Introduction
This is the first of two weeks that we are hearing about the infamous character known as John the Baptist this year during Advent. This week when we hear the familiar, “Prepare the way of the Lord” and next week, we get the line that makes us love John so much when he yells at the crowds gathered around him, “You brood of vipers.”
Now there are so many ways to go with these back-to-back readings that would probably be better served as one reading. But I can understand why they are separated out as well.
Luke gives us the most dialogue with John the Baptist and this scene is quite a bit longer than other Gospels. And so, the lectionary creators seem to break this up for a very practical reason. They want us to have a chance to preach on “Prepare the way of the Lord” and they want to give us a chance to preach on all the other things John has to say in the Gospel of Luke.
So, here’s where we could all whip out our back pocket “Prepare the way of the Lord” Advent sermon that seems to be universally true in each gospel and call it a day. But I think there’s more that we could do this week. Instead, we could as the question, what does Luke mean by “Prepare the way of the Lord?” and who is being called to do so?
The Word of God Comes to… – Lukan Context
Luke does something very clever in the beginning of our text today. There are many names and places that are listed: “1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas…the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”
We just heard of such power people, the Emperor of Rome, Pontius Pilate, Herod and Philip.
The word of God did not come to them. The word of God came to John.
Immediately this puts a tension on our guiding question. Who does God choose to prepare the way? The unexpected. It’s not just Jesus (whose story we know and whose unorthodox birth and announcement has already been heard by this point in the Gospel) who is unexpected, but even the prophet is. The first disciples will be fishermen, not religious leaders or soldiers or wealthy elites. Jesus will begin his ministry on the outskirts, not Jerusalem. The Way begins in the unexpected places. As Isaiah should be quoted, “In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.”
Preaching Possibilities
The Wilderness as a Place of Transformation
When we think of “preparing the way,” it might be tempting to imagine grand gestures or public displays of power. But Luke’s Gospel makes it clear that preparation happens in the wilderness, away from the centers of control. The wilderness is where transformation begins—not with emperors, governors, or religious officials, but with a prophet on the margins.
The wilderness is more than a geographical location; it is the place where we are stripped of comfort, control, and pretense, where God’s voice can be heard more clearly. Today, our wilderness might look like uncertainty in a world filled with anxiety or moments when we feel far from God’s presence. Yet it is precisely there that God’s word breaks through.
Preparing the Way: Humility and Trust
To “prepare the way of the Lord” is not to seize control but to make space. It’s about repentance, yes, but also about expectation. We are called to smooth the rough paths in our lives, to be honest about the valleys of despair or the mountains of pride that need leveling.
But here’s the key: we prepare, but it is God who transforms. The valleys are filled, the mountains are made low—not by us, but by God’s hand. Our role is to be faithful in clearing the way, trusting that God will do the heavy lifting.
Next week, John will give us tangible actions: share what you have, be honest, act justly. But today, we are reminded that the work of preparation begins in humility, knowing that the salvation of God will be revealed in ways we can’t yet fully grasp.
Micah Krey 
Leave a comment