Prepare the Way

If I close my eyes right not I can navigate, probably to the square inch, of some of the spaces I used to spend a lot of time in when I was a child.  

One of those places was my grandparents’ home.  I can imagine myself walking up to their game closet, to get the dominos or card games we would play together.  I can virtually walk to the kitchen, and reach over the avocado color sink to get a glass for water.  And without fail – every time I was there I would certainly find the latest issue of National Geographic on their coffee table.  

I would flip through the pages every time I was there, thinking about where I might explore some day.    

For many years it was the most sold magazine in the country.  

But something happened.  In the 1990’s, after just over 100 years of publication, the magazine lost its punch.  

It was coined “your grandparent’s magazine” and sales were dismal.  

In an ever-changing world, with an ever-changing people, businesses must keep up with the fast pace.  A good business model and a good product are not enough… You also need a ton of luck, and the intuition to know when something is right and when it’s not working anymore.  

National Geographic decided it needed a change.  Not just any change though… CEO John Fahy called for a RADICAL RE-DIRECTION of the company. 

A RADICAL redirection of what content they put out and HOW they put it out.  

Some of the radical change and re-branding called for a new TV station, children’s hands-on toys and science kits, and the choice to have the magazines written in more languages than anyone had even heard of before that time.   

The cry of radical re-direction was heard.  National Geographic was put back on the map in a huge way and the simple magazine company that started in 1888 still thrives today.  

Today we hear another cry of RADICAL RE-DIRECTION – but it is not to save a company… it is a cry to take the church in a radical re-direction.  

John the Baptist must have looked like he had gone mad – when at the time the church was teaching about paying for sin by fear and fire – he was wandering around the wilderness forgiving people of their sins and baptizing them with water.  

This new radical direction of the church was so different, that the prophets called for people like John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord!  

The job was so big, that a path had to be laid down so that others might follow.  

Well – John did that work.  He traveled, preached and he started a movement – a ground-swelling, in order to let people know that something was coming.  Something was happening.  

In fact, John did so well at his job, that the people all around him were convinced HE was the one… 

The one to come and change life forever.  

The one that would right every wrong.  People were convinced HE was the messiah.  

Can you imagine the power you wield in your hands when people of that magnitude back you up and lift you up?

Some of you may have heard of the name JOYCE BANDA.  Banda was once a little girl born in Nairobi, Kenya to simple means and later would became the president of Malawi.  

Not only was she Southern Africa’s first female president, but she also had to break even more barriers as president.  

But coming from simple means in Nairobi, she was met with wealth and prestige her first day as president.  

Waiting for her in the president’s mansion was also a presidential jet and a fleet of 60 Mercedes limos to parade her and her group anywhere the she wished.  

What did Joyce Banda do the SECOND day of being president of Malawi?  

She sold the presidential jet and sold all 60 of the Mercedes limos.

She was too humble to have such extravagant things – and she had no desire for power and status.

What did she do with the money?  

She used it to jumpstart the economy and most importantly – it started a steady source of food for over one million Malawian people that were dying of hunger.

Humility is not easy and GIVING up power can be scary at first, I’m sure.  

Yes – It must have been both difficult and scary to lay down that power and take a position of humility.  

I wonder if I was hard for John the Baptist to lay down his power.  In all of his travels people were convinced he was the ONE – and they devoted their time and lives to him.

But like Joyce Banda, John chose the road of humility.  He chose to lay down that power.

This is a degree of humility that must be ACTIVE.  

John was not passive about his role.  

He didn’t say: “Awwww – you guys are making me blush.  Look – I’m gonna be around if this new Jesus dude doesn’t do it for you… I’m won’t go far…

NO – IT WAS AN ACTIVE HUMILITY.  

John had to make it clear – this power is not mine.  

Someone GREATER THAN I is coming, and I am not even worthy to be compared to them.  

You will see – Once you see Jesus when they arrive, you won’t event remember my name.   

It was only in that HUMBLE, powerless role that one could truly and fully PREPARE THE WAY for Jesus – a new kind of king.  

Now – to prepare the way for a king – in the normal world… there needed to be a parade.  Kings from all over would travel though towns and cities preceded by their military marching.  Their shiny chariots and mass of servants were next.  Then came gigantic, loud cymbals, gongs and drums played before them.  

Drums in such size and numbers that it would shake the ground as the parade approached.  

If all of that noise and show of power is fitting to present and prepare the way for a king, then how much MORE would Jesus need to make such an entrance.  

Like John the Baptist laying down his power, Jesus needs no such parade.  Remember – this is a radical re-direction!  

Jesus needs only one drummer.  A parade of one – and all the drummer needs is a tiny toy drum.  Even better – let’s make the drummer a child.  

It’s that time of year – the Christmas music has been playing for weeks now.  So if you’re counting – the Little Drummer boy song comes on about every 2 hours now until New Year’s Day.  

Next time that song comes on – take a moment to give it a listen.  

This is Jesus’ HUMBLE parade of one.  

Could it be true that with all that was happening in the world – the chaos and Herod’s search and destroy campaign – we can hear the beat of ONE little poor boy’s toy drum as he welcomes the new king?  

How is it that the status quo had changed so much that a little poor child with a toy drum had made enough noise to merit an invitation to the birth of a king. 

THIS – IS THE NEW CHURCH.

This is the radical re-direction that the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist had cried out for.  

The more I’ve listened to this song throughout the years the more I am convinced that the little boy in that song is not beating on a drum.

I am convinced that the beating is that of his own heart.  

That little boy – in his poverty and status – needed change so badly in his own life, that his heart beating in his chest for Jesus FELT LIKE A DRUM.  

Have you ever loved so passionately or desired something so badly that you could feel your heart rattling your chest?  

What was that something you were waiting for?  

What are you waiting for right now?  Today?

Even as you are watching this livestream right now, take a moment to comment in the text feed.  

Let the beat of your heart be heard, just like the beat of the little drummer boy.

That child is an example to all of us during this time of ADVENT.

Do not prepare the way for the coming of Jesus in this Christmas season by shoveling a path in the snow.  

Do not worry about the accommodations of preparing your homes with too much stuff for Christmas.  

Prepare the way by letting your hearts BEAT like a drum for the coming of Jesus.  

There are probably many ways we can all prepare during this time of ADVENT for the coming of Jesus – but like the simplicity of Jesus being born in a manger in a barn, our approach can just as simple, and just as meaningful. 

First – we can be still – so that we might recognize the voice of the one we are looking for.  

When I was about 7 years old I wandered away from my parents at a baseball game at Silver Stadium here in Rochester.  

I was frantic, running back and forth through a huge crowd of cheering people.  

I remember seeing and hearing what I can only now describe as FUZZ.  

But something came over me – it was the sudden urge to just stand and one place and not move.  

As soon I was still – my eyes focused more on my surroundings and my ears could pinpoint the voice of my mother calling out for me.  

Take some time each day in the coming weeks to simply be still, so that you might be able to recognize the sound of God’s voice calling out to you.  God’s voice calling out to tell you Good news is on the way.  

The other way we can prepare for the coming of Christ in the following weeks of Advent is to have HOPE.  

But hope is more than just optimism.  

I believe that we have modern day prophets here on Earth, and I think Fred Rogers was one of them.  

Mister Rogers did not just have optimism that his show would comfort, help and change the lives of children – he had HOPE each and every day that by doing what he did – would accomplish just that.  

Rogers faced many roadblocks but succeeded in doing that for children all around the world.  That is what hope does.  HOPE endures even in IMPOSSIBLE situations.  

Let this good news of the coming of Jesus be the HOPE we need today to endure what might seem to be the impossible situations we face.  

GOOD NEWS IS ON THE HORIZON.  

In the next weeks – Together, let’s prepare our hearts and prepare the way for the coming of the new king.