The Voice Of One Crying In The Wilderness

Mark 1:1-8

Advent is a time of preparation, awaiting the arrival of Christmas, the day when we honor the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.  In today’s reading we meet someone who was also preparing the way for the coming Messiah, John the Baptist.  He is the first person we meet as we open the Gospel of Mark.  Mark wrote his gospel for Christians in Rome.  In the capital of the Roman Empire many false gods were worshipped, and Mark wanted his readers to know that Jesus was the one, true Son of God (vs 1).

Appropriate for this Advent season of preparing for Christ, Mark starts right off with two quotes from the Old Testament that point to the ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, the first from Malachi 3:1, and the second from Isaiah 40:3.  Both verses speak about the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and the man who would announce His coming, John the Baptist (vs. 2-3).   At this time in history in many parts of the world, especially in the Roman Empire, an important leader or official were always preceded by a herald announcing his imminent arrival.   John the Baptist was just such a herald, announcing the imminent arrival of the most important one in all history.

John the Baptist had lived many years in the desert, and then conducted his ministry there, and by the Jordan River, at the edge of the wilderness.  He chose to live in the desert to get away from the distractions of the world and to better hear God.  That lifestyle was a sharp contrast to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the day in Judea, with their luxurious homes and fine clothes (Mark 12:38).  His dress and lifestyle was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (II Kings 1:8).

The ministry of John the Baptist was a strong and straightforward one.  He never minced his words or message, telling his audience that they need to give up their selfish lifestyle, renounce sins, and ask for God’s forgiveness (vs. 4). He preached that the people should seek a relationship with God, believe Him, and obey His Word.  John knew the Messiah was coming, and in preparation people needed to repent and turn to God.  He sought to prepare the people to accept Jesus Christ as God’s Son, and to do so, they needed to repent, turn around, and denounce their sins.

Baptism does not produce repentance, but instead it shows it. Repentance is more than just a change of one’s mind.  It is a complete turning away from sin and turning to God.  It brings the result of righteous living.  Genuine repentance is a work of God in one’s heart.  John the Baptist’s baptism was an outward confession of repentance, it did not produce forgiveness of sins.  It was an illustration of true repentance, which will result in forgiveness.

John the Baptist’s baptism was to show that the person being baptized had decided to change there life, giving up their sins and turning to God.  Christian baptism goes a step further, associating it with Jesus’s death and resurrection. John’s baptism with water prepared one for the coming message of Jesus.  It would show repentance, humility, and turning from sin in the life of the person. Jesus’s baptism with the Holy Spirit, though, would transform the person with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus offers both forgiveness of sins and the power to live for Him (vs. 8).

Many of those who came to hear John preach wondered if he might be the Messiah.  John was quick to point out that he was not, and how insignificant he really was in comparison to the One who was coming - Jesus (vs. 7).  John said he wasn’t even worthy to unfasten His sandal.

As we read over this passage, which closes out the second week of Advent, we should ask ourselves are we ready for Jesus?  He came the first time, 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, but He is coming back soon, though we don’t know when.  It could be any day, and are we ready?  John the Baptist strongly preached that the people of his day be ready for Jesus to appear on the scene, and He did.  He could burst through the clouds and appear again, at any time. Are we prepared?  Do we need to repent and turn from our sinful ways? Let’s be sure, as John preached, our hearts and lives are ready for Him.