Powerpoint Pictures: Opening the Door; Bride walking down aisle; Black Rod; X-Factor Judges; John Cena

Sound Effects: Door Bell; Here comes the bride; Knocking 3 times; X-Factor Judges music; The Time is Now

I want us to think about things that announce the arrival of someone – things that let you know that someone has come.

Listen to the following sounds and tell me who has arrived. [Doorbell – someone has arrived at your house; Here comes the bride – bride has arrived for her wedding; Knocking 3 times – Black Rod is telling the House of Commons that the Queen has arrived and the MPs should come into the House of Lords; X-Factor judges music – X-Factor judges have arrived for the live shows; Wrestler theme tune – lets the crowd know the wrestler is coming to the ring].

Jesus – the Saviour, the King, the Son of God – has arrived on earth.  Jesus the one God promised would come has come.  Now His arrival is announced to the world not by some music but by a person.

“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Luke 3:4)

Jesus is no longer a baby, but a man around the age of 30 years old.  His cousin, John, was the voice announcing His arrival and who was preparing the way for the Lord.

John was living out in the desert and was telling people that Jesus, the Saviour of the world, was coming and that they needed to get ready for His arrival by repenting of their sins (asking God to forgive you for all the wrong things you have done) and being baptised (as a way of showing that you’ve done that).

So John announces that Jesus is coming and tells people how to get ready for His arrival.

Yet what happens next is a bit surprising.

Find out what this is next time!