The Pearls that Prepare the Way

Isaiah 46:10 & Matthew 5:17
Craig Baker

Pearls Preparing the Way
Mark 1:1-11
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face,who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight,’” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Exodus 23:20-21
20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.

Malachi 3:1
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 4:5
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

Isaiah 40:3-5
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up,and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level,and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Walking With Jesus
Mark 1:17
17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

John 14:1-4
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

A Voice From Heaven
Psalm 2:1-7
1 Why do the nations rageand the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves,and the rulers take counsel together,against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apartand cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my Kingon Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree:The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;today I have begotten you.

Genesis 22:1-2, 12
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Isaiah 42:1-4
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break,and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouragedtill he has established justice in the earth;and the coastlands wait for his law.

John’s Question
Matthew 11:2-3
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Luke 1:39-44, 76
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

Jesus’ Answer
Matthew 11:4-6
4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Isaiah 35:3-6
3 Strengthen the weak hands,and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,“Be strong; fear not! Behold, your Godwill come with vengeance,with the recompense of God.He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness,and streams in the desert;

Takeaway: From beginning to end, the Bible declares the work of Jesus.