Advent Devotional

Mark 1:1-8

This passage describes the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptizer, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and a relative about the same age of Jesus (Luke 1:36). As Jesus began his ministry, John was already attracting large crowds on his own, “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,” being baptized by a man who wore “clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and who “ate locusts and wild honey.”

From this passage (Mark 1:1-8), we know that John knew that he was not the Messiah but was preparing the way for he told the crowds, “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8) (I can’t help but wonder if this John the Baptist was ever tempted to proclaim himself the Messiah. If he was, he didn’t) From Luke 7:24-28 we do learn that Jesus had great respect for John the Baptist. After John’s messengers come to ask “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied to the messengers, “Go Back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, and those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, ad the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” And to the crowd Jesus said, “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes indulge in luxury and are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet, Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This (John) is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” So, John the Baptist knew who Jesus was and Jesus knew who John the Baptist was, and John prepared Jesus’s way toward the necessary crucifixion.

PRAYER: Creator God, Holy Spirit, God of those who are called to great missions, and those who are not, please help us to be aware of your purpose for all your creation that we might prepare the way for its realization in this troubled and lovely world. Amen, Amen, Amen.

Kent Leslie