Advent IX (The Three Act Play)

If the story of Jesus was a three act play, the first act would open with the angel Gabriel coming to Mary before the action quickly moved to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.  Just before the curtain was closed on the first act, we would see the twelve year old Jesus reluctantly leaving Jerusalem with His parents.  The second act would be announced by the sound of curtains being pulled open, but the stage would be empty of everything except total darkness.  It would mystify many as they sat in their seats in absolute darkness and complete silence for what would seem like forever.  

When the curtains closed and then opened again for act three, a wild looking wilderness man would be on stage shouting, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:2).    Only then would Jesus once again visibly appear on stage to live out the most important story of human history.  Every thing which followed on stage would point to what had been prophesied centuries earlier.  Even the appearance of John the Baptist was a part of the predicted saga.  Isaiah spoke of him as "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.' "  (Matthew 3:3)   

John the Baptist's role in the Advent season is to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God through Jesus, the One who came as Messiah.  The Baptizer fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy as he proclaimed from the Jordan River that God was about to do something new.  People needed to be made ready for this new act of God which is why he called them to repentance and baptism.  The Christ who has come is coming.  The question of Advent for us has to do with what we are doing to make our own hearts ready.