Some words carry a lot of meaning, or better said, their meaning can range from the mundane to the sublime, from the secular to the sacred. One of these words is “way,” or more specific, “the way.” In the rather mundane meaning, “the way” can represent a specific path or road to a given location as in “the way” to the grocery store is to take this road here. It can also refer to a “way” of life as exampled by how “the way” of life in a 21st century urban setting differs from “the way” of life in a 19th century rural setting. Finally, it can refer to one’s wholistic path through life towards a spiritual destination, such as enlightenment or salvation. A good example of this is “the Tao,” or “the Way” as found in Taoism. Early Christians were referred to as members of “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 18:25, 26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22), perhaps reflecting Jesus when He referred to Himself as “the Way” (John 14:16). This Sunday we will explore what it means in Mark 1:3 (citing Isaiah 40:3) for John the Baptist to refer to his teaching as “preparing the way of the Lord” in the wilderness. What is our role in also preparing “the way of the Lord”? What is “the Way” of the Lord? Join us this Sunday at 11:00 either in person or Live on Facebook.
Isaiah 40:3: A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”