KATASKEUAZO (Prepare)
WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ
What is the Word?
Advent is that time of the Church year where we begin to anticipate the coming of the Lord. It is a time for reflection and repentance, to meditate on the incarnation and birth of our savior, and to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord who will come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead. The Bible is also big on preparation, as the prophets are always teaching us to turn away from sin and prepare ourselves for the day of the Lord. The word the New Testament uses for “prepare” is kataskeuazó.
How does the Bible use this word?
While this word is a mouthful for we who are native English speakers, the word actually shows up quite a bit in the scriptures. A verb, it is actually a compound word, combining the words kata and skeuazō. Kata serves as an intensifier to the word skeuazō, which means to diligently prepare. Thus, the words combined denote an intense preparation – to leave no stone unturned when it comes to making all things ready. It has undertones of construction – painting a picture of builders who diligently plan and construct a building capable of withholding the storm.
Where in the Bible?
In contrast to the other Gospels, Mark is well known for skipping the unimportant details and getting right down to business. Right away, he quotes Isaiah the prophet who is telling us to prepare the way of the Lord:
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare (κατασκευάσει) your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
Mark 1:1-3
In keeping with Advent, Mark draws together Isaiah’s prophecy and the ministry of John the Baptist. Just as Isaiah foretold, John was in the wilderness proclaiming the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God and urging Israel to repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
Luke also stresses the importance of John the Baptist’s mission of preparing the way of the Lord. In his description of John’s birth, he notes:
“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared (κατεσκευασμένον).”
Luke 1:16-17
John therefore might be considered a new Elijah, the voice in the wilderness calling the people back to the Lord. His voice reverberates through all the land as the Lord is at the door. Thus, we must prepare our hearts for his arrival, lest our hearts are not ready to receive him.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
“As we enter Advent season, let us repent and return to the Lord.”
As we enter Advent season, let us repent and return to the Lord. Let us diligently examine ourselves and prepare our hearts to receive our savior. Let us heed the words of John in the wilderness – turning away from all things that keep us from God, and spend time in fervent prayer that Jesus might come quickly.