We’ve been through two weeks of advent readings now. I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour so far. One thing that’s caught my attention over the last 14 days is the travel back and forth between the Old Testament 
and the New Testament and making connections between what was promised and what was fulfilled. Did any of you find that fascinating? The theme this week is appropriately, hope. When I am immersed in the truths of scripture, I am continually assured that what God promised thousands of years in advance, will come to pass when the fullness of His time has come. Not when we think the timing is right; when God says the timing is right. It was true in the days when authors penned the Words of God and it will be true when, in God’s timing, He comes back to defeat evil. We have this hope and assurance that what God has promised, will come to pass.
Mark was excited about his Messiah. He wanted fellow Christians to know that God keeps his promises. Isaiah, hundreds of years before predicted the coming Messiah. We know all that, but here’s a little more about the story behind the scenes. John chose to live in the wilderness so he could be attentive to God. Back in Isaiah, it was predicted that ‘someone’ living in the wilderness would be then one to announce the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Check! Promise fulfilled. And what about that part about making straight paths? Well, I had to go look that one up. John was appealing to people to give up their sinful, selfish ways, seek God’s forgiveness and devote their lives to relationship with Him. He wanted them to be prepared, straighten up, and fly right. So now we know a little more about the meaning behind the advent scripture for today.
Mark 1:1-3 (NIV)
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Mary Did You Know? by Pentatonix
Because of Grace we Press On