Preparing the Way

Mark 1:1–8 ESV

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 before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

1. Purpose as the Forerunner

Mark 1:1–3 ESV

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 before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”

Marks what is referred to as a Gospel: the blessed STORY about to be told of the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and glorification, and the beginning of the CHURCH.

The figure of speech, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him, refers to the custom of sending an officer before a monarch who has to make a royal journey. The person was to level and smooth out any ruts in the road so the monarch journey would be smoother.

How might your life prepare the way for Jesus?

Might sound like a strange question right? How could we do anything to help the Lord? The self doubt and a low view of humanity is what has led to the belief that we cannot do anything to help the Lord? When John the Baptist begins the message to prepare the what for the Lord. Just like John the Baptist your life is meant to prepare the way for the Lord. His was for his first arrival. Ours is for His return.

So how might your life prepare the way for Jesus’ return?

What friend are you needing to love extra?

What conversation are you needing to have?

What good are you needing to bring?

What gift are you needing to give?

What ministry are you needing to volunteer for?

2. Practice of Repentance

Mark 1:4–6 ESV

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

John appeared: There is significance in this since it has been a long time since God has spoken. Many call the period between the 400 silent years. So John appearing has long been awaited.

Proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins: John’s preaching a baptism of repentance is significant for a number of reasons.

Jews believed that only Gentile converts to Judaism needed to be baptized and that they didn’t need to repent. They viewed the baptism of repentance as something only the non-Jew or the Gentile needed to do in order to wash them from the defilement of those specific groups individual or communal pasts. But John was calling all to repent…To call all to repent for the Messiah is coming meant that in some way all of Israel needed cleansing.

All the country of Judea and all Jerusalem: It is estimated that as many as three hundred thousand people came out to be baptized by John.

Matthew 3:7–12 ESV

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

“You brood of vipers…”

You see the Pharisees and Sadducees thought they didn’t need to repent because of who their ancestor was. The great proclaimation John the Baptist makes is unless someone repents and bears fruit it does not matter who their ancestor is. And that even the Gentiles who aren’t related to Abraham by blood can be made God’s children as they repent and turn to Jesus. And all of us too.

John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist…

John’s dress and lifestyle were a protest against the godlessness of self-serving materialism of his day. And definitely a judgement upon the wealthy religious elites who oppressed and neglected the poor. You would not see John staying at the Hilton, not would they welcome him. All of the folks going were going to be baptized would have taken a break with the institutions and cultural norms of Jerusalem.

Repentance is the practice of breakIng away from what is “”socially acceptable by the culture and a turn toward the holy way (most often counter cultural) way of God!

How do you need to repent?

(Like Pharisees) You see it does not matter if you have been part of God’s family for a week or for 40 years. If you have sin in your life, you need to repent. If you think because of who you know, what church you go to, or what your last name is that you don’t need to repent, you are wrong. You need to repent because if you rely on who you know and it ain’t Jesus, you won’t get in. If you rely on what church you go to, you won’t get in. If you rely on your your dad, grandpa, grand grandpa is you won’t make it.

Repentance means turning away from something and turning in a new direction…John the Baptist was calling all people including Israel to turn to the Messiah, seeking forgiveness of sin, and bear the fruit that the spirit grows in your life as you follow Jesus that doesn’t come from following laws or being the descendant of anyone.

How do you need to REPENT?

Is it pride of self-righteousness…thinking too highly of yourself?

Is it on of the carnal sins like pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, drunkeness, idolatry, envy, wrath, and slothfulness. These sins lead you away from God and promise pleasure, but produce nothing by pain in this life and the next.

Is it one of the sins of the mouth like gossip, negativity, talking too much. Not speaking up when you need to speak up.

Maybe it is the irregularity of your repentance. You need to embrace repentance as a daily practice, aligning your life DAILY with the will of God.

3. Power in Humility

Mark 1:7–8 ESV

And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John emphasizes Christ’s superiority. John made it clear that his task was to prepare the way and then get out of the way.

He had masses coming to him to be baptized, but he told them all, I pale in comparison to the one coming after me…Jesus. The Messiah. Slaves would often be responsible for washing their masters sandals after traveling the dusty and often muddy terrain. John was saying, I am not even worthy to wash the Messiah’s sandals.

I baptism with water. External. Symbolizing a moral cleansing and a repentance and breaking away from sin. But Jesus would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Which would be a lasting change. This baptism of the SPIRIT purifies the heart and life, and deliver YOU from the guilt and power of sin!

Encourage believers to adopt an attitude of humility in their call to point others to Jesus. John's acknowledgment of the coming One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit calls us to trust in Christ's power in our mission.

Humility…is the attitude of one who is like the soil. Humility comes from the Latin word humus, fertile ground. The fertile ground is there, unnoticed, taken for granted, always there to be trodden upon. It is silent, insconpicuous, dark and yet it is always ready to receive any seed, ready to give it substance and life. The more lowly, the more fruitful, because it becomes really fertile when it accepts all the refuse of the earth. It is so low that nothing can soil it, abase it, humiliate it; it has accepted the last place and cannot go any lower. In that position nothing can shatter the soul’s serenity, its peace and joy. (Living Prayer by Anthony Bloom)

What are you chasing? Are you chasing status? Are you chasing recognition? Are you chasing the will of God? Will you humble yourself to the will of God no matter what it is? High or low?

One of the hardest lessons in life to learn is humility! Trusting, waiting, contentment, and enjoyment of the will of God for your life. Whether you are recognized or not.

STORY:

In 1934, an unnamed usher at a revival in Charlotte, North Carolina, made one of the most significant choices EVER! And we will never know his name.

There were two boys who showed up to a tent meeting led by evangelist Mordecai Ham. They weren’t particularly interested and when they arrived there were limited seats, so they were making their way away. The unnamed usher made a decision. He ran after them. Persuaded the young boys to stay. Found them two seats. And encouraged them to stay to the end. That night at the tent meeting those two boys committed their lives to Jesus.

The ushers name we don’t know. The two boys we do. Billy Graham and Grady Wilson. Billy Graham became a very well-known evangelist-preaching and leading millions to Christ. Grady Wilson became a close associate to Billy and helped organize many of Graham’s evangelistic crusades. All because of an unknown usher fulfilling their role! Going above and beyond to help someone find their seat, even running after them when they tried to leave.

You may NEVER know the impact what you do will have for Jesus. You may NEVER be known for the work you do for Jesus. But you are still to do it! For the greater good of someone else. For the greater good of the kingdom. To prepare the way for Jesus in this world and in the lives of other people. To display humility. To repent.

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What kind of work does God need to do in you to make you HUMBLE?

John the Baptist could have been focused on himself, but all he did was point people to Jesus. You will be tempted in this life to worry about you and your recognition and what you deserve. When we need to remain humble and recognize our general purpose as a follower of Jesus is to point people to Jesus. The one who changes everything. The one who forgives sins. The one who redeems. The one who empowers people to overcome sin with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion:

John the Baptist is an example for us

A.

…to prepare the way…urging believers to consider how they might prepare the way for Jesus in their lives and communities. Are you ready for His return?

…prepare the way for unbelievers to come to Jesus. Are those has in your circle of influence ready to meet and accept Jesus? Have they?

B.

…Repent and turn from sin…Think about your own life. Is there any work you need to to to prepare for Christ’s work within you?

Father and Son. Son finally asked Father can you help me clean up my room. And the Father helped the son clean up the room.

C.

Let’s remember our purpose and our place. Humbly serving the King Jesus. To be an effective witness for Christ, we must have a heart willing to embrace our role in paving the way for others to know Him.

Response Time:

What about you? Who needs to get busy preparing the way for the returning JEsus? Who needs to repent from sin in their lives? Who needs God to do a work of humbling in them? The altars are open for you. The altars are a place of healing, not humiliation. The altars are a place of grace, not of disgrace.