The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:1–8
I’m a checklist person. I love a good list I can mark complete to feel prepared and accomplished for a given task. Each year, as the weather turns colder, I revive my handy “winterization” checklist for my tasks around the house. This includes the standard household chores of putting away the outdoor furniture, tending to the landscape, prepping the snowblower, and hanging Christmas lights outside the house.
As we navigate the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we quickly find ourselves overwhelmed by the demands of work, family, social obligations, and endless lists.
This Advent season, we reflect on the words of Mark 1:1–8, which proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ. In these verses, we find John the Baptist preparing the way for the Messiah, calling them to repentance and baptism. John appeared in the wilderness, saying, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” This is not just a call to be ready but also an alignment of our hearts. Advent allows us to examine and clear the clutter of our busy lives.
Perhaps we should consider an alternate checklist this year. A spiritual checklist where we take intentional steps to prepare our hearts by setting aside quiet time for prayer and self-reflection, acknowledging areas where we have allowed stress to overshadow the joy of the season. John’s baptism signifies a turning away from the old and a willingness for the new. What areas of our lives might need forgiveness, humility or renewal? What distracts us from our relationship with the Savior?
Let us prepare the way for Jesus, not just in the festive decorations but by approaching each day with joyful anticipation, humble gratitude, and encouraging others to experience God’s love. Together, we can celebrate the birth of Christ to receive the greatest gift ever given.
Jason Cash is director of Public Affairs & Marketing at Hope College.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.