Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a

There’s more to God’s promises than shows at first glance
Last week we considered again the reason the good news is so good. It is the darkness that shows up the light. This week we consider the good news – the promise that makes it all worthwhile.
What God promises is God himself – God among us.

When Isaiah wrote the people he wrote to were in exile far from from home. They were prisoners of war. They had been taken from their homes, like so many people today, to a place and an occupation they didn’t want to go to. The good news for them was that they would get to go home again. To anyone who has been taken captive that is good news.

God promised through Isaiah even more though. He promised to come and live with his people. Jesus fulfilled that promise, but there is more: Jesus is coming back to reign forever.

So there were three parts to this promise. Each part required preparing the way. Prepare an easy road for the exiles to travel home. That happened eventually. Prepare the way for God to come to his people. John said that was done by preparing our hearts through repentance. Others – Mary, Joseph, Zachariah, Elizabeth, John, Magi – all had to be prepared for their parts in the drama. Then Jesus came, Emmanuel, God with us. Then the third part for which we need to be prepared, again by having our hearts right with God, Jesus’ return as reigning King.

There is still more to this promise.
God promises to remove the things that drag us down
A ball and chain was designed to be a real drag, to hold a person back. There are things that drag us down, that hold us back. God promises to remove the things that drag us down. When Jesus comes back he will free us from those things that drag us down.

People trafficked into slavery are obviously dragged down, held back from being themselves let alone fulfilling their life purpose.

What keeps you back? Deal with it. Let God remove the ball and chain and give you your freedom.

God promises to forgive
Isaiah promised sins forgiven. This came about through Jesus on the cross. This we celebrate in communion.

Some people find it hard to accept pardon from anyone, least of all from God. But God is a forgiving God. How does that make us feel? Let’s applaud our forgiving God.

God promises a new direction
Isaiah said that God promises a highway through the wilderness will be constructed, a path for God to travel, where God gets his way. This is a road without potholes, roadworks, steep grades or dangerous curves – no obstacles to God leading his people home.

God promises that all the world will recognise him
Isaiah said that when God leads his people back from Babylon to Jerusalem all people would see the event. There is the hope of worldwide recognition for God. Invite everyone to say, ‘The Lord reigns. Let the earth be glad.’ twice.

These promises made through Isaiah were kept. The hopes were realised and fulfilled. The Jews were released from Babylon, no longer slaves but free. They were no longer suffering for their past sins but were pardoned. They were no longer downcast in exile but now God led them through the desert. They were no longer hidden in Babylon but the nations were aware of what God had done for his people.

God uses human agents
Later these promises were fulfilled in greater ways. Today they are still being fulfilled and we look for their ultimate and complete fulfillment.
God involves people every step of the way in declaring his intention and in fulfilling his promises. We are involved in the fulfilling of these promises, whether we are trying to walk God’s path/live his way of life, or helping others to be released from slavery of various kinds.

God promises to remove the things that drag us down
John the Baptist was speaking to a people who were virtually slaves to the power of the Roman Empire. They were living under a Roman army of occupation which could demand their service. John hints that, through Jesus, God will give us a greater freedom – not just from Rome but from sin. As we have seen in the TEAR Fund DVD, there are many people who are oppressed, chained and burdened, exploited for money, slaves to people who keep them captive for their own ends. There is a role for us even in working for these people’s release, be it by praying, helping fund others’ efforts or getting involved somehow. There are now several groups of people using the internet to campaign internationally for the release of slaves as well as organisations working to find slaves, release them and take their oppressors through the courts as TEAR Fund’s partners are doing.

God promises to forgive
John preached forgiveness of sins. It was a pardon – not just a pardon for one occasion but a pardon constantly available through repentance and trust in Jesus. As we are forgiven as we are to forgive.

God promises a new direction
Isaiah spoke of a road being made in the wilderness. John was in the wilderness, the area on the east side of the Jordan River. He is not organising people into work gangs to make a literal path or road but his ‘earth-moving’ is teaching them a path of behaviour, a lifestyle which is God’s way of life. Through Jesus, we have direct access to God the Father, but so we make the most of this? Are there blockages and obstacles in the way? Let’s clear them out.

God promises a new direction
John’s ministry was to the Jews of Judea and Jerusalem. But soon non-Jews would be attracted to his teaching. The nations would not merely observe the new way, the straight path of life but join it and share in it for themselves. It would not just be a few foreigners worshipping with the Jews, for in Christ the non-Jews would be in the majority. But only just a majority of the world’s population. There is a need for more people to see this.

Conclusion and prayer
The Lord promises hope through the word of his prophets. He makes true promises and, in sending Jesus, those promises were both fulfilled and surpassed. Not just freedom from physical slavery but freedom from slavery to sin; not just a one-off pardon but forgiveness always available to those who repent. Not just a literal path/roadway but a way/path of life and living; not just a life that others would observe but a life that everyone can share.

Lord, you hear the cries of those who are oppressed, chained and burdened. We remember especially those exploited for money, made slaves to serve someone’s greed or evil intent. Strengthen the hands of all who would help to secure the release of these people. Enable them to free many, many more. Dismantle the structures that allow people to make slaves of others.

Lord, you promised forgiveness. As you are so ready to forgive, help us also to forgive.

Lord, you want us to have direct access to you. Help us to clear away the obstacles in our own lives. Renew us, remould us and recreate us, we pray.

Lord, you are the creator of the world. We bring before you the troubled areas of the world. Bring success to those who are trying to defeat evil and bring peace. We pray for success for those trying to teach others your truth. Protect them, guide them, give them courage.

Guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Saviour, and our hope is in you all day long. We thank you for sending Jesus to fulfill our hopes. Amen.