2025 Advent Devotion: Day 6

Saturday, December 6

Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28

Isaiah and John the Baptist heralded the coming Messiah roughly 700 years apart. Isaiah prophesied a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” That voice was John the Baptist, filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth and commissioned to prepare the hearts of the people for Messiah (Isaiah 40:3).

John the Baptist was miraculously born to elderly righteous parents—the angel Gabriel pre-announced his arrival and bequeathed his name. Truly this was an auspicious start to life, and some thought John might be the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. Yet in his public ministry, John humbly pointed to One greater than he, whose sandals he was unworthy to untie, One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 1:27, 3:30). Faithful to his calling as prophet and forerunner, John exhorted and baptized the repentant, then pointed them to Jesus.

Though John pointed to Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), many in those days failed to recognize Jesus as Messiah. Granted, He spoke with authority and performed miracles, but He didn’t fit expectations. He was hidden in plain sight.

Isaiah prophesied the paradox of Messiah, that He would be both strong and gentle, a mighty warrior and tender shepherd: “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him . . . He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:10-11). Such dichotomy conveys the awesomeness of our God made flesh and perhaps why many don’t recognize His divinity. He is the Almighty One who proclaims Himself “gentle and lowly” (Matthew 11:29). He creates and knows the names of every star, then washes the feet of His disciples (Isaiah 40:26, John 13:3-4). He measures the heavens with the span of His hand, then incarnates as a helpless baby (Isaiah 40:12).

During the Christmas season, we reflect upon the wonder of God made flesh through the incarnation. Why would Almighty God humble Himself to take on the human form and live in finite time, subject to discomforts and death? Why this mystery of Jesus emptying His divine self to live shoulder-to-shoulder with His created ones? The Bible reveals His purpose: reverse the Fall, redeem humankind, and establish His Kingdom on the earth. Yet not everyone can see it—He continues to be hidden in plain sight. His messengers (you and I) spread the good news just as John the Baptist did: Messiah has come. His glorious Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom now—in our hearts—and one day He will rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Wendy Athens
Director of Academic Innovation and Digital Learning