The Herald in the Wilderness

Introduction/tension

We’re continuing our study from last week. We’re in a series on the gospel of Mark where we are discovering who Jesus is and how Jesus saves. Mark’s account is historically known to be Peter’s account delivered to Mark and then given to Romans, so they may believe. We spoke last week of the urgency of Mark to deliver this truth to the center of a world that was desperately in need of the message of salvation. and that if the gospel could get to Rome, it would spread to the world. In a similar way, if the gospel can continue to permeate the world around us, how could it spread to the rest of the world. And while LaFayette is in no way ancient Rome, how amazing would it be if God started a revival from a small town in NW Ga.

That’s how this thing started to begin with. From a source no one expected in a small forgotten place in the middle East. Today we’ll see how God ignited this following, preparing the way for the Savior. Last week, we saw where Mark gave us bits of three OT texts to show that John the Baptist was the promised herald of Jesus. The one who would prepare Jesus’ way. Now, last week, we didn’t discuss his name, but today that’s who we’ll look at. And we’ll discover how we can orient our lives based on his example.

A need we all have

And see, just as John the Baptist Heralded Jesus’ arrival, you and I too are messengers of the most wonderful news ever. Our lives can bear the greatest news the world has ever heard. And though we may never have our story written down like John & Jesus. Our lives can be the book someone could read to learn the story of Jesus. I’ve heard it said that “your life may be the only Bible someone ever reads.” And while I hope we wont only rely on that, I do believe it’s true. As Christians, as Jesus’ messengers, people will look at our lives to determine if what they see in us is worth pursuing for themselves. So, does your life show the people around you who Jesus truly is and how sweet his gospel, the good news is?

"Lord help us to be humble enough to hear your word and help us to respond to you in joy as we apply your word to our lives.”

What God Says: Biblical Truth

If you’re able, please stand to honor the word of the Lord.

Mark 1:4–8 CSB

John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Let us be faithful to our calling

What we see very quickly about John is that his life was recognizable. He lived in such a way that stood out. John had a calling form the Lord, proclaimed 700 years before John’s birth. That is that he was meant to be one who prepared the way for the coming one, the messiah. John was locked in. Down to him being a nomad and living off the land so he could travel and proclaim. Part of following Jesus and living our lives where he can be seen by others is us being faithful. John was out there calling people to live their lives in a better way. I love that the Lord orchestrated Hannah’s baptism to be today. For one, her testimony of the Lord’s work in her life is a great example for today’s message. I pray the Lord continue working in her life allowing her to be an example for all to see of how Jesus can change you.

Also, you’ll notice we dunked her completely under the water. John was doing something with folks that wasn’t that surprising. Baptism was a common practice in ancient days and in many belief systems. Usually, baptism was symbolic. It was a person saying, I want to be filly submerged into a thought, idea, or new way of living. Mark states that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. So, people who were following him were being submerged into this idea of turning from their sinful way of living. Turning from their old way of life and turning to something new. John, because of his way of living, and his message was wildly popular and folks lives were being changed. Friends, when we are faithful to our calling from the Lord, people will notice.

Let us point others to Jesus

There’s a very important distinction I want to make sure we see. John didn’t point to himself as the source of forgiveness of sins. Here he tells the folks, there’s someone greater than me. John’s life pointed to the one to come. The Messiah of God. The one who could take away people’s sins. Once and for all. The one who would submerge them into himself through the power of the Holy Spirit. John said he couldn’t even stoop down to untie the messiah’s sandals.

Friends, our lives are meant to redirect the attention from us to Christ. He is everything. He’s the one who can save. He died on the cross to forgive our sins. He is the Lord of heaven and deserves all our praise. Our lives are meant to show others who he is. So, who are you leading to Jesus. Who are you praying for who needs Jesus. Who do you take to lunch and invite to church?

The Lord placed you in their lives. I may never meet them. He placed you there! Point them to Jesus!

Let us walk in deep humility

John was very humble. One, he said, “I can’t untie the sandal strap of the Messiah.” In John’s gospel, he’s recorded to say John 3:30

John 3:30 CSB

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

I love that. I must decrease while my savior increases.

John was so humble he didn’t worry about his clothes. He didn’t worry about his next meal. He devoted it all to Jesus.

Humility is emptying ourselves of ourselves. Are you pursuing humility today? Or are you too worried about your life, your influence, your wardrobe?

Would you walk in humility today as John did?

Let us rely on the Spirit’s power

Lastly, John said something significant. He said, I baptize you with water, but the one to come will baptize you with the holy spirit. We can conclude there wasn’t anything about John’s baptism that would save a person. It could change their life. But it was just water. Today, the water Hannah was baptized in is just water. It’s spiritually significant. A milestone in her walk with Jesus. But what is most significant is what happened to Hannah two years ago when she prayed to ask Jesus to save her. She was baptized with the holy spirit. The Holy Spirit submerged her into Jesus’ love and forgiveness. And she was made new in Christ.

That’s what baptism is, a representation of what happened when a person trusts in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. But it signifies a complete change of life. A new way of living. A way of living that depends on Jesus every day. And you and I can do that by daily depending on the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us.

Ephesians 5:18 CSB

And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:

We need a daily filling of the Spirit in our lives.

So, are you relying on the Spirit’s power every day?

Closing

Friends, I would be remiss today if I did not give you an opportunity to call on Jesus today. He’s inviting you to come to him today.

Matthew 11:28–30 CSB

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:13 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.