“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

LUke 3:1-6

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

In this reading for the second week of Advent, Luke wastes no time grounding this story in history. He lists emperors, governors, rulers, and high priests—real people wielding real power in a real world marked by oppression, corruption, and violence. This wasn't a fairy tale set in "once upon a time." This was first-century Judea, where Roman soldiers patrolled the streets, where Herod's family had a brutal reputation, and where religious leaders had compromised their integrity for political favor.

Into this chaotic, hopeless world—into the wilderness—the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Interestingly, God met John in the wilderness rather than in the centers of power and prestige. God's word came to Jesus’ eccentric cousin who dressed in camel hair, ate locusts, and preached repentance in the desert. And surprisingly, crowds streamed out to hear him.

What drew people to John the Baptist? Perhaps they longed for something more than what their Temple religion and Roman occupation could offer. They were certainly waiting for peace—real peace. Not just peace in the face of their oppressors, but peace in their souls.

John's message was simple, direct, and radical: "Prepare the way of the Lord!" He echoed the prophet Isaiah and announced that God was about to do something new. Valleys would be filled. Mountains would be leveled. Crooked paths would be straightened. Rough places would be smoothed. The entire landscape was about to be transformed to prepare for the coming King.

But John wasn't talking about literal road construction. He was talking about the terrain of the human heart. Repentance—metanoia in Greek—means to change our minds, to turn around, to reorient our lives. It's not about feeling guilty or even groveling for forgiveness. Repentance is about recognizing we've been heading the wrong direction and choosing to turn toward God and the life He dreams for us. Advent is our opportunity to do that.

Advent can be traced to the 4th and 5th centuries as a season of preparation and penance—some called it "Winter Lent," a time of spiritual reflection, fasting, and repentance. Today's Advent themes of hope, peace, love, and joy flow from a penitent heart turned back to God. Advent remains a special time to look within and listen anew for the voice of God. In a Christmas sermon from 1928, Dietrich Bonhoeffer observed, "The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come." Bonhoeffer's words ring true for all of us because we are all troubled in our souls. We are all too familiar with John's wilderness. Yet, this is exactly where God met John and where God meets us.

John calls us to prepare the way, not by our perfection, but by our honesty and our willingness to let God fill the valleys, level the mountains, and straighten the crooked paths in our lives.

This Advent, as we wait for the Prince of Peace, we don't wait in fear or shame. We wait with peace—knowing the One we're waiting for has already come once and will come again. John's ancient message still echoes: Prepare the way of the Lord. Turn around. Come home. The Prince of Peace is on His way.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, I wait for you in the wilderness of my life. Come and do your transforming work in me. Reorient my heart toward you, for your heart is already turned toward me. While I wait for you to make all things new, this Advent help me to wait with peace—the peace that you alone can give. In Your name I pray. Amen.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

1. Luke lists all those rulers and leaders to show us the real, messy world John was preaching in. What are the “wildernesses” in your life right now—the hard places, the fearful places, the places where you feel lost or overwhelmed?

2. Repentance means reorientation—turning from one direction toward another. Where might God be inviting you to reorient your life this Advent?

3. Isaiah's prophecy speaks of valleys being filled, mountains being lowered, crooked paths being straightened, and rough places being smoothed. Which of these images speaks most to your life right now? What would it look like for God to do that work in you?

4. The early church observed Advent as "Winter Lent"—a time of self-examination and repentance. How might you practice that kind of honest reflection this Advent? What would it look like to prepare your heart for Jesus?

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