Malachi 3:1-3 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness…
This promise from God’s prophet Malachi is not only to send a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord (John the Baptizer), but that the Lord Himself will indeed come. Jesus would be the “messenger of the covenant.”
The words that describe His coming sound a little harsh, calling Him a “refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.” But the prophet is simply foretelling that Jesus will be the one who offers us cleansing. Here is part of what Luther wrote about this passage.
“Christ is not merely the Purifier but also the purifying Agent. He is not only the Blacksmith but also the Fire; not only the Cleaner but also the Soap.” (Luther’s Works, Volume 18, p. 410)
Jesus would be the one who accomplishes our cleansing by living without sin and offering Himself as the payment for your sin. Faith in Jesus, that takes hold of what He offers and gives freely, is the only way anyone can be acceptable in God’s sight.
As you probably know, Advent means “coming,” We await and invite Jesus to come to us as we prepare to celebrate His birth and anticipate His second coming. That is why so many Advent hymns start with the word “Come,” as does the one I share today. This was written by Charles Wesley in the 18th Century. Charles and his brother John were the founders of the Methodist Church. Something else I want you to notice in this hymn is how many times the word “born” occurs in these two stanzas. Wesley was reminding us that His first coming was in human flesh, as one of us, that He might deliver us, set us free, and reign in our lives as our King.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free;
From our fear and sin release us; Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver; Born a child and yet a king!
Born to reign in us forever, Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne!
(Lutheran Service Book #338)
