Embracing Preparation

Isaiah 40-66, chapters which emphasize the prophet’s message of hope triumphing over judgment, begin with an exhortation to comfort Jerusalem. This is then followed by an unidentified voice crying out for God’s Way to be prepared and His highway to be straightened.

The image of a highway is frequently used in Isaiah to express the idea of humanity being given access to God (see Isa 11:16; 35:8; 62:10). In Isaiah 40:3, the focus is on the need for people to prepare themselves for access into his holy presence.

With the birth of Jesus, a highway between God and humanity was built, and access to God was made possible (Jn 1:14-18). But people needed preparation in order to be able to recognize and accept Him as this highway. For this reason, John the Baptist was sent ahead.

The gospel writers all cite Isaiah 40:3 and identify John as the voice from this passage. John, a wild man in the Judaean desert, preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). This repentance—of turning away from sin and self-effort—was the preparation needed by Jesus’ generation in order to recognize and accept Him as the Way to God (John 14:6).

During Advent, we embrace the need to prepare ourselves for Jesus by repenting of sin and our attempts to gain access to God on our own terms.

We look back in gratitude for the Highway to God, given as a gift with the birth of Jesus. And we ready ourselves for the new creation in store, when the whole earth will live in the full reality of his holy presence.