Read: Luke 1:1–17

In the days of the Old Testament, when a king was coming there was often a herald that went before him. This herald would announce to the people that the king was coming and at the same time would make sure the road was clear. They didn’t have smooth roads like we have nowadays, but gravel roads and they could have bumps and holes in them. So, the herald had to clear these things away to make way for the coming of the king.

These verses tell us that John the Baptist was going to come to be such a herald to the Lord Jesus. He was going to tell the people about the coming of the great King, Jesus Christ. He didn’t have to make the roads clear for the Lord Jesus, but he did have to make the hearts of the people ready for Jesus.

The people of Israel weren’t ready to receive Christ. They had hearts that were disobedient, and they weren’t serving the Lord as they should have been. They had forgotten the things their parents had taught them. Their disobedience needed to be changed into obedience, and so the Lord was going send John the Baptist to warn them to turn their disobedient hearts around, so they were ready to receive Jesus Christ and listen to him.

And Jesus Christ is coming again. Are you ready for his second coming? Is your heart ready to receive him? To be ready for Christ’s second coming we must know how wicked and sinful we are. We must know that every day again we sin and anger God with our sins. If your sins make you cry because you know that you have angered God again, that’s good. Tell God that you are truly sorry for your sins and ask him to forgive you. Ask the Lord to work his Spirit in your heart to help you to fight against your sins. Love the Lord with your whole heart and grow in your love by reading the Bible. Then you can truly look forward to Christ’s second coming!

Reflection with your child:

How can you prepare for Christ’s second coming?

Source: Sermon by Rev. A. Veldman