The Second Sunday in Advent. Year B 10th December 2023
Lectionary Readings:
Isaiah 40 v1-11 The Lord will rescue his people.
Psalm 85 v1-2, 8-13. A prayer for peace.
2 Peter 3 v8-15a. The Lord’s return is certain.
Mark 1 v1-8. The preaching of John the Baptist.
Leadership
In his prayer for peace, the psalmist foresees a time when “Love and loyalty will come together, goodness and peace will unite”. (v10). “Justice will march in front, making a path for you to follow” (v13)
The psalmist may not have been thinking of Jesus as the personification of Justice, but it is difficult for Christians not to do so. Most Christians believe that Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, is the fulfilment of many Old Testament prophecies.
The second Isaiah, active at the time of the exile in Babylon, is delivering a message of hope to the displaced people of Israel. He assures them that “God will rescue his people”. Isaiah encourages the people of God to prepare a “straight road for the Lord your God”. (v3) “Then the glory of the Lord will appear for all to see. The Lord has promised this!” (v5)
Many New Testament writers see this prophecy as referring to the coming of Jesus.
Mark is in no doubt that John is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah by preparing the way for Jesus.
John the Baptist is certain that he is not the one to be followed. He says “Someone more powerful is going to come.” (v7) John says that he is not worthy to untie the sandals of ‘the powerful one to come’. John ranks himself below that of a servant.
John in his own prophecy says, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (v8).
In Mark’s account, John does not name Jesus as the ‘powerful one to come’, but Mark implies that he is, in the verses that follow. Typically, Mark runs away with his rapid telling of the good news about Jesus, leaving us to fill in the gaps as we strive to catch up.
The writer of the letter known as ‘2 Peter’, writing in the first half of the second century, (after the book of Revelation was written?) picks up the Psalmist’s point about ‘Justice’ as he quotes the third Isaiah, in reminding the followers of Jesus that “God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule”. (v13) (quoting Isaiah 65 v17) (Rev 21 v1)
Throughout the letter, the writer encourages his readers to follow the way of Jesus and to live in a way that pleases God. e.g. “You should serve and honour God by the way you live”. (v11b).
All the readings this week hint at the notion of following the right path, or the right person.
Whose lead do you follow?
A charismatic preacher? A ‘saintly’ person known to you? The teachings of Jesus? The prompting of the Holy Spirit?
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.