Today’s reading is Matthew 3.
In the days while Jesus was still in Nazareth, John, the one who baptized, started preaching in the wilderness. Without television or internet, without Facebook or Twitter, without Instagram or TikTok, the people heard of his preaching and flocked to him. They heard his message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John was more than a man with a message. He was the beginning of the fulfillment of the hope and expectation of all Israel. Matthew makes the connection between John’s wilderness preaching and Isaiah’s prophecy of wilderness preaching. In other words, if we hadn’t already figured out what Matthew’s story was about, he leaves us without question now.
We look back to Isaiah 40 and we see the connection he was making. Though we tend to think of the message “Repent” as a harsh one, we see in Isaiah 40:1-2 that his message was actually one of comfort. The time of punishment and discipline was over. It was truly time for renewal and restoration. God was flattening the hills and straightening the curves on the path to His kingdom. He was making it easy for all to return to Him, to His kingdom. Any difficulty people had in turning to the Lord would be of their own making, not God’s.
Israel had a hope. We have a hope. It is very simple. Our hope? People come and go, but God’s Word stands forever. He may not bring His Word about in our life times. In fact, God may take generations to bring His promise to fulfillment. But He always fulfills His Word. John was letting his listeners know just as Matthew was letting his readers know, the time had come. Those who had held on to God’s Promises and Word were about to be vindicated for their faith.
What did God’s Word say? We find that in Isaiah 40:9-11. God’s Word was “Behold your God!” The Lord was coming. He was coming with might. He was coming to rule and to reward and to recompense. He was coming to shepherd. Matthew is making a profound point. John was a herald that something was coming. That something was a kingdom. But a kingdom takes a king. Matthew 3:1-6 is just the beginning. The herald has come. Folks are flocking to him. But He is just paving the way for something, for someone, greater. That someone is Jesus. He is more than John’s cousin. He is God come into the world. He is the King establishing and restoring His kingdom, judging those who would oppose it and Him. He is the Shepherd who leads His sheep in paths of righteousness of His name’s sake.
John is a voice crying out God’s Word and Promises. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Word and Promises of God. If you are full of hope and expectation, look no further than Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of God.
Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 3.
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
- What do you know about John the Baptist?
- How does his message of repentance make straight the way of God?
- Is there any repenting you need to do?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?
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