by Ed Cyzewski
Mark introduces John the Baptist through a quotation from Isaiah about preparing the way for the Lord. John was literally paving the way for the Lord’s return, something that his original audience expected to be more geared toward restoring the Jewish nation under God’s visible rule and removing the Romans. This didn’t just entail a Messiah ruling as King, but also the return of God himself to the land as King.
From the outset Mark makes it clear that there were high expectations for Jesus. Would Jesus conform to the expectations of his time or reveal a different plan from God?
John prepared for the Messiah in the wilderness through repentance, confession, and baptism. In calling for repentance in the wilderness John called his listeners to change their lives before God’s return. God could not be tacked on to their lives without significant change and repentance.
The connections with the exodus and return from exile are striking. When God is ready to work among his people there is a time of not only repentance but of separation from a former way of living.
With the coming of Lent, there is an opportunity to break away from bad habits, to seek God in the quiet places, and to find where God is at work among us. It is easy to create our own pictures of Jesus and God, expecting God to work in certain ways, places, or situations. However, when we step away from our work, our routines, and our homes, we can open ourselves for repentance and then reception to the work of God.
Ed Cyzewski is the author of Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life. He blogs on theology at www.inamirrordimly.com.
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There’s a hunger in all of us, I believe, for that “time away,” when we can eliminate the noise and clutter, and just listen and drink deeply. Good post.
Great post Ed. I love how you bring practical application from these eight versus. Very insightful. I need to check out your blog and book.
Thanks for the comments. I’m trying to think of Lent as a time to step away into the wilderness to indulge in God a bit more. Perhaps Lent as a time of “indulgence” in God is on par with renaming a retreat an “advance,” but that helps me approach it with a greater sense of anticipation for God to work.
Blessings!
Absolutely YES. This whole idea is embodied in the whole “old wine/new wineskins” statements, from the lips of a Savior who defies all religious, political and cultural expectations.
Thanks for a great post. Looks like I need to be reading your blog…
I really like how you wrapped it up with “when we step away from our work, our routines, and our homes, we can open ourselves for repentance and then reception to the work of God.”
I’m in Lent-mode myself, seeing God in the quiet places…even if the quiet places and the way I “step away” are mostly soul-level-internal in a world bent on continuing at top speed.
Repentance and reception. What a simple, profound way of expressing the idea behind Lent.
Lent means so much to me and my faith . It is repentance and renewal .
Found in the quiet of even our souls as you say , Ann.
“God could not be tacked on…”. Important! We live in a ‘tack-one-more-thing-on world’.
Repentance – separation – receiving. That middle step plays an important role.
Chris: Your reference to “old wine/new wineskins” brought to mind Keith Miller’s book “The Taste of New Wine” where he shares the spiritual journey of his heart. His chapter titled, “What about the Old Wineskins?” is excellent–I wish I could copy it all here in this little box!
This was powerful for me too: “However, when we step away from our work, our routines, and our homes, we can open ourselves for repentance and then reception to the work of God.” I often find that I am too wrapped up in my work, family and personal to-do lists to realize the awesome power and grace God offers me and everyone else.
For me, Lent is always a special time of connection and reverence and preparation.
Thank you for a wonderfully written post.
lots of things can happen in the wilderness.
I like thinking of Lent as a time in the wilderness. My frailty always demands a season–a stone of remembrance. Lent serves as a reminder for me to draw close to HIm, to set aside all distractions.
Lovely thoughts here.
Wow, lots of great comments. Sorry I’ve taken a while to respond. Based on the general trend of the comments, I’m wondering what your “wilderness” is? Where do you get away to be with God or how do you step back from everyday life during the season of Lent?
I’ll go first. I like to take a 30-60 minute walk each day.
Where do I get away to be with God?
I try to make His voice “first voice in” each morning by rolling out of bed and sitting at a nearby table, reading one chapter of scripture, usually with the aid of a book light these dark mornings…NOT for study, NOT for analysis, NOT to prep for a talk I have to give or an article I need to write, but just to have His voice in my ear first.
Isaiah 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
(Prepare ye the way of the LORD) make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The Bride of Christ has great passion, and Love for King Jesus Christ, and desires to have special time with the Lord in prayer. Now is the time to diligently seek the bridegroom King Jesus Christ.
One must enter in a solitary place, and there pray, worship, and praise King Jesus Christ in the beauty of holiness. Rejoice, and God be magnified.
King Jesus Christ of Nazareth is LORD…