Christmas Letters: Week 2

Today begins the second week of Advent, an invitation to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ by embracing peace, repentance, and readiness for the King, Jesus Christ. This week’s candle, often called the Candle of Peace, reminds us that true peace comes not from the absence of conflict but from a heart rightly prepared for God’s presence.

In the Gospels, no figure embodies this call to preparation more clearly than John the Baptist. His voice breaks centuries of prophetic silence, crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for Him!” John’s mission was not to gather followers for himself but to ready the hearts of God’s people for the arrival of the King. His message still echoes through every Advent season: repent, return, and make room for the coming Christ.
Between the final words of the prophet Malachi and the birth of John the Baptist, four hundred years passed without a single recorded prophetic word. Israel waited, longing for God’s voice. Then God broke the silence at last.

“Look! I am sending My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple—the Messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of heaven’s Armies. (Malachi 3:1)

Malachi’s prophecy pointed toward a divine visitation. God Himself would come to His people, but first, a messenger would appear to prepare the way. John was that messenger, the bridge between the old covenant and the new. His birth was foretold by an angel, and filled with purpose: “He will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah… He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.” (Luke 1:16–17)

John’s very existence testified that God had not forgotten His promises. God broke heaven’s long silence, and through Him the beginning of redemption rose.

Malachi’s prophecy also revealed the nature of the One who was coming:
“But who will be able to endure it when He comes? Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross.” (Malachi 3:2–3)

This prophecy is not sentimental language. It is purifying language. The coming of the Lord would not simply comfort; it would cleanse. Before the light of peace could dawn, the fire of holiness had to burn away impurity.

John’s ministry carried this same tone of holy urgency. His message was neither gentle nor harsh, but just. He was a prophet of purification, calling the people to repentance so that they could stand before the Refiner’s fire. Advent reminds us that peace without repentance is a false peace. The peace of Christ begins as we purify our hearts, confess our sins, and prepare our souls to receive our King.

The Call of John the Baptist
John’s appearance in the wilderness fulfilled both Isaiah’s and Malachi’s prophecies. He stood as the messenger and the voice—the herald of the Messiah. His ministry was simple yet powerful:

“He went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.” (Luke 3:3)

The wilderness itself was significant. It symbolized both desolation and renewal—the place where Israel had once wandered in disobedience and where God had shaped them into His people. In that same wilderness, John proclaimed a message of repentance, offering Israel a new beginning.

He lived simply, wearing rough camel hair and eating locusts and wild honey, reminding everyone that the Kingdom of God is not about luxury or status but about transformation. His words were as stark as his surroundings, yet his message drew crowds who were hungry for truth.

Preparing the Way: Clearing the Road
John’s central proclamation, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight,” was both literal and spiritual. In ancient times, when a king traveled, the roads were repaired, valleys filled, and obstacles removed so that his procession could move unhindered. John used this imagery to describe what must take place in the human heart.

Hope lifts every valley of despair. Humility levels every mountain of pride, and repentance straightens every crooked path of sin. Advent is our season to do this heart work to clear the way for the coming King.

When we allow bitterness, selfishness, or distraction to remain in our hearts, we clutter the path of Christ’s peace. The preparation John spoke of is not about outer activity but inner alignment, a readiness that begins in repentance and ends in renewal.

The Meaning of Baptism: A New Beginning
John’s baptism symbolized cleansing and commitment. It was not merely a ritual but a response to conviction. “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” (Luke 3:8)

Baptism was familiar to Jews as a symbol of purification, but John’s practice was revolutionary. He baptized the Israelites themselves, calling them to repentance, not because of their heritage but because of their hearts. His message dismantled religious complacency. Being Abraham’s descendant was not enough; God desired changed lives.

Advent reminds us of our own baptismal identity—that we belong to Christ and are called to live contrary to the world, we are called to live as those who are washed and renewed. The preparation of Advent leads us to the waters of repentance. It invites us to remember that forgiveness is not a one-time event but a daily turning toward the One who makes us clean.

The Ax and the Fire: Judgment and Refinement
John spoke sharp words, but in love. He confronted the hypocrisy of the religious elite with piercing truth:

“Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10)

This vivid imagery reminds us that God sees through outward religion. Fruitless faith is lifeless faith. John’s warning was a call to authenticity, to lives that bear the fruit of true repentance: compassion, justice, generosity, and mercy.

But fire also has another purpose. John said of the coming Christ: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11) The same fire that judges also refines. The Spirit burns away sin, pride, and impurity, shaping us into vessels fit for the King’s service.

So this time leading up to Christmas is not only a time of joy because the King is coming, but also a time of refinement and repentance because the King is coming. It is the season when the Spirit gently, and sometimes painfully, purifies us so that Christ’s light might shine more clearly through us.

John’s Humility and Purpose
John’s greatness lay not in his power or popularity but in his humility. When people wondered if he might be the Messiah, John replied, “I baptize with water; but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though His ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandals.” (John 1:26–27)

John knew his role: to prepare, not to perform; to point, not to possess. His declaration, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30), captures the posture of every true disciple.

During this season, we follow his example. We decrease so that Christ may increase. We make room in our lives by letting go of pride, self-focus, and control. Humility becomes the road that welcomes the Prince of Peace.

Advent: A Season of Preparation and Peace
The second candle of Advent shines with a soft glow: a symbol of peace that comes through repentance and readiness. John’s voice reminds us that we do not find peace by avoiding the truth but by walking in it. There can be no lasting peace without purification.

The message of John invites us into three spiritual movements that characterize this week of Advent:

1. Repentance:
   To repent is to turn from self to Savior. It is to see our sin clearly and trust God’s mercy completely. Advent repentance is hopeful repentance: an acknowledgment of need joined with confidence in God’s grace.
2. Renewal:
   John’s baptism marked new beginnings. Likewise, Advent invites us to renew our faith, to let go of what is old and broken, and to welcome what is new and alive. Renewal often comes quietly, as we surrender our will and allow Christ to reshape our hearts.
3. Readiness:
   John’s mission was to prepare people for the coming King. Advent reminds us that the story of Jesus’ first coming points toward His second. As we celebrate His birth, we also await His return. The call of Advent is to live watchfully, faithfully, and joyfully, knowing that the King who came in humility will come again in power and glory.

This time of preparation reminds me of the importance of being prepared and ready. In my role as Executive Director at Anchor House, I am often responsible for organizing significant events and fundraisers that require thorough planning and coordination. There are times in my planning and organizing when everything seemed in order until moments before it began, when I realized I had overlooked a crucial detail. The scramble to fix it was stressful, and though these events often go well, the experience left me with one unforgettable truth: preparation matters.
This echoes John the Baptist's message. The arrival of a King demands readiness. It is not enough to admire the idea of His coming; we must make space for Him to enter.

Advent is God’s gracious reminder that the time to prepare is now. It is a pause in the year’s busyness to re-center our lives on what truly matters. The decorations, traditions, and celebrations all find meaning only when the heart itself is ready for the King.

Conclusion: The King Is Coming
John the Baptist’s cry still pierces the noise of our modern world: “Prepare the way for the Lord.” His message is one of warning, yes, but also one of wonder. The Lord is coming. The Refiner’s fire will burn away the dross. The Prince of Peace will step into our chaos with healing in His wings.

As we reflect on the second candle of Advent, may its glow remind us that preparation brings peace, repentance leads to renewal, and humility opens the door to hope.

The King is coming.
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Are you ready?

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