Prepare the Way: a Voice is Calling

1.4.25 sermon by Phillip Mumford

John 1:29-30: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I told you about: 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’” 

John the Baptizer: ’I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of him.' [29] He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete. [30] He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:28-30

Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea [2] and saying, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" [3] For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! [4] Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, [6] and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins…. [13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. [14] But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?" [15] Jesus answered him, "Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John allowed him to be baptized. [16] When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”