Is. 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 Pet. 3:8-14; Mk. 1:1-8
Sending envoys to prepare the way
for the arrival of a king or a dignitary is not unknown to us. This practice is
as old as the establishment of the monarchy. So, it was not unusual when the “King of kings” and the “Lord
of lords” came into the world, He sent an envoy to prepare a way for Him: John the Baptist. However, the kind of envoy that was sent was as different and unusual as the kind of King he was supposed to announce.
of lords” came into the world, He sent an envoy to prepare a way for Him: John the Baptist. However, the kind of envoy that was sent was as different and unusual as the kind of King he was supposed to announce.
God already had prepared the way
for this envoy some 800 years ago when prophet Isaiah made this
announcement about his coming: A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord
in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every
valley be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low.”
The arrival of the king demands a
drastic change. One of the greatest stories of such
a change came out of the mutiny of the Bounty. The mutineers were
put ashore on Pitcairn Island. There were nine mutineers,
six native men, ten native women and a girl. A terrible situation ensued. They
all died except Alexander Smith. Smith chanced upon a Bible. He read
it and he made up his mind to build up a state with the natives of that island
based directly on the Bible. It was twenty years before an American
ship called at the island. They found a completely Christian community. There
was no jail because there was no crime. There was no hospital
because there was no disease. There was no asylum because there was no
insanity. There was no illiteracy; and nowhere in the world was human life and
property so safe.
This is the perfect example of
the change demanded by the prophets and announced by John the Baptist. “Level
the mountains of your pride and fill the valleys.”
Human pride arises from his ego. Nothing
makes a person uglier or more repelling to others - than the human
condition of selfishness. Selfishness is ugly, plain and simple. So,
where does the human condition of selfishness come from? The human ego (E-G-O =
edging God out).
The ego holds us back in life. At times, it disguises itself as our friend and the temporary satisfaction it provides makes us further to seek to satisfy it. It can become a real beast once we let it out of the cage and off the leash.
The ego holds us back in life. At times, it disguises itself as our friend and the temporary satisfaction it provides makes us further to seek to satisfy it. It can become a real beast once we let it out of the cage and off the leash.
Our pride of ego makes us believe that we have our own achievements; that the way we perceive things
are how they actually are – my view is right, others are wrong; that my
efforts cause results; that others should recognize "my" work;
and that I must always win. But we fail to realize the fact the more we
want or expect people to recognize, appreciate or be dazzled by how smart we
are, the less they listen, even if we do have better ideas. We get so caught up
in the everyday mundane chores; we sometimes forget who we really are and who
we are meant to be. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Anger is the enemy of
non-violence and pride is a monster that swallows it up.” To receive Jesus into
our lives we have to change the attitude of “ego” or “pride” and be simple.
Let us look at the lesson the geese give.
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an
"uplift" for the birds following. By flying in a "V"
formation the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew
alone. Likewise People who share a common goal and have a common direction can
get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the
thrust of one another.
John was acceptable to the people because he was a
man who lived his message; he was completely humble and he pointed to somebody
beyond himself. The words of John the Baptist echoed the words of the great
prophet Isaiah, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.'
After waiting for 700 years, the Jewish people were told that the moment had
now arrived. Having done his duty John vanished into the background.
To act like John, we should be free from our
ego, and be aware that there is someone watching us.
There was a young boy who
came regularly to soccer practice, but never made it to the
starting team. While he was practicing, his father would sit at the far
end of the field, waiting for him. The matches began and for four
days, the body didn’t show up for practice or the quarter or semifinals.
He appeared for the final game, went to the coach and said, “Sir, you have
always kept me in the reserves and never let me play in the games. But
today, please let me play.”
The coach said, “Son, I’m sorry, I can’t let
you. There are better players than you, and besides it is the final. I can’t
take chance on you.” The boy’s persistent pleading made the coach change his
mind and give him a chance. The game started and the boy played like a house on
fire. Every time he got the ball, he shot a goal. His team had a
spectacular victory.
When the game finished the coach asked him,
“I have never seen you play like this before, how did you do so well?”
The boy replied, “My father is watching me
today.”
The coach said, “But, your father didn’t come
today. I don’t see him.”
The boy told him, “There is something I never
told you. My father was blind. He died four days ago. Today is
the first day he is watching me from above.”
John reminded the people that there is
someone who is watching them from above. Therefore, they have to turn away
from evil. In other words, “Fill the valleys” observing the precepts of
the Lord. Prophetic teaching and Jewish traditions emphasized on the observance
of the law. The Jews had a saying that “If Israel would only keep
the law of God perfectly for one day the Kingdom of God would come.”
John’s message demands from us too, to level
the mountains of ego, and fill the valleys with the precepts of the
Lord that we may start living as God’s true children.
Satish