This Sunday, we look at what it means to PREPARE for Christ's coming. 

Throughout scripture, we see a pattern of God raising up prophets to challenge the political and religious rulers of their day. They constantly call God's people to be true to who they are: God's people. The word often used in their calling is the word "Repent." Repent means to change direction, to re-orient. Israel was consistently called to remember who they are, and to live out that identity. 

It was believed that, one day, there would be one particular prophet who would call God's people to "prepare" for a time when God's glory would be revealed. 

The gospel of Mark says that John the Baptist was this prophet. He called God's people to repent and to prepare for God's glory revealed in Jesus.

The story of John the Baptist challenges us today to be reminded of who we are, especially in times when we have not heard God's voice in a long time, or in times when we do not live like God's people.