Scripture Matthew 3:1–12

Theme: When the world feels like it’s falling apart, Christ calls His followers not to panic, but to persevere.

Preparing the way for Christ means clearing the clutter of sin, pride, and complacency so His kingdom can take root in us.

Have you ever noticed how quickly clutter builds up? You clean the garage, and two weeks later you’re climbing over boxes again. You clear the dining room table, and somehow—mysteriously—papers, keys, cups, and random mail reappear overnight.

Our spiritual lives are the same way.

Every Advent, we hear the voice of John the Baptist calling across the centuries: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” And every year, that call forces us to ask:

What needs to be cleared away in me so Christ can take up residence fully?

That’s where Matthew 3:1–12 brings us today.

John doesn’t whisper. He doesn’t soften the message. He doesn’t hand out Advent devotionals scented with cinnamon. He gets right to the point:

If you want Jesus, you must make room.

There are three layers of “clutter” we must deal with if we want the kingdom to take root.

1. Clear the clutter of complacency
2. Clear the clutter of pride
3. Clear the clutter of sin (the deepest, most urgent layer)

Along the way we’ll hear John’s message, learn the historical and cultural context, listen to a real-life story of transformation, tie in Isaiah 11:1–10, quote from commentaries, and end with a rousing call to action.

Let’s begin.

John the Baptist appears “in the wilderness of Judea,” a desert region near the Jordan River.

Wilderness: solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited…

1. deserted by others
2. deprived of the aid and protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred

Matthew connects John to Isaiah 40:3:

A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.

In the ancient world, when a king traveled, road crews went ahead, leveling hills, smoothing paths, filling valleys. The “way” must be cleared for royalty.

John says, “THE King—THE Messiah—is coming. Prepare the way!”

His message is not sentimental. It’s urgent, confrontational, and direct.

First-century Jews longed for a Messiah who would overthrow Rome. Their hope was national, political, and external. But John says the preparation God wants isn’t political—it’s personal. 

(Do not expect the reign of any human to save you. Only Jesus is worthy to reign and it is the Kingdom of God that will prevail. No earthly King, president, nor any other.)

Repentance is not just saying “I’m sorry.” It is a change of direction—leaving behind anything that blocked life with God.

1 – CLEAR THE CLUTTER OF COMPLACENCY

John’s opening message is crystal clear:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Not “later.” Not “someday.” Not “when you get around to it.”

Now. Complacency whispers: “I’ll deal with it later.”

John shouts: “Deal with it now.”

Hard truth: You can’t prepare the way if you keep putting off preparation.

The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary says:

“John confronts the illusion that spiritual transformation can wait. His urgency is grounded in the immediacy of God’s reign breaking in.”

(Vol. VIII, Matthew, Abingdon Press)

The kingdom is not passive. It’s not waiting on us. It is breaking in now—and complacency is the enemy of readiness.

Isaiah 11 promises a shoot from the stump of Jesse—new life from what looked dead.

But new growth requires cleared ground.

A shoot cannot break through if the soil is choked with weeds.

Christ wants to plant something new in us. But complacency lets weeds multiply.

2 – CLEAR THE CLUTTER OF PRIDE

pride is dangerous because it blinds

When the Pharisees and Sadducees show up, John sees right through them. “Do not presume to say, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor.’”

Don’t rely on your résumé.

Don’t trust your spiritual heritage.

Don’t assume proximity to religion equals closeness to God.

Pride says:

“I’m fine.”

“I’m good enough.”

“This message is for someone else.”

John replies: “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”

Pride blocks the path.

Pride hides the truth.

Pride keeps Jesus at arm’s length.

Isaiah 11 says the coming Messiah “shall not judge by what his eyes see,” but with righteousness.

Meaning? He sees the heart, not the surface.

We can hide behind religion, but we cannot hide from Christ.

The ground must be leveled. The hills of pride must come down. The King arrives on straight paths—paths built on humility.

3 – CLEAR THE CLUTTER OF SIN

Sin destroys, enslaves, and lies. John moves from imagery of road building to imagery of fire and threshing floors. He says the Messiah will gather wheat and burn the chaff. This is not cruelty. This is purity. Christ removes what destroys us so what is good may flourish.

Sin is the deepest clutter because it blocks the very presence of God.

John says the axe is already at the root of the tree.

Meaning: Now is the time to deal with sin—not someday.

Paul echoes this in Hebrews 12:1, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race set before us.”

Isaiah’s vision ends with a world renewed—

Wolves lying next to lambs,

Children playing safely near serpents,

The earth filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

That world begins with hearts that have been cleared, cleansed, and made ready.

If we want the peace of Isaiah 11, we need the repentance of Matthew 3.

“The Clearing” By Martha Snell Nicholson (from “He Touched Me,” Revell Publishing, 1947)

Lord, clear the pathway of my heart, Remove each stubborn stone; Sweep out the dust of selfish ways,

And make this heart Thy throne. For You cannot take full command Of rooms I will not yield; So help me clear what should not stay Till all to You is sealed.*

Prepare Him room. Clear the way. Make the path straight.

John the Baptist is trying to wake us up.

Clear the way! Make room! Prepare your heart!

Christ is coming—not just into the world, but into our lives, our homes, our church, our habits, our wounds, our excuses, our fears, our pride, our sins.

So here is the question: What needs to be cleared out in you?

What is cluttering the path?

What is blocking the King from taking root in your soul? Complacency? Pride? Sin you’ve grown too comfortable with?

The King is coming and Has indeed come to invite us and to forgive, cleanse, renew, restore, rearrange, rebuild, and resurrect.

If you will clear the way, Christ will fill the space.

If you will make room, Christ will make new life.

If you will lay down your clutter, Christ will lift up your soul. This Advent, don’t just decorate your home—

prepare your heart. Don’t just wait for Christmas—

make space for Christ. Don’t just hear John’s voice

respond to it.

The kingdom is near. The King is here.

Clear the way. Prepare Him room.

Let His kingdom take root—deep and strong—in you. Amen.

Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/1KCY6lZbWYs?si=fDDs8ZeLmIOWXdBb