On this Sunday, we often look at the role of John the Baptist, Christian ideas of ministry, or the work of Christ as a fulfillment of prophecies from Isaiah. These themes are good and important. The theme of Christian ministry is a strong one for the third week in Advent, but looking at the readings, I was really struck this week by a subtext, the implied divine nature of the Messiah.
In Matthew 11, when Jesus comments on His ministry and on that of John, He says, "For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee" (Matt. 11:10). This saying includes a quotation of Malachi 3:1 where the Lord God is speaking about "my messenger." This messenger prepares the way for God Himself. So John is a prophet and more; he is the messenger preparing the way for Christ who is Immanuel- God Himself who comes among His people!
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