Powerpoint Pictures: People stretching; Film Trailer; Starter Menu; Music Concert Poster with Support Acts; Shower before Swimming Sign; Person doing Vocal Exercises

Think about some of the things that get you ready for the main event, or which prepare you for what is about to come. [Warming up and stretching before exercise; The trailers shown before a movie at the cinema; Eating a starter before the main course; The support act before the headline at a concert; Showering before going swimming; Doing vocal exercises before singing].

After the Jews returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon and rebuilt the city, the walls, and the temple, there was 400 years of silence.

400 years when there was no new word from God.

In that time, the Jews did two things: 1) They thought about God’s promise of a coming Saviour and King who was God Himself, and 2) they looked for this promise to be kept.

There were also some other promises that God had made, including a couple which God made through the prophet Malachi.  These promises would help the Jews know when this Saviour was on His way.

These promises were about someone who could come and get people ready for His arrival.

“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple.” (Malachi 3:1)

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.” (Malachi 4:5)

God will send a messenger.

He will be like the prophet Elijah.

And he will get people ready for the Saviour’s arrival by preparing the way.

So as the Jews waited and looked for the Saviour to come, they also looked out for the messenger to come saying “It won’t be long!”

Did the messenger like Elijah come?

Did the coming Saviour, King, who was God Himself arrive?

Find out next time!