Roads were repaired or straighten so the king would not have to detour.
Make Straight the Path
This was an age of emperors, kings, and lords. By any name, there were protocols for welcoming them. If you were on the path that the king or the lord would use, you picked up the trash from in front of your house lest the lord look upon you with disdain. If there was a bridge out or a boulder in the road, the king was not expected to detour. The king’s subjects were expected to clear the path. That might mean to fix the bridge or get enough men and animals to get the boulder off of the road. The standing command for such important persons was to make straight the path.
This is exactly what John the Baptist proclaims for Jesus (John 1:23). As John answers the Priests and Levites as to who he is, he gives these teachers familiar scripture from Isaiah.
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John 1:23 NIV
John has never met Jesus in the flesh, yet knows him when he sees him (he even recognized him when he was in his mother’s womb—Luke 1:41-44) and knows that Jesus is Lord. While John was preparing the way in the hearts of men; he was preparing that way for the Lord!
This survey explores and confirms that this is a very viable thread throughout the gospels, epistles, and eschatology of the New Testament. Decide for yourself if you agree with Dr. Rustenhaven and myself, that the message of the New Testament is JESUS IS LORD!
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Here are some articles that look at the very challenging book of James.
Photo - psbchurch.org
How about something from the Gospel of Matthew
About being a servant in a society that says, that dog don't hunt.
What do you call a guy with degrees in Political Science and Biblical Studies? What do you call someone that served as a Marine Officer for over 20 years and now pastors a church? What do you call someone with this unique perspective of the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God?
Most folks just call me Tom.
Take a look on the political side, try A Good Read.
Check out a leadership mix of Pastor, Parent, Marine, and American in Forward Deployed.
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