If you have an important verbal message to give to many, naturally you are going to be very careful about who you entrust to bring that message. Not only do you want that messenger to be reliable, you might want someone who you would think would be well-received by the group. Since it is a verbal message, they can’t just drop off the paper and run. So you might want someone who would look well and give a good impression. And then you might want them to be careful how they phrase the message. In today’s Scripture from the opening verses of the Gospel of Mark, we see who the Lord entrusted with an important message, and how His choice in the messenger was different from what many people’s choice today would be.
Mark opens his Gospel with introducing John the Baptist, the prophet the Lord used to proclaim the imminent coming of the Messiah. This messenger from the Lord was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Mark quoted from two Old Testament Scriptures to describe what this messenger’s task was to be (vs. 2-3). He quoted Malachi 3:1, and also from Isaiah 40:3. It had been revealed to John the Baptist that the Messiah was coming soon, very soon, and that the people should get their lives in order for His arrival. By telling the people to “make a straight path” (vs. 3) John was telling them that they should give up their selfish way of living, renounce their sins, seek God’s forgiveness, and establish a relationship with Almighty God by believing and obeying His Word, the Bible.
In addition to giving the message of repentance from sin, John also baptized people as a sign of their repentance (vs. 4). He called on all people, from the highest in the nation to the lowliest, the whole nation of Israel, to repent. John the Baptist’s baptism was not the same as the baptism that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 28:19, which was in the Name of the Trinity, and is a testimony of one’s faith and trust in Jesus for salvation. John the Baptist’s baptism was one to indicate one had confessed and repented of their sins.
The phrase “for the remission of sins” in verse 4 should more accurately be translated “because of the remission of sins”. Baptism itself does not bring forgiveness. True confession and repentance does. The act of baptism does not save anyone. It never has and never will. The people were baptized because they had already repented in their hearts.
Preaching about sin and the need for repentance is never a popular subject. It wasn’t back in the days of the Bible, and it certainly isn’t today. Being sent to bring such a message wasn’t going to win John the Baptist too many friends, but he faithfully gave God’s message, and a good amount of people did respond to his words and were baptized. However, most of the Pharisees and religious leaders did not. When a preacher today brings up sin, not too many people are willing to hear that. Many churches will let the preacher know that he should change his topic or he will soon be without a pulpit to preach from. If the media hears that some preachers are speaking out against certain sins, they are quite likely to get “canceled”. None of that stopped John the Baptist. The Lord gave him a message, and he was going to deliver it!
John the Baptist distinguished himself from the other religious leaders of his day (vs. 6). He lived in the wilderness, possibly in a tent or hut, or even in a small cave. The Pharisees and religious leaders loved their luxurious homes. John wore garments made of rough camel hair and leather, whereas the others wore linen and silk. John ate simple food found in the desert - locusts and wild honey. The religious leaders would frequently dine at fancy banquets. They were filled with pride, but John knew he was only God’s messenger (vs. 7-8).
Who would you send to deliver your message? Many of today’s preachers have tossed aside the message that God gave in the Bible for one of their own. They want the favor and good-will of the people in the congregation, so they preach something to tickle their ears, which is definitely not a message of sin and repentance. Preaching against some sins might get them in trouble, so they steer clear in favor of public opinion. They also dress to please the people, wearing the latest fashion trends, and they have enough entertainment and popular music bands to bring in and satisfy the crowds. That was not the type of preacher that John the Baptist was. He didn’t care about popular opinions, winning the approval of the elite, or fear being “canceled” for what he said.
John the Baptist was the one that the Lord chose to prepare the way for His Son, Jesus Christ. He knew that John would faithfully and fearlessly deliver His message. Are we willing to bring God’s message just as faithfully and fearlessly to a world deep in sin?
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