The Preaching of John the Baptist

Click to Read Mark 1:1-8

• Last Sunday we were told to be prepared,
  • Prepared for the coming of the Messiah – Gods Only Son
• This week we have John the Baptist
  • Urging his listeners to come to attention
    • Attention because, the Son of Man is right around the corner
  • Mark identifies John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.
    • A prophet who will herald the coming of the Messiah.
    • A herald, so people are not caught unawares.
    • This prophet will come from the area of the desert
    • His message
      • Make space for the King of Kings to come
      • Let there be no opposition in mind heart and Spirit
      • Welcome the Messiah in all ways.
• Though the Jews expected the Messiah, in accordance with Daniel’s prophecies
  • There was a sort of stagnation that had set in
  • Many, especially the authorities were satisfied with the Status Quo
  • Their hearts were unwelcoming of change and the new hope.
  • They had become lukewarm towards  God
• So John’s first action needed to be to jolt them with Shock Message
  • Wake Up!
  • Do you realise who it is who is coming…?
  • I  think many did not receive the message with gladness
    • Is because they did not see tangibility in it.
    • They wanted to know the birth of the Messiah
    • See him growing up
    • And understand the developments that would happen
    • And be able to fight alongside him to overthrow all foreign powers.
  • But this surprise element – that the Messiah was already amongst them
    • They here could not understand his origins
    • Neither that they could directly be part of his story
    • In the sense of establishing God’s Physical Kingdom
    • He was like those unreachable grapes,
    • Therefore they were sour
• John the Baptist on his part was giving a known twist to the story of the Messiah
  • The Messiah would initiate another Exodus (hodas).
  • And this exodus would lead the people not from physical slavery to freedom and nationhood.
  • This exodus would lead God’s people to a right relationship with God.
    • In this sense, the Messiah was a threat to the ruling class (Sadducees/High Priests)
    • They knew their misconduct and the evil they practiced
    • But they assumed God would not forgive them
    • Neither did they want to be forgive,
    • They wanted to hold onto the power they had.
  • One thing, John said was required
    • Repentance of Sin
    • A turning away from old ways
      • (correct their path from the wrong that it was
      • To the direction, that God required them to be on)
    • And seek to do the right things
  • John, humbly accepted that his own self
    • was not worthy to be in the presence of the Messiah
    • not even fitting to untie his sandals.
• John possibly was not clear of the full identity of the person
  • Possibly YHWH
  • Possibly the Messiah
  • Possibly somehow be both.
  • But he was clear that the Coming redeemer
    • Sanctify/Consecrate the people with water, like John himself
    • But the Coming One would Sanctify/Consecrate with the Holy Spirit.
• Mark is expounding on Malachi and Isaiah,
  • Their prophecies of the time when the Exodus story happen all over again,
  • setting Israel free once more
  • and begin living personally with his people. (Incarnation?)
    • He would be with them;
    • he would be their God,
    • and they would be his people.
  • In the original exodus story God was separate but with them in the pillar of cloud and fire.
  • This time around God’s Spirit would live
    • with people,
    • in people,
    • becoming the air they breathe,
    • the fire in their hearts.
• Are we like the people of Jesus’ time
  • On a different tangent
    • With goals that don’t rhyme with the message of John the Baptist to prepare our hearts and person to welcome Jesus.
  • Or are we disillusioned by Christianity and the world around
    • Do we want freedom from these
    • And live our own lives…
  • But what guarantee is there that the path we have chosen will guarantee fulfilment for us.
    • Don’t trust the human agents of God
      • But trust Jesus, for he claims to be the Author of Life
      • Your creator
      • impartial and Love himself
    • Pray to him
      • Make place for him in your heart
      • Ask him to come
      • Be born in your life today
      • Guide you and lead you
      • And make sense of the world, and the confusion around you.
      • Bringing meaning, hope, direction and purpose to you life