**“See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:1-4)
This passage often shows up during Advent, pointing us to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. After all, John famously alludes to a similar passage in Isaiah when he preaches repentance and baptizes those ready to turn back to God. But as we take a closer look, Malachi is revealing far more than just John and Jesus.
Let’s dive in.
Understanding the Names: Messenger, Lord of Hosts, and Covenant
Malachi’s very name means messenger. This sets the tone for the entire book, where messengers play a prominent role. In this passage, there are three titles to consider:
- The Lord of Hosts: YHWH, the God who creates armies, a reminder of His authority and power.
- The Messenger of the Covenant: A mysterious figure often linked to Jesus, the One who fulfills God’s covenant.
- The Lord Whom You Seek: The coming Messiah Himself.
But who, exactly, is the refiner in this passage? It’s not entirely clear, and scholars debate this. However, if we consider the passage through the lens of Jesus and John the Baptist, the picture becomes richer.
The Book of Malachi: A Rebuke and a Promise
Malachi’s message is both a rebuke and a promise. The people of Israel—especially their leaders—had grown complacent, corrupt, and doubtful. Their actions showed they were questioning God’s goodness, faithfulness, and care.
The book of Malachi unfolds like a dialogue where God answers unspoken questions:
- Is God really trustworthy?
- Does God even care?
God’s answer is firm but hopeful: I am coming. The Lord, the keeper of the covenant, will purify and refine His people. And that refining process? It won’t be easy.
This theme echoes into John the Baptist’s message in Matthew 3. John, addressing the Pharisees and religious leaders, warns them that their assumptions about the Messiah are flawed. They expect a military conqueror who will overthrow Roman oppression. Instead, John describes a fiery process of purification—a cutting away of what is impure and useless.
The Refiner’s Fire: Not Destruction, But Transformation
Let’s talk about the fire. For years, I misunderstood John’s words about fire and the “tree being cut down and burned” as a threat—a warning that sinners (like the Pharisees) would burn in hell. But when we connect John’s words to Malachi’s prophecy, a different picture emerges.
The fire isn’t for destruction; it’s for purification. The tree being cut down represents a whole way of thinking that needs to die. The Pharisees believed they were pure, righteous, and better than others. John tells them (and us) that they have the most refining to endure.
The Messiah’s coming would look less like a violent overthrow of Rome and more like a refiner’s fire purifying precious metals—burning away the impurities so that only gold and silver remain.
What Does Refining Look Like for Us?
So what does it look like for me to come to Jesus? The truth is, it’s not easy. When I approach Jesus, I should expect Him to deal with what’s impure in me—my heart issues, not just external struggles. Greed. Lust. Bitterness. Unforgiveness. These are the real oppressors of my soul.
And here’s the hard truth: overcoming those things isn’t simple. In my experience, they’re never fully “gone.” It’s more like they’ve moved in—constant companions who relentlessly invite me back into their ways.
But here’s the hope: I can choose not to be friends with them. And even better? I have a Refiner.
Why We Need a Refiner
Gold and silver can’t refine themselves. We—in our imperfections—can’t purify ourselves either. We need someone to do what we cannot.
“The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?”
If we were already pure, there would be no need for a Refiner. Jesus comes not to destroy us, but to purify and transform us. This isn’t about meeting impossible standards or being good enough. It’s about surrendering to the refining process.
Jesus’ Love: The Ultimate Refining Fire
Jesus didn’t preach a fire-and-brimstone message of terror. Instead, He lived out a radical love. In Matthew 6, He teaches that even “an eye for an eye” is still rooted in hate. God’s vision for the world is love—even for your enemies.
Then, in Matthew 27-28, Jesus demonstrates that kind of love on the cross. His pure, self-sacrificial love becomes the example of what God desires to refine in us.
But let’s be honest: refining isn’t easy. Purity sounds beautiful until we realize it often involves pain. For Jesus, it meant persecution, suffering, and crucifixion. For us, it might mean letting go of habits, comforts, or even relationships that keep us impure. It’s not about earning heaven when we die—it’s about being set free today from what internally oppresses us.
True Freedom Through Refinement
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
The refining process leads to true freedom—freedom from myself. Denying my desires through willpower alone doesn’t last. But when Jesus sets me free from those desires, I’m free forever.
This Advent season, as we wait for the coming of the Lord, let’s reflect on this: the Refiner’s fire is not something to fear. It’s a promise of transformation. Christ came not to destroy, but to purify us—to make us whole, free, and capable of love that reflects His own.
Are you ready for the Refiner’s fire?