“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”[c]—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[d]
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.” Verse one stated in the beginning. A messenger was sent ahead of Jesus and his message was of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Nothing has changed since the beginning. Repentance = forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness without repenting means nothing.
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John Burnett:
1 The
beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As
it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“Behold,
I send My messenger [a]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way;
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.’”
Who will prepare Your way;
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.’”
4 John
the Baptist appeared in the wilderness [b]preaching
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was
going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized
by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel’s
hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and [c]his
diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And
he was [d]preaching,
and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to
stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 I baptized you [e]with
water; but He will baptize you [f]with
the Holy Spirit.” John the Baptist was foretelling of Jesus and Him
baptizing with the Holy Spirit and these people were believing and being
baptized based on John’s prophesy. Blessed are they who did not s
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“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”[c]—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[d]
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
{I love how humble John is in his message. It seems we as humans think we are too good to remove someone's shoes but here John is saying it would be too much of a privilege to even untie his shoes. How marvelous if I could hold on to that meekness that John is displaying here! How much better we would be as a society if we were all as meek and humble as John! If only we could throw our entitlement attitude out the window!}
8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”
{Baptism is so important! It seems almost as if John was sent to create a
tradition of baptism so men would get familiar with the
idea.}
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Tomorrow's reading for Mark 1:9-15
9 At that time
Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he
saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from
heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
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