When we look at the totality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we see God’s majesty in the many Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled. When we look at Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, we see the vastness of God. The God of the universe writes these stories for us to encounter, experience, and dive into, but he is also writing our stories.
What we read in the book of Revelation points us to the second coming of Jesus. Do you remember back in the book of Mark, we read about John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord?
This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
This messenger was John the Baptist (Mark 1).
John is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah, and the people of Israel were desperate for the coming of the Messiah. In this season of Advent, we’re remembering the waiting for the first coming of our Savior. And John prepared the way, creating expectant hearts for God’s people. They were eagerly awaiting the Messiah!
John is also preparing the way for us here in the book of Revelation. He’s showing us the glorious imagery of heaven, sharing the good news that the king is coming soon! No, we don’t know the day or the hour, but we can have hope and wait with expectant hearts that Jesus will come and set all things right again.
But we don’t just sit and wait. Because of the Good News of the Gospels, we know what we are called to do in this waiting. To put the instructions simply:
Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22).
So let’s wait with expectant hearts, but let’s also do what we’re called to do: Love God, ourselves, and our neighbors well.
Reflection:
- How can you intentionally remember the promises of God in this season of waiting?
- How can you love your neighbors well this Advent season?