On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry (v. 1-2)

By Charles Coffin (1676-1749)

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Announces that the Lord is nigh;

Awake and hearken, for he brings                              hearken - listen

Glad tiding of the King of kings!                                  tidings - news

Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin;

Make straight the way for God within,

And let us all our hearts prepare

For Christ to come and enter there.

               Meet John the Baptist.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"

                    Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier 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 and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Matt. 3:1-12 ESV)

John is God’s prophet. Pay attention to what he says. The savior is coming!

Prayer

               O God, You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. Help us hear his voice. Let us heed his warning. Our Savior is coming and there is nothing about us that deserves His blessings. Nevertheless, Jesus came, we are forgiven for His sake, and His Holy Spirit rest on us. Help us live lives of repentance in the power of the Holy Spirit, and let our voices prepare yet others to hear of Christ’s coming and the glad tidings of the King of kings! Amen.