A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
-Isaiah 40:3

During this Advent season, we are looking forward to wonderful things—not as the world does, but as we, children of God, look forward with a whole different frame of mind. For thousands of years throughout the Old Testament, God’s people looked forward and longed for the Messiah—predicted to be the One to save His people from their sins.

One prophecy of the Messiah is Isaiah 40:3. When there is a prophecy in the Old Testament, we look for its fulfillment in the New Testament. Matthew 3:3 says of John the Baptist, “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’”

John was calling people to repent and be baptized, to make their way straight so the word of the Son of God could be applied to their hearts. People came in droves to respond to this cry. One of those was actually Jesus Himself! When John saw Jesus, his cry was, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The promised Messiah was here! John hesitated to baptize Jesus (Matthew 3:14), but Jesus replied that He wanted to be baptized so that all righteousness may be fulfilled. When Jesus came up from the water the Spirit of God, descended like a dove upon Him, and a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” God and His Holy Spirit confirmed that this, indeed, was the Messiah who would save His people from their sins.

Here we are on the other side of that prophecy fulfilled, celebrating the overwhelmingly precious gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ, at Christmastime. He, who was prophesied for so many long years, is and forever will be here! As children of God, we can celebrate this miraculous, holy day differently from all others in this world—in a way that is more grateful, deeper, richer, and so much more meaningful! We are the redeemed children of God, so blessed on Christmas Day! Hallelujah!!!

-Jill Heinold