Day 23
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Story from the Blue Seats:
John the Baptist was no ordinary man. Clad in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, he roamed the wilderness, his voice booming like thunder as he called people to repentance. “Prepare the way of the Lord,” he would cry, his words cutting through the silence of the desert like the sharp edge of a blade. “Make straight paths for Him!” He was the forerunner, the voice Isaiah had spoken of, destined to herald the arrival of the Messiah.
I’ve always been drawn to John’s story—his boldness, his humility, and his singular focus on Jesus. But it wasn’t until I was part of the cast of the musical Godspell that his mission became more vivid to me. The plays starts with a cacophony of noise distracting those in the seats. Suddenly, a ram’s horn silences the cast, as John the Baptist, pierces the sound of chaos with his deep voice booming out, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”
As the curtain rose on opening night, my friend, Willie stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding, and sang the iconic opening number. The song, “Prepare Ye,” wasn’t just a performance; it was an experience. The words carried the urgency of John’s call, but they also had a joyfulness, a hopefulness that made you want to leap to your feet and shout along with him. Willie’s voice echoed through the theater, filling every corner, and I couldn’t help but think, This is exactly how John must have felt to the people who heard him—stirring their hearts, waking them up to something greater. The reality of these ancient words held new meaning for me.
The rest of the play unfolded like a celebration of Jesus’ teachings, but it was that opening moment that stuck with me. It was a reminder of how John’s life was dedicated not to himself but to pointing others to Christ. And in a way, Willie’s performance did the same thing. He wasn’t just playing a role; he was embodying a message—a call to prepare our hearts for the Lord.
As I left the stage that night, I found myself reflecting on John’s humility. He had said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Watching Willie pour himself into that role with such passion reminded me that, like John, we are all called to point others to Jesus, to prepare the way in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.
It’s funny how a play like Godspell—so full of laughter, music, and joy—can leave you with such profound lessons. For me, that night was an invitation to carry on the spirit of John the Baptist, to live a life that says, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” and to do so with boldness, joy, and humility.
