Luke the beloved physician wrote, “when the messengers of John were departed” Jesus “began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? Yes, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-seven of his book Luke shared how Jesus tells the people, “This is he, of whom it is written” where we read:
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
which shall prepare your way before you.
The verse reads, “This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, ...” Luke began with the words, “this is he” or “this is the man who exists”, “of whom it is written” which means “about whom it is delineated or formed in letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “Behold” or “lo, look and consider”, “I send my messenger” which means “I, God, discharge God's own envoy” “before your face” or “in front of and in the presence of the people's countenance and sight”. Luke shared how Jesus referred to the “scriptures” where it was “written” concerning the fore-runner of the Messiah who was to be sent to mankind.
The verse continues, “... which shall prepare your way before you.” Luke added the words, “which shall prepare” which means “who will make ready, equip and furnish” “your ways before you” or “the people's journey, course of conduct, thinking, feeling and deciding in front of and in the presence of the people themselves”. Luke shared how the fore-runner of the Messiah's mission was to “prepare” the “thinking and conduct” of the people to whom the Messiah would minister
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus made reference to the prophecy concerning the fore-runner to the Messiah of God. The Old Testament book of Malachi chapter three and verse one says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts”, and in verse five of the same chapter reads, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse”. God knew well in advance, (this verse was written over four hundred years before John the Baptist came), that He would send a fore-runner to His Messiah Jesus, and Jesus knew and declared John's destiny and purpose to the people who were listening to Him. God knows everyone, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everybody through His Son Jesus. Those who believe in Him will be forgiven of their sins and receive everlasting life with God, and those who are wise will study the scriptures and see these things were prepared well in advance of their appearance.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells the people, “among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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