Gospel Beginnings: Preparing for Jesus

We start this morning’s message by returning to the gospel of Mark, John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, the disciple and assistant of Peter, and the eventual co-laborer and encourager of the apostle Paul. We spoke last time that the existence of the gospel of Mark, even as we have it today, came largely from the hunger and zeal to know more of the Messiah from the words and teachings of Peter. It wasn’t just enough to hear it spoken, they ,the Christians in Rome, wanted the teaching to be written down so that they might meditate, memorize, and mine every word to its fullest understanding. This is the record of the first century church… just like the church in Berea, who searched the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so, it is also true of this first century church, and it should be true of every Bible-believing follower of Christ. We all should long with great eagerness to hear the Word of God. I greatly appreciate those on groupme that have been encouraging our people to pray in earnest for the preaching and receiving of the Word of God. It is a very Christ exalting action and should be a very normative practice for those that profess to love Jesus.

And that is Mark’s goal. For his audience to know the power, love, and the authority of the Messiah. Mark begins his gospel unlike any of the other gospel writers… He begins with a prologue to introduce the main character and main theme. That main character is Jesus. He doesn’t say as much to introduce the main character as some other gospel writers do, but what he says it definitely enough to captivate his intended audience. He introduces Jesus as the GOSPEL Christ… the theme so evident in the book. Euangelion, the word used by both Gentile and Jew to describe a royal announcement of glad tidings and good news. An announcement of peace, of victory, and a perfect reign.

So how does Mark introduce the Messiah of this royal announcement. Well, as with all royal visitations… preparations are in order. Kings typically don’t show up unless proper preparations have been accomplished first. That being of a proper messenger to announce the news, and of course a proper message to have the people aware of what is taking place.

This series has been entitled Gospel Beginnings as we continue to unpack the 13 verse prologue of Mark… Today’s thrust will be seeing how Mark focused on the Preparations for Jesus.

Let’s begin by reading Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1–8 ESV

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 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. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 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.”

Great kings require great messengers to proclaim their arrival. Before we can focus on the messenger, scriptures… the gospels go even further than just describing a messenger and a message. They go on to show the eternal plan of God unfold. What Mark and the other gospel writers need their readers to understand is that the coming of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the King was no secondary plan or afterthought.… nope it was the very plan of God all they way back to eternity past. Not just the Kings coming, but all details concerning His coming, including that of his prophesied messenger.

So let’s look together at this now...

I. The Prophecy of a Gospel Messenger (v.2-3)

It’s once again interesting to note the style and the thought behind what was recorded in Mark’s gospel. Mark, writing to a Gentile Christian, begins his gospel with quotations from the Old Testament. These are, in fact, the only Old Testament quotes found in this gospel other that a few that Mark records Jesus speaking himself. That significant because the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies would have been as big a concern for Gentile christians as it would have been for Jewish ones simply from the fact that most Gentile christians wouldn’t have really known much about the Old Testament. Yet, in this case here, fulfilled prophecy on this point, is essential. Once again, the important thing to remember, is that by beginning with prophecy of a messenger proves that God was and is in control all along.

The prophecies that Mark includes are both attributed to Isaiah but are actually in two different locations. That’s not uncommon for authors to lump prophecies together and attribute them to the more prominent one. Regardless, we find them in...

Malachi 3:1 ESV

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi was written to address corrupt priests who hadn’t conducting correct sacrifices, moral failures of marriages and family life, and a neglect on giving tithes to God… which Malachi calls “robbing God”. In the midst of the Lord’s message to the people thru the prophet Malachi, God restates his love and faithfulness to the people of Israel… ultimately promising hope for ultimate restoration thru the coming of the promised Messiah. In the middle of the book, God instructs Malachi to write about the coming of a messenger who would “prepare the way of the Lord.”

This messenger is said to come suddenly and bring in the covenant in which you will find great delight. Suddenly doesn’t mean immediately. 400 years would pass before this prophecy came true. But suddenness means rather “unannounced.” For a large portion of the Jews, this messenger would seemingly appear out of nowhere, yet the fame of him would spread far and wide.

It’s clear what this messenger would do. He would prepare the way. Mark under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit makes a subtle change to the prophecy of Malachi. Rather than saying… “he will prepare the way...”, Mark says “he will prepare YOUR way.” This subtle change is to make sure the reader understands that this prophecy is a very Messianic Prophecy. It’s dealing with the coming of God. Other gospels like Matthew and John are very clear on this.

Another prophecy Mark included in his record came from Isaiah 40:3. This he uses to make clear that the messenger that was being foretold to come can without a doubt be attributed to John the Baptist.

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

This prophecy perfectly depicts the last of the prophets, John the Baptist, as he with fiery passion, cries out to the people of Israel from the desert to repent and turn to God.

So now that we have seen a bit of prophecies regarding the divinely appointed messenger, now let’s look a little closer at who this “Preparer of the Gospel Messiah” was.

II. The Preparer of the Gospel Messiah (v.4-6)

Directly after Mark brings up the prophecies of the forerunner, our writer per his usual style, immediately inserts who this prophecied messenger is. John appeared.

It’s worth noting that our writer Mark, doesn’t include any information whatsoever about this man John. There is almost no introduction to this man whatsoever. No family tree, no birth record, no place of origin, no academic training. Just a prophecy then a name. Some have interpreted that to mean that Mark presupposed some of readers to already know who John was, therefore he didn’t need to give them much else information.

That may be true, but I think the exclusion of that other background information that a purpose. Everything in Mark’s gospel is clearly there to point to one reality. Jesus Christ the Messiah. Therefore, what is told about John is enough to stick with that theme. And what was it that Mark gave his readers to understand about John that would serve the overall theme of Jesus the Messiah. Mark wanted His readers to understand in his brief description the actions and the Appearance of the Gospel messenger.

A. The Actions of Messenger

We read once again that both the prophecies and the gospels record that the messenger would be one who...

“Prepares the way of the Lord, make straight his paths”-

The word prepare gives the meaning as one who clear away obstacles. Part of a royal messengers job was to go on ahead of the King and make sure that the roads were clear and “good” state for the kings arrival. This meant that sometimes reparations were needed. Roads needed repaired. Along with that responsibility, messengers were tasked with properly informing the people of the King’s coming. What King would appreciate arriving to a place where no one was gathered. Everyone going about their business, nothing cleaned up, no banners, no music, this just wasn’t proper. So messengers task were to get the place looking good, the people gathered and ready to cheer.… that would mean word would need to be spread and often business’ were needing to be closed down so that all could be ready. It was an important. John was tasked with such a thing. He didn’t need to close down business and fix roads, but what he did to prepare for God’s arrival was far more important. And here are the primary two things that He did to prepare the way of the Lord.

Mark 1:4 ESV

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

The Baptisms of John

One question we might ask as Christians living in the century.… What did John’s baptisms accomplish? Were the baptism that he conducted the same as what we observe today? To answer that question, we must once again go back to an understanding of what baptisms meant in the time of John the baptist.

Baptism was not the invention of John. Nor did baptisms begin with John. Long before John arrived on the scene, Jews regularly witnessed baptisms within their worship practices but its far different from what we might expect. Jews practices baptism thru the onetime washing of Gentile proselytes. In other words, those that converted from Gentile beliefs to Jewish beliefs. This one time symbolic act represented their being cleansed from all pagan worship and instead clinging to the one true faith.

When contrasting it with John’s baptism, Macarthur summarizes it well.

Mark 1–8: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Prophet of the New King (1:4–6)

For a Gentile proselyte to be baptized was nothing extraordinary. But John’s call for Jews to be baptized was radical. In essence, it required them to see themselves as outsiders who must acknowledge that they were no more fit for the Messiah’s kingdom than the Gentiles. John’s baptism directly confronted the religious hypocrisy that permeated first-century Judaism. It challenged his listeners to consider the reality that neither being a physical descendant of Abraham nor a fastidious observer of Pharisaical laws were sufficient grounds by which to gain admittance into God’s kingdom.

People from all around the country were coming out to John in droves. The way Mark describes this is by using the imperfect tense of the greek word. It’s intended to give us the idea of long-continuous line being formed to be baptized by John.

But it wasn’t just the act of baptism that Mark highlights, it was also the...

The Preaching of John

It says that he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. It’s important we understand what that word means.

The word repentance first of all, doesn’t simply mean feeling sorry for one’s actions. Rather, it’s literal meaning it to “turn about.” So the full idea behind this action is a deliberate change of mind resulting in a change of direction in behavior and practice. Say it this way.… true repentance involves a transformation of one’s nature.

Not highlighted in this gospel so much, but other gospels highlight the fiery judgment that John the Baptist proclaimed. Judgement of the supposed shepherds of Israel, the religious leaders… calling them brood of vipers. Judgement on Israel that would result in them being left out of the messianic kingdom for their hardness of hearts and ignorance to sin. Israel didn’t want that, so thousands came to him to be baptized in symbolic admission and confession of sins. That’s why they were baptized. It proved the reality of their hearts towards their sins and the transformation taking place within them.

Mark 1–8: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Prophet of the New King (1:4–6)

Those whose self-righteous pride remained would never undergo such a public, humbling act. But those whose minds had truly turned to forsake their sin and pride would eagerly declare themselves to be no better than Gentiles—sinners who recognized their unworthiness and their need to walk rightly before God. Thus, baptism marked the outward profession of inward repentance; it did not generate repentance but was its result

This baptism didn’t save them as baptism today doesn’t save us, but it did prepare the way for the salvation that would come thru Jesus. The only way they would accept and receive a savior is to realize first that they needed one and that would mean a recognition of their sins. It was time to notice the obstacles in the road, the stubbornness of their human heart, and move it to humbleness before the coming King.

This was the task of God’s appointed messenger. The herald of the coming King.

Can you imagine if this divinely appointed servant was lazy with his task. What if the Master arrived and found the roads to be broken, the streets to be dirty, and no one anywhere to be found. What would become of that messenger.

As we think about messengers, we too hold a position of “authority” in God’s kingdom. He has given us the opportunity to also speak on his behalf as ambassadors to the world. Our task is similiar to John’s task. To make ready the way of the Lord. John was preparing people for the Lord’s first coming. It is our responsibility to prepare people for his second coming.

I trust that we will not be found idle when he comes back. “You wicked and lazy servant.” That we would be about the work of announcing the coming of the King.

As we continue thru our passage, lets consider next the appearance of the Messenger as it relates to the Messiah.

B. The Appearance of the Messenger

Mark 1:6 ESV

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

As you read this verse, couple questions might come up. One, why does John chose to live and dress like a radical wild man? Two, why does scripture see it significant enough to include in all the gospel accounts? So we all be dressing like John the Baptist.

I’d like to give you three different suggestions for why John the Baptist might have wore these clothes and what role they played.

Practical Reason

As noted in our prophecies, the royal messenger to come would cry out from a certain location.… the wilderness. As such, John would select garments fit for a rugged lifestyle rather than selecting garments that would fit the style and fashion of the day. Practically speaking, he wore clothes that fit the need. It’s worth mentioning here that there was a reason for him to preach and baptize from the desert than rather having him go to the cities and places where people were.

William Lane explains it this way....

Mark 1–8: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Prophet of the New King (1:4–6)

The summons to be baptized in the Jordan meant that Israel must come once more to the wilderness. As Israel long ago had been separated from Egypt by a pilgrimage through the waters of the Red Sea, the nation is exhorted again to experience separation; the people are called to a second exodus in preparation for a new covenant with God.… As the people heed John’s call and go out to him in the desert far more is involved than contrition and confession. They return to a place of judgment, the wilderness, where the status of Israel as God’s beloved son must be re-established in the exchange of pride for humility. The willingness to return to the wilderness signifies the acknowledgment of Israel’s history as one of disobedience and rebellion, and a desire to begin once more. (The Gospel according to Mark, New International Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1974], 50–51)

Speaking of symbolism… there was also a symbolic reason for the appearance of John the Baptist.

Symbolic Reason

Scriptures says that John wore camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, eating locusts and wild honey. Students of the Old Testament who knew their profits might have recognized the similarities between John and another great prophet.

2 Kings 1:8 ESV

They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

There can be no coincidence that John wore almost the exact same garments as Elijah did. This he did to be recognized by the people that he indeed was God’s appointed man, the prophet. The angel Gabriel himself spoke of the connection.

Luke 1:15–17 ESV

for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Jesus himself made the connection.

Matthew 11:12–14 ESV

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Spiritual Reason

John’s whole appearance was strikingly different than that of anyone living in that day. His garb was an outward reflection of who he was inside. He chose this “style” to match his preaching. John wasn’t the only preacher in that day. Many religious leaders occupied that position as well. But John set himself up as radically different than them. Not just in his teaching but also in his dress. This was yet another way that John used to rebuke the religious leaders of that day. The pharisees dressed refined, sophisticated. They worried much with their outward appearance and their places of comfort and ease. Many in that day admired the pharisees for this privileged positions. John on the other hand cast off those comforts and elevated positions in desire of eternal things. His radical lifestyle and appearance served as a reminder that pleasures and pursuits in this world are not what we are after and can actually keep us from knowing the truth. They can lock us in our sin rather than have us turn from it.

With all that being said, it’s also worth saying that John never instructed his followers to dress like him, to live in the wilderness like him, or to perhaps smell like him. These served a purpose but they were not the purpose. So believers today can take lessons from John’s behavior and heart, but do not need to feel compelled to dress like a wild man. Rather, we should ask the question, in what subtle ways in my life am I pointing people to Christ? Or a better question would be, what areas in my life are actually working as a stumbling block to having others realize their sin and need for a Savior.

Having now worked through the actions and appearance of the preparer of the Gospel Messiah, Let’s now look at the person of the Gospel Message.

III. The Person of the Gospel Message (v.7-8)

In these two verses, John the Baptist describes what the coming King will be like and what he will do.

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.”

A. Incomparable in Authority and Power

Thinking about the significance of John’s ministry, he was a man a great power… power of influence. When Mark describes John’s influence, he rightly stated that all of Judea came to see John in the wilderness. Again, that’s not to be taken literally. Not all went, but I would like to believe that almost knew of John the Baptist. Religious leaders came to see him, many of Jesus’ own disciples came to see him before they knew the Christ, Herod knew of John the Baptist. He was a very influential man, and an influential man is a man with power.

Yet, when John the divinely appointed messenger has the opportunity to speak… .he speaks nothing of himself or his greatness though he has much influence. He uses all of his influence to point people to the greatness of the coming King.

John does so in the most compelling comparison.

He says to the crowd… you might think I am so great.… but I am nothing. (once again so different than the Pharisees and religious leaders who loved to be seen and applauded). I am not even worthy to stoop down and take off his sandals. That’s a significant statement that only the gospel of Mark includes.

If you were student living in that day, and were under the teachings of a Rabbi, you were often required to carry out menial tasks, but you were never expected to remove someone’s sandals. That work was only for the slaves. When John says that I’m not even worthy to take of the sandals of the coming King what he in essence says is 2 things.… I am below that of a slave in rank to my king. secondly, John is in essence accepting that role as beneath a slave in the kingdom of God. The great preacher, prophet, messenger of the King sees himself only as the lowliest slave… This isn’t self-humiliation for no point. This isn’t a pity-party. This is proper recognition of our place before a magnificient God. John was able to do all that he did because he properly identified where he stood on the pecking board.

Jesus in his earthly ministry identified how critical this perception of self needs to be in His kingdom when he said the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

So Jesus is incomparable in Authority and Power. Even if we had the ear of the entire world to hear and respond to our voice. Even if we had that kind of influence, our state would still be beneath that of a slave to the King of Kings. It’s so vital that we understand that.

Not only is the king incomparable in Authority and Power but also.…

B. Incomparable in Deeds and Actions

John continues to distance himself from God… a common practice of John.… He must increase and I must decrease. This he does by comparing there ministries and deeds. John says I baptize you with water, but He Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 describes this baptism of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

This was what the disciples and apostles looked forward to.

Acts 1:5 ESV

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

That was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2 records how for the first time people were permanently filled by the indwelling Holy Spirit and the church begun. When the Holy Spirit baptizes He places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. This is a one-time act that permanently changes a persons life. It’s in connection with regeneration, spiritual transformation, and salvation.

So what John is essentially saying is that big whoop.… “All I can do is wash you on the outside with water… a symbolic representation of your need to be clean.… but the coming King, He can actually cleanse you, He can actually change you on the inside. He can actually make you new.”

This is a really good statement from Macarthur’s commentary.

Mark 1–8: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Preeminence of the New King (1:7–8)

John’s statement regarding the Holy Spirit must have thrilled the hearts of the faithful Jews who heard him preach. In keeping with the promises of the Old Testament, they hoped for the day when God would “pour out [His] Spirit on all mankind” (

So Jesus’ works are greater.

Application:

Are you busy about the work for which the king has for you?

Does you lifestyle choices help or hinder the cause of Christ?

How do you use your influence? Is it to make yourself look good or Christ?

Does God pouring His Holy Spirit on you in salvation cause you regular and continuous joy?