When I hear the word ‘anticipation”, my mind goes to joyful images of a situation highly desired. A circumstance that brings joy to the participants. The second week of Advent focuses on Long expected Jesus. Indeed, the long expected Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament for centuries. It is an understatement to say that the coming of the Messiah was a highly desired and anticipated event.
A lot of planning went into the preparation for his coming. It was not just a one-time announcement. It was hundreds of announcements in the form of prophecy, and old testament stories which serve as a dress rehearsal of incidents to reflect the future plans of the coming King. The prophecy of the old testament provided some of the most convincing arguments that led me to Christ. Anyone with a science or math oriented thought pattern should look into this. The possibility of so many things coming together in a meaningful, amazing way through one man, at the right time, is beyond the pale of mathematical probability.
Mark 1:1-8 (NIV) 1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
When we watch a show on Broadway or in a theater, we know why we are there. Even so, just before the main act walks out on the stage, an announcer will tell us, in one way or another — “Here is the main act”. God did things right, of course. He said what was going to happen. He described details of how it would happen, and just as the play was getting started, he arranged for an announcer to spell it out – there is no confusion, no fake news, just reality. Thank you Lord for making it clear to those of us willing to follow the trends and anticipate.