The Judge Who Brings Peace
For Meditation (Corey Widmer)
Advent continues its surprising work this week by leading us into the wilderness, where we meet the strange figure who stands at the threshold of Christ’s coming: John the Baptist. His voice is jarring, his imagery unsettling: axes laid at roots, chaff burned with fire. Yet Scripture insists that every Gospel begins here. Before we meet the Child in the manger, we must meet the Prophet in the desert.
Why? Because Advent is not simply a season of gentle sentiment or nostalgic waiting. It is the announcement that the God who came once in humility will come again in power and judgment. John the Baptist stands as the herald of that second Advent- the One who “with righteousness will judge the needy,” who will sweep away all that harms, and who will usher in the world Isaiah imagines: a world where wolves lie with lambs and the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
This judgment is not something to fear, but something to hope for. For the poor, the wounded, the weary, and the oppressed, God’s judgment is the end of exploitation and the dawn of peace. And John’s message to us is simple: prepare the way. Repent. Reorient your life toward the Kingdom that is coming. Bear the fruit that belongs to this new world.
As we worship this Sunday, we step into the wilderness with John and allow his voice to awaken us, so that when Christ comes, we may be ready to receive the Judge who brings peace.
Questions for Reflection & Discussion
Why do you think all four Gospels begin with John the Baptist rather than with Jesus’ birth? What does this reveal about the meaning of Advent?
How do you normally react to Scriptural language about judgment? Are there ways that God’s judgment can be understood as healing rather than merely threatening?
Isaiah 11 paints a picture of a world restored to peace and justice. Which part of that vision feels most hopeful or most difficult for you to imagine?
John calls us to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” What might “fruit” look like in your relationships, habits, or priorities this season?
Romans 15 invites us to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. How might this posture of welcome be a form of Advent preparation?
Isaiah 11:1–10
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Romans 15:4–13
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”
Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”
And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:1–12
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”