OUR FATHER ANNOUNCES HIS VISITATION

Isaiah chapter 40 verses 3 - 5 says this;

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

This passage contains the prophecy written by the prophet Isaiah about the coming of a messenger who would announce the arrival of God among His people.

This herald was the revealed to be John the Baptist by John himself as revealed in the Book of John (the apostle) chapter 1 verse 22 - 24 which says;

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.’”

John the Baptist did indeed proclaim the arrival of the Lord and called all people to repentance and baptism in water and when the Lord Jesus presented Himself to John for baptism, John declared to the people that Jesus was the One, the lamb of God who came to take away the sins as John chapter 1 verse 29 says;

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The prophecy of Isaiah describes the time of the arrival  of the Lord as one of great upheaval as conditions were set up to make straight the way of the Lord. 

The prophecy then points further forward  to a time when the glory of God will be revealed and all people will see it at once which is echoed in the book of Revelation chapter 1 verse 7 which says;

“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.

John the Baptist, knowing this about the One whom he was heralding, said to the people inquiring about him in John chapter 1 verse 26 - 27;

“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.”

Amen.

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