The Cry of the Lonely

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December 8, 2002 - Isaiah 40.1-11; Mark 1.1-11

Open It

  1. How would you prepare for a home visit from your boss or another important person?
  2. Why is it important to prepare for the coming of an influential person?
  3. What are some of the various ways people comfort themselves about life's difficulties?

Explore It

  1. In contrast to the previous announcements of God's judgment, how did Isaiah begin God's message? (Isaiah 40.1)
  2. What did Isaiah instruct the people to do, even while they were in the wilderness? (Isaiah 40.3)
  3. How did Isaiah use the surrounding land to illustrate the change that Isaiah envisioned when God would intervene on behalf of His people? (Isaiah 40.4)
  4. How did Isaiah contrast the mortality of human life with the Word of God? (Isaiah 40.6-8)
  5. With what exclamations of joy did Isaiah announce God's arrival? (Isaiah 40.9-10)
  6. Who was John the Baptist? (Mark 1.2-3)
  7. Who sent the messenger? Why? (Mark 1.2-3)
  8. How was Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled? (Mark 1.4)
  9. What were the two aspects of John's ministry? (Mark 1.4)
  10. What reasons to be baptized did John give the people? (Mark 1.4)
  11. What had to happen before John could baptize a person? (Mark 1.5)
  12. When John said, "After me will come one more powerful than I," to whom was he referring? (Mark 1.7)
  13. What was John's attitude toward Jesus? (Mark 1.7)
  14. How did Jesus' baptism differ from John's? (Mark 1.8)

Get It

  1. What sorts of circumstances cause contemporary people to become weak and weary?
  2. How does Isaiah's message of comfort apply to us today?
  3. In what sense can it be comforting to meditate on the overwhelming greatness of God?
  4. What examples have you encountered of the gentle, loving care of God for His people?
  5. What is your reaction to the fact that Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled?
  6. How can Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit make a difference in our lives?
  7. What does the message of Jesus offer to people?

Apply It

  1. In what ways might the comfort of God strengthen and sustain you?
  2. What Christian within your acquaintance could you encourage with a word about God's comfort the next time you see him or her?
  3. Which attribute of God will be your focus of meditation and praise this coming week?

NOTES

Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. The second half of the book of Isaiah is devoted to the promise of salvation. Isaiah wrote about the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the man who would announce his coming, John the Baptist. John's call to "make straight paths for him" meant that people should give up their selfish way of living, renounce their sins, seek God's forgiveness, and establish a relationship with the almighty God by believing and obeying his words as found in Scripture (Isaiah 1.18-20; Isaiah 57.15).

Mark 1.2-3 is a composite quotation, taken first from Malachi 3.1 and then from Isaiah 40.3. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had predicted that John the Baptist and Jesus would come. How did he know? God promised Isaiah that a Redeemer would come to Israel, and that a messenger calling in the desert would prepare the way for him. Isaiah's words comforted many people as they looked forward to the Messiah.

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