Malachi

August 23

Malachi 3:1-4

A Messenger from God

The Jews who had returned from Babylon to Judah had restored the Temple in Jerusalem and rebuilt the wall around the city.

But as time passed, they started slipping back into their old sinful ways. They were unfaithful to God and untrue to their husbands and wives.

But God wasn’t giving up on them.

This is what the Lord said through the prophet Malachi; “I will send my messenger to prepare the way for Me. Then the Lord you are looking for will come to His Temple—the Messenger you long for will come and proclaim My covenant. He will come to purify His people.”

Who was the promised Messenger?

Weren’t all the prophets messengers of God who took His word to the people? How would this Messenger, whom Malachi spoke of, be different? God had sent many prophets, but the people had not listened to their message. Now God was going to send one more—His very own Son (read Mark 12:1-8).

The first messenger Malachi spoke of (in verse 1) would only prepare the way for Him. In Matthew 3:1-3 we read that John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for Jesus.

The second messenger is the One everyone was waiting for—Jesus. He is the One who would declare God’s promise in the Temple.

When Jesus started teaching and preaching, He went to the Synagogues and told the people that God’s promise had now come true (Luke 4:18-20). Jesus, the Son of God, is the Messenger who came to bring the good news of healing and freedom for all who believe in Him. Only He can wash away the dirtiest sin and make our hearts as pure as shiny gold (Isaiah 1:18).

Verse for today  

And this was his (John’s) message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” Mark 1:7