THE PREDICTION AND THE FULFILLMENT Mark 1:1-8 (Isaiah 40:1-11)
Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich Second Advent Sunday Dec 6, 2020
Mark was the first gospel book written. It is the shortest and most concise, so it is easy reading. Mark wrote his gospel to Roman Christians where he was located. The Roman Empire was a good place and time to share the ‘good news’ about Jesus the Christ. The Empire covered a vast territory, had a common language, excellent transportation and excellent communication systems. The message of Jesus would have spread easily and quickly.
Mark doesn’t start his story with the birth of Jesus, but with a 700-year-old prophecy from the last great prophet of Israel – Isaiah. The prophecy foretells about the messenger, John the Baptist, who would be sent ahead of the Messiah. Let’s think about that prophecy. For 700 years the Jewish people had heard that prophecy proclaimed. For at least that long, if not longer, they had talked about and waited for the Messiah. And now, Mark is telling them about the actual fulfillment of that very prophecy in the life and story of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ – Jesus the Messiah.
Prophecy and the fulfillment of prophecy. How exciting is this! This is what we remember in the weeks of Advent, as we approach Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth. Because what we are celebrating and remembering is prophecy and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. Which told us that God’s promises are real and trustworthy, and that God is real and trustworthy. Prophecy is promise. And just like Mark, we who believe in Jesus Christ know the fulfillment of the promise – Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
That is why on the second Sunday of Advent, we light the Candle of Peace. We celebrate the approaching birth of the Prince of Peace. Today, we sometimes look at the world around us and wonder where is this Peace? We don’t see it anywhere, it seems. Or if we do, it comes and goes. Warring factions seem all around us in the world. So where, we wonder, can we find this Peace? Mark and the other gospel writers tell us this kind of Peace that is lasting, can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ, and our personal relationship with the Prince of Peace. Because Jesus came to show us God’s love and promised this to his followers:
(John 14:27)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we can trust his promise that his peace is lasting, not like the rest of the world’s peace. In this statement and promise of his kind of Peace, Jesus also states what can disturb that peace if we allow it – fear and a troubled heart – worry. Jesus demonstrated for us that we also have an Enemy of our souls. That enemy, Satan, is also an enemy of our peace. Not just an opponent of our peace – but a thief, as Jesus told in John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to share his Peace with us – but the Enemy of our souls seeks to steal, kill and destroy that Peace. If we don’t have Jesus’ Peace in us, how then are we different from the rest of the world – running around frightened, worried and panicking?
When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we also receive the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ Peace, as well as God’s love and forgiveness. What is our responsibility? God has done all the hard work and sacrifice by sending God’s only Son to earth to die for our sins and wrongdoings – in exchange for a right relationship with God and this Eternal Peace. So, what is our part? Repentance, confession, admitting we were wrong, and receiving God’s forgiveness and Peace. But there’s more.
Ephesians 4:3 tells us to make “every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We are to make an effort – to work at maintaining this Peace. Peace with God. Peace with ourselves. Peace with one another. Jesus gives us this Peace first, but our duty is to maintain it. That’s where the work comes in on our part. This work is not one-time, but ongoing. Why is it ongoing? Because we are still human and we do have an Enemy who desires to destroy this Peace given to us by Jesus. Not only do we have a spiritual Enemy, but we also have other humans stirring up trouble, seeking to destroy Peace in others. I always wondered why would anyone want to ‘stir’ up trouble. I finally realized – because those individuals have no ‘Peace’ in their own hearts or lives. And as we all have heard: “Misery loves company.” Beware of those who want to disturb your Peace.
The first step to obtaining this unshakeable Peace – receive Jesus and His unshakeable salvation. Ephesians 2:13, 14: “But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our Peace.”
Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives is Peace. This comes along with the other fruits: “love, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Where might you ask, does this Peace reside? In our hearts – where first we receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: “My Peace I give you – not as the world gives you.”
In the Old Testament, Proverbs 4:23, we are told to guard our heart with all vigilance, because from it flow the springs of life. Peace is also lodged in our hearts. This Peace we need to guard diligently with vigilance. It’s interesting that after Jesus rose from the dead, three times his greeting to his disciples was “Peace be with you!” When he was alive, Jesus never used this greeting. Perhaps because Jesus, the Prince of Peace himself was there with them and among them. But after Jesus left, he must have known that Peace was the single-most thing we would miss as humans, as well as the most important thing we need as humans in a troubled world.
As we approach communion, the Lord’s Table – let’s remind ourselves of Jesus’ promise of Peace. Romans 8:6 tells us that “to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Just as the Spirit of God now lives in our hearts – so too does the Peace of God. Let’s be careful to guard our hearts and guard our Peace against anything or anyone that would disturb it.