Preschool
Thou shalt call his name Jesus (Matthew 1:21).
Preparing for the Lord
Memory Verses
Primary
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Junior
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Background Scripture: Luke 1
Lesson Scripture: Luke 1:8-17
Introduction
The greatest event mankind has ever experienced was the coming of Jesus down from heaven to walk this earth for the redemption of sinful man. Jesus’s coming was so profound that the coming of John, his forerunner, was also foretold. Zacharias and Elisabeth were instructed how to prepare for their son, who would introduce Jesus to the people of that day.
We have an opportunity and responsibility to prepare the way for Jesus to come into our own hearts. Every one of us can then have some part in introducing Jesus to our world today.
Key Verse
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready (Rev. 19:7).
Lesson Scripture
Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Studying the Lesson
A beautiful and insightful scene is portrayed in Luke 1. While Zacharias was performing his duty of burning incense as priest, the congregation was in prayer. In spite of the four hundred silent years since the prophet Malachi had spoken, there were still some true worshippers, and God was still speaking to sincere, humble believers. Although different persuasions of Jewish religion existed within Judaism, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, the time was ready for the great promise of God, and it was beginning to unfold.
Zacharias and Elisabeth were past childbearing age, and the birth of John seemed impossible to man, but with God all things are possible. God’s plans concerning the salvation of man is never limited by human confines.
What importance was to be placed in a name? Zacharias and Elisabeth were to call their son John, and the angel instructed Joseph and Mary to call their child Jesus. Though John was a common name, his work was special. John did not perform any physical or phenomenal miracles like Moses, Elijah, and Elisha did, but in a quiet place in the desert of Judea, he preached repentance. The prophet Elijah understood the still, small voice, and John, who was filled with the Holy Ghost, personified that voice to the people. The message was a clear call of preparation. Elijah’s connection with God had the power to bring the people to a point of decision. John’s voice in the wilderness likewise caused many people to seek his advice and counsel. His mission was to stir and reawaken hearts hardened by tradition and cold routine. His message of repentance offered peace in the heart, in family relationships, and in the nation. The ultimate calling of his life on earth was to introduce the Messiah.
Practical Truths for Today
Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. In preparation for heaven, we must first prepare our hearts and lives to receive Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and Master. As we begin to feel accountable for the attitudes in our heart and actions in our life, we realize a need of a Savior. Turning to God and learning of his purity and holiness only increases our feeling of sinfulness. At this point, God is ready to offer his mercy and forgiveness. By truly repenting and confessing our sin, we experience the new birth. The preparation of repentance and godly sorrow opens the way for God to give us eternal life and pour his Holy Spirit into our heart.
In our outreach to others, the first responsibility we have is to love. Showing true love is the way to gain the trust of others. We can portray this love by taking time to lend a listening ear, caring enough to show kindness, and responding to a need. Love opens the way to point them to the God whom we serve and who motivates our actions. A dedicated life can cause others to look at their own need. Recognizing that each one of us are sinners in need of a Savior puts us on a level where together we can walk the way of repentance to salvation. At times there is an opportunity to share with others our personal experience with God. We can tell of the guilt we had, the remorse we felt, and the necessary confession and restitution we made. Let’s not forget to express the joy we have freely been given and our thankfulness to God for forgiving our sins.
We must clearly realize there are only two roads to travel in life: the road to heaven with Jesus as our guide or the road to hell living in our own selfish desires. Every sound-minded person reaches that realization sometime in life, many in their youth. It is impossible to live in a neutral position, and a choice must be made. A commitment must follow for a change of life to be effective. The fervency of the decision is validated by the completeness of the commitment, while the depth of our commitment is proven by our perseverance. Decision, commitment, and perseverance prepare the way for the work of the Lord in our lives and is the sum total of a true profession.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:19-20). How can we live and promote this mandate today?
Mark 1:3 says, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” As we observe those seeking God, we have an opportunity to help them straighten the path to salvation. In the natural sense, we cannot see far along a curvy or hilly road. Our goal is that the searching soul will see Jesus. God surely has a way that we as his people can help to lower the mountains, fill the valleys, and straighten out the curves for those we come in contact with. We can help the seeker realize that the mountain of past offenses or other difficulties will be removed if we solicit God’s help. The valley of doubts, fears, and anxieties can be filled with a solid faith. The curves that would lure us to the world will be straightened as we keep our focus and love on Jesus with true zeal.
John’s purpose was to encourage people to look to Jesus. Our goal today should have the same purpose—to help the seeking soul find Jesus. The way we live our everyday life will portray Jesus living in our hearts and show that we are pilgrims and strangers here on earth preparing for the return of our Lord. The Christian witness is an indispensable part of our Christian life and is born out of thanksgiving and love for the souls of men.
When the Lord comes into our hearts, blessings will be bestowed upon us. Most importantly, He blesses us with his grace. We can face the future, knowing there will be grace enough for us to endure the tests of time, overcome the temptations that come our way, and reach out to the lost while not losing hope, even when the gospel is rejected. With our robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, we can have the joy that comes with anticipating meeting our Lord face to face. Awaiting us is the bliss of heaven forever.
Our preparation for the Lord’s return will have eternal consequences. Let us use the Bible, listen to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit, and follow the faithful teaching of God’s church as our guide.
Questions
- Does God design seemingly impossible situations to draw greater attention to his divine working?
- John’s setting was unconventional and his teaching was not traditional, yet the common people flocked to hear him. Is there a lesson in this for us?
- In the key verse, what all is included in making ourselves ready? How is the church making itself ready?
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).