Make Room for the King | Pastor Jose Lopez

Описание: Make Room for the King | Matthew 3:1–12

This week, Pastor Jose continued our journey through the Gospel of Matthew with a message that confronts one of the most challenging but essential parts of following Jesus: repentance. Before Jesus ever preaches, heals, or performs miracles, God sends John the Baptist into the wilderness with a disruptive message that prepares the way for the King. His call is simple and confrontational: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Pastor Jose reminded us that repentance is not punishment but preparation. It is how the heart is made ready for the reign of Jesus. Repentance is not just feeling bad or making small improvements. It is a complete change of mind and direction that clears space for the King to rule in our lives. Isaiah’s imagery of lifting valleys, lowering mountains, straightening crooked places, and smoothing rough paths shows that God removes every obstacle keeping us from Him. The road is not prepared for people to reach God but for God to reach people.

John’s bold message exposes the danger of religious activity without true repentance. The Pharisees and Sadducees came with spiritual pride and false security, but John tells them that real repentance must bear fruit. Heritage cannot save. Tradition cannot save. Religious association cannot save. God looks for transformed lives, not impressive résumés.

John also points forward to Jesus, the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus does not simply modify behavior. He changes hearts. His winnowing fork imagery reminds us that He is a holy King who separates repentance from rebellion, wheat from chaff.

For us today, the question is not whether Jesus is King. The question is whether He is your King. Many of us need valleys lifted, mountains lowered, crooked paths straightened, and rough places smoothed. Repentance is not God taking something from us but God preparing us to receive life, freedom, and joy in Him.

The King is near. Not to condemn but to save. Not to crush but to restore. Not to destroy but to reign in grace and truth. The invitation is to make room for the King.