶穌基督 。

約翰的生活方式和信息宣告了我們的罪和過范。不僅如此， 3 ： 11-12 “我是用水給你 們施洗 、叫你們悔改 ．但那在我以後來的 、能力比我更大 、我就是給他提鞋 、也不配 ．他要用聖靈與火給你們施洗 。 他手裡拿著簸箕 、要揚淨他的場 、把麥子收在倉裡 、把糠用不滅的火燒盡了 。”約翰在這里指的是即將到來的彌賽亞。

首先，我們來看看約翰和彌撒亞的關系。彌賽亞比約翰更大。約翰連給他提鞋都不配。在那個時代，奴隸要負責為主人洗腳，拖鞋和提鞋。學生對老師 , 除了不碰祂的鞋以外 , 也像奴隸對主人一般，。約翰在這里說：“我連給彌賽亞提鞋也不配。”

其次，約翰告訴我們彌賽亞要用 圣 靈跟火施洗。舊約的先知曾經預言神要對惡人用火來審判，卻將 圣 靈澆灌給公義的人。除了神以外，沒有人能用 圣 靈施洗。

這里，約翰清楚地表明，他正在為即將到來的彌賽亞預備道路。但是，他不知道誰是彌賽亞，他長得怎么樣 , 他是誰。那么我們呢？《馬太福音》 3 ： 3 “ 這人就是先知以賽亞所說的 、他說 、『在曠野有人聲喊著說 、預備主的道 、修直他的路 。 』”我們知道耶酥基督是主，約翰就是在為耶穌預備道路。耶穌是神子，就是神。約翰說他要被耶穌彌賽亞施洗。這也解釋了為什么后來當耶穌要約翰給他施洗時他會如此的驚訝了。

我們正在為紀念耶穌的誕生做準備。但是，更重要的是，我們要知道這個嬰孩 是誰 . 隨著總統競選日的臨近 , 很多競選也先後發表他們的信仰立場 . 上星期有一競選人說他相信耶穌是神的兒子 , 世人的救主 . 但是如我們細看他的教會 , 就知他的意義是 , 耶穌是天上父親和母親所生的一個靈的兒子 . 這與聖經所講的耶穌就大有差別 . 但約翰所傳講的耶穌是 彌賽亞，神之子，也是神 , 他是道成肉身的神。這就是我們敬拜的主耶穌。

結論：

從公元前 600 年開始，神就沒有向人類作出任何啟示。他對人類是沉默的。就在那段時期，人類中卻發出了許多不同的聲音。宗教領袖發出聲音，這些聲音使人們選擇放棄神的最初教導，轉向自己對律法的理解，導致人類不堪重負。也有一些聲音是召喚人們擺脫希臘和羅馬的統治從而追求政治上的自由。當神沉默的時候，人類的聲音就開始四處響起。

400 年以后，隨著施洗約翰的到來，神的啟示再次出現。神的聲音是從曠野里發出的。如果我們要為此做預備，應該是請 CNN 在黃金時段向全球轉播。但是，神卻在曠野里，通過約翰的口發出聲音。這個信息是舊約先知預言的繼續。這個信息呼召人們回歸上帝，認罪和與神和好。

這對于今天的我們是否也有同樣的意義？在我們周圍，有許多聲音。在這個季節里，有一個聲音是要把耶穌的生日當作商業活動來慶祝。到處是商品降價的廣告。今年的平安夜是星期一，我們可以預想所有的最終打折銷售計劃都會在星期 日 開始：早上 6 點到晚上 12 點。餐館也發出兩人的特價廣告，使到我們往往更感到孤單． 我相信你們還可以想到其他許多不同的聲音。

我很高興，雖然有眾說紛紜的聲音，你們還是選擇今天早上來到這里。我很高新你們在這里， 這是一個小型的曠野 , 在這裡可聽到那唯一的聲音 . 我們可以一起聆聽施洗約翰的信息。

這個聲音召喚我們定睛在神所喜悅的事上 , 如信，望，愛 , 聖潔 , 憐憫和謙卑 ，和神回復關系，牢記這是神道成肉身來到我們中 . 滿有真理與恩典 .

Date:   12/09/07

Text:   Matthew 3:1-12

Title:   There Is A Voice

Theme: In this Advent season, among many voices, we are to hear the voice that calls us to come back to God.

Introduction:

  If I say, I hear a voice….. Your immediate response will be: is he ok? Is he hallucinating? When was the last time he had a check up? We are scared of hearing voices. We are skeptical of those who claim they've heard a voice.

  In the Old Testament hearing voices, especially God's voice was not unusual. Abraham and Jacob heard God speaking to them. Moses heard God's voice speaking to him in the wilderness. Young Samuel heard God calling his name at night. The text we read earlier is also about a voice. It is a about a voice coming out from the wilderness.

  Matthew quoted Isaiah 40:3, “ . 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah was prophesying that one day, there will appear in the wilderness, an individual who will prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah-King. Prophet Malachi in 3:1; 4:5, “ 1 “Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me.” “ 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” After Malachi, there was no more revelation from God for 400 years. Those 400 years were known as the silent inter-testament times.

  And now in Matthew 3:1, “ 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,..” vs.3, “ 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. ' ” Matthew tells us this John is the person prophesied in the OT. In our study of the 4 gospels, we learn that 2 gospels (Matthew and Luke) begin with the birth of Jesus Christ. And all 4 gospels wrote about John before Jesus started his ministry. The gospel writers, especially Matthew, clearly stated that John was the connection between the Old and New Testament. With the coming of John, God's revelation began to flow again to His people.

  Last week we began the Advent season with the instruction that while celebrating Jesus' birth that occurred 2000 years ago, we are also mindful of his second coming. These two ‘coming' events, cannot be separated. Now, on this second Sunday in the Advent season, we'll focus on how we are to live now as we prepare for Jesus birth. We want to see how John the Baptist and his message, is relevant to us today.

I.    The Advent season is a call to focus on things that matters to God. .

  Matthew and Mark both give us some details about how John lived. Matthew 3:4, “ 4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

  First, he lived in the wilderness. The wilderness is a very lonely place. In the OT history, prophets often prophesied that there would be a new exodus coming out of the wilderness. A Wilderness is a place where God meets his people. God met Moses in the wilderness. He met the Israelites at Mt. Sinai . He met David in the wilderness when he was escaping from Saul. Ezekiel saw some of his visions in the wilderness. Later Jesus, and then Paul all spent time in the wilderness, to be tested and drawn close to God. And now, we read that John lived in the wilderness.

  Secondly, John ate locusts sweetened with wild honey. Eating locusts and honey was not unusual in those days. In the Dead Sea Scrolls there were instructions on how to prepare locusts according to the Jewish ceremony laws, making it kosher. But the point here is that sweetened locust is all John ate.

  Nowadays, to keep oneself healthy, many individuals eat oatmeal, Quaker Oats, for breakfast. It's rather plain. Several weeks ago, we were invited to a friend's home for lunch. He asked if we'd prefer rice or oatmeal. I said, “what? Oatmeal?” For breakfast, it's ok, but lunch? Then he told me that he and his wife ate oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with some other dishes, they had done away with rice). He said it's just like congee and it's healthy.

  Thirdly, John's clothes were made of camel's hair. This resembled what Elijah wore. This is also a garment of the poor.

  From this brief description of John, we see he lived a very simple life style. Nothing really impressive. Not flashy clothes or nice and luxurious housing. Being that voice in the wilderness, being the one who'd prepare for the Messiah's coming, John held onto what is important, what matters to God and lived a simple life. It was a strong contrast to the religious leaders of the day. They lived in comfort and luxury. They valued human traditions over God's law. Just seeing John's simple life-style was a strong indictment against the religious leaders of the day. Isn't John's life-style also a strong indictment of us who live in this present time when the pursuit of comfort, wealth, prosperity is the chief goal in life?

Several weeks ago Oprah Winfrey ran a show named: Inside the lives of Hoarders. There was a story about one family. The mother was a shopaholic. Her 3 children reported to Oprah to get help. There was hardly any walking space inside the 3000sq.ft. home. A team of 100 people helped her to clean out the house. They took 8 weeks to clean out 75 tons of garbage; rented a 10,000 sq.ft warehouse to sell the belongings, which included 3000 handbags and 3000 pairs of shoes. $13,000 were raised.

Certainly this family is not the average Joe and we may be nowhere near that. Yet, isn't it true that we can all do a little reflection during this Advent season? We know that when Jesus, the Messiah came, he was not born in a palace, instead it was a very lowly, humble place, the manger, surrounded by dirty and noisy animals. Later, he told his followers and would be followers that he had no place to lay his head. If the Messiah king lived a simple life, how much more so do we need to live a simple life. A life style with little debt that will free us to do what God pleases.

Recently I was told that a young couple decided to sell the present house and move into a smaller condominium. The reason for this move was to reduce their debt and be free to do what pleases God. While others are moving up into bigger houses, they have chosen to move into a smaller house.

When I met many of the ministers and believers in China , I was struck by the simplicity of their life. This is one reason they are so free to go where God wants them to go, to some of the remote parts of the country. They have so much less to worry about. Their simple life-style humbled me and caused me to constantly reflect upon my own life-style.

How about us? How would we feel if John the Baptist or believers from Uganda , China came before us? From how we live, can others tell what really matters in our lives? You see, if we pursue wealth, health and prosperity, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to pursue things of God, such as Faith, Hope, Love, Holiness, Compassion and Humility.

II.    The Advent season is a call to get right with God. .

  John's physical appearance can make us feel uncomfortable. Wait till we hear his message. In essence, it was a message of warning. Matthew 3:7-9, “ 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”

First, who was his audience? Who came to the wilderness to hear him preach? There were Jews and gentiles. But he was specially speaking to the Jews. They were Abraham's descendents. They thought being Abraham's children, they would be alright. But John said, being Abraham's children was no guarantee that you were right with God.

  Secondly, John called them offspring and sons of vipers. In the middle east tradition, that was very harsh and derogatory. It's like calling someone a parent murderer. He told them they had failed to live up to the expectations as God's covenant people. You see, in the covenant, God's part is to love his people unconditionally and eternally. His people's part was responsible to live according to God's laws. But the Israelites had clearly failed. They had strayed away from God. They had not been right with God.

  Thirdly, John told them there would be a judgment coming. With the coming of the Messiah-King, there would be a judgment. When we look at Jesus' ministry, whenever he preached or performed miracles, there were those who followed him, but also people who rejected him. And we learn that when this messiah comes the second time in the future, there would be a final judgment. Those who believe him will be taken into his presence and spend the eternity with him. Others will be eternally separated from him.

  So, what was John's message? You have gone astray from God. You have sinned against God. Therefore, Repent. Don't think being associated with Abraham can save you from God's final judgment. The only way to escape God's judgment is to repent. What is repentance?

One Sunday School teacher asked his students: What is repentance? Many said, to repent means I am sorry. Then, after a while, a little girl stood up and said, “to repent means you are sorry enough to quit.” You may be very sad over what you did; you may feel great remorse over your sins. Yet this is not repentance. It's not just intellectual knowledge or emotional conviction that what I did was wrong and feel very sorry about it. It means a radical change and transformation of life. This is what John said in vs.8, “ 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” Just being sorry is not enough, there must be clear change of behaviors to confirm your repentance.

  What does it mean to us today? If you receive an invitation to a surprise birthday party; and you realized you are not in good terms with this birthday person, would you go? It will be difficult to go to a party of the person with whom you are not in good terms. Isn't this also true with Christ's birth? While we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are to ask ourselves, are we right with God? If we are not in the right relationship with him, it will be hard, if not impossible to whole heartedly celebrate his birthday.

How would you describe your present relationship with God? Some may say, I have been coming to church for several months or years. Or my wife, or husband is a Christian. Or my parents or grandparents are believers. Or I have been a Christian for over 50 years. It is important to know that coming to church, or having our spouse or parents/grandparents who are Christians; do not mean that you are right with God now. It is our sins that separate us from God. Our sins cause us to slowly drift away from Him. Our sins make our relationship with God not right. Our sins make us unfaithful to the God who is faithful to us. And if we want to be right with God, then we have come to him and repent. We are to feel very sorry for our sins, so sorry that we want to quit sinning.

  How do we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of this Christ-child? What can be better than having a right relationship with Him? Start by telling him how sorry we are for our sins. Then ask him to help us to change our behaviors, habits and thinking. Ask him to continue to transform our lives into his image.

III.    The advent season is a call to know who Jesus is. .

  John's life style and message convicts us of our sins and wrong doings. There is more to this. Vs. 11-12, “ 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” He is talking about the Messiah that is to come.

  First take a look at John's relationship with this Messiah. This Messiah was greater than John. He was not worthy to carry the Messiah's sandals. You see, in those days, the slaves were responsible to take care of anything to do with their masters' feet, such as washing, taking off and carrying the sandals. The students would do for their teachers everything a slave would do except dealing with the teachers' sandals. Here John said, “I am not even worthy to be the Messiah's slave.”

  Secondly, John told us that the Messiah would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit. OT prophets had announced that God would judge the wicked with fire, and pour his Spirit on the righteous. No one but God could pour out God's own spirit.

  Here, John clearly recognized the one whose way he was preparing was the Messiah, God himself. Yet he still didn't know who this Messiah was; what he was like. But how about us? When we read Matthew 3:3, “ 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;..” We know that this lord is Jesus Christ. John was preparing for Jesus' coming. Jesus is the Messiah whose coming is being prepared by John. Jesus is the son of God, he is God. According to John, he needs to be baptized by Jesus, the Messiah. This is why it was such a surprise to John that later Jesus asked John to baptize him.

  We certainly know that we are preparing for the birth of Jesus. It is equally important to know who this Jesus is. With the election year coming up, we're hearing plenty of statements about the candidates' faith. This past week, one candidate said, “I believe in Jesus is the son of God, savior for the mankind.” It sounds great. But knowing his religious affiliation, what he really meant was this: “Jesus was created as a spirit child by the father and mother in heaven.” This is not the Jesus we know in the Bible. This infant Jesus is the Messiah, He is God; he is God in flesh. This is the Jesus we worship.

Conclusion:

  From about 600 BC, there was no more revelation from God. God was silent to his people. It was during this time, many voices came forth. There were the voices of their religious leaders. These voices were calling God's people not to God, but to human interpretation of God's law, resulting in more burdens on them. There were voices calling for political freedom from the greek and then the Roman Empire . You see when God became silent, human voices took His place.

Now, 400 years later, with the coming of John the Baptist, God's revelation began to flow again. And of all the places, God's voice came from the wilderness. If we're there planning this, we probably would use CNN, and during the prime time to call people's attention. Instead, it was in the wilderness, through John, God spoke again. It was a message that continued on from the OT prophets. A message of calling his people to return to him. To repent of their sins and get right with their creator.

Isn't this also true with us today? There are so many voices around us. During this season, there is the voice of reducing Jesus' birth to an on rush of commercial activities. All kinds of advertisements telling us where to get the best deals. This year, since Christmas Eve falls on a Monday, we can expect all the last minute specials occurring on Sunday: 6am to 12pm for the early birds? There are also voices of special deals for two in restaurants; thus accentuating our loneliness during this season. I am certain you can also think of many other voices calling out to you.

In the midst of all these voices, I am so glad that you are here this morning, instead of doing shopping or being engulfed in self-pity. I am glad you are here because this place can be like a mini wilderness, where we can all listen to this voice of John the Baptist together.

It is a voice calling us to focus on things that matter to God. It is a voice calling us to be right with God. And a voice calling us to remember that this birth is really about God becoming flesh, who came and lived among us, full of truth and grace.