Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Justin McRoberts
Shelter Covenant Church
Observation: Lord, as I look at Mark’s opening, I see two vital things. First, the beginning is “good.” Just as in the beginning of all things what You made was “good,” so Mark reminds me that this process of mine begins with Good News; and that Good News casts its luminous shadow over anything and everything that follows. Yes, there are paths of mine that need straightening and sins in need of confessing and people gone astray in every which way. But brokenness is not the true nature of things; Goodness is.
The second observation is, perhaps, more important for me to see. That You are powerful – You are the ‘’one whose sandals John, with all his prophetic wisdom, is unworthy of untying. In other words, You are Glorious.
My process begins in goodness and ends in glory.
Certainly, along our way there is a laundry list of trials and even a few horrors, but my process, and the process of life I get to live with those to whom you’ve given me, begins in goodness and ends in glory.
Action: As I reflected, I wanted to learn how to trust You more completely in the trials (and sometimes horrors) that mark the road before me. I want to begin my days with an acknowledgement that the You are good, that You have begun a good work in me and that You finish the works you start. At the beginning of each day and each week, want to pray, not first for my needs, wherein I acknowledge my circumstances, but first pray a prayer of blessing and thanks for Your power and goodness. And at the end of my day, my week.. I want to pray a prayer of hopeful trust – that Your plans for me are wrapped up in Your plans for this world You have made – plans that are glorious and perfect, plans I am not worthy of taking part in but, because of Your grace, I am invited into.
Justin those were brilliant insights thanks for those reminders.
My Observation: Jesus, I see a man who isn’t concerned with what others think of him. Anyone who can wear camels hair and eat locust isn’t looking for approval from others. John the Baptist is solid in who he is. He is solid because of whose he is.
Action: This week I will be prepared for how the Holy Spirit is immersing people with Himself and will point people to the one who is greater than I.
It is so important to realize that The Kingdom which Jesus is bringing into us is good. Do often I forget this and need to be reminded. I also need to be reminded that He is powerful, more powerful than the forces of evil. I will reflect in these verses today to be reminded of these important truths.
I agree, Justin’s reflections are wonderful. Life begins with goodness and ends in glory. In between is a struggle, sometimes an all out brawl with the enemy, but as Paul put it, ‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’ Romans 8:18.
My action is to work on trusting in the midst of all that, and to accept God’s reinforcement when I need it.
Observation: John’s witness; After me comes the one more powerful than I. You send me with a message – words and a life.
Action: Remember and remind those I influence all we can be and should be is a witness to the One who is more powerful than I (we).
My observation is, also, that God is the one who needs to get the glory. It is all about Him.
Action: I will meditate on the Scripture today and remember how humble John was. God is the one this is all about. And, also, I will try to listen to others. They are important to God.
Lord, I see a man who understood his place in the bigger story. He knew his call and served with great humility. May I daily serve and value my portion with great humility knowing that it is part of something much greater than me.
I love reading these comments-theyre all so good.
OBSERVATION: If you had asked me yesterday what John’s message was, I probably would have said, “Repent, confess your sins, and be baptised. ” But today I would say John’s message was “He is coming! The holy, mighty Messiah is coming. Get ready” What an exciting and hope-filled message. The focus in this message is fully on Jesus.
ACTION: I’ll give thanks that everyday contains John’s message “He is coming!” And I will eagerly anticipate seeing Him in each day. I will be sure to be ready.
From goodness to glory — love it, Justin. Humility and understanding your place in the bigger picture. Thanks, Peter.
I see seekers. John spoke of a way to release your guilt from sins, something doable and approachable. Something totally different.
There are always seekers. Am I speaking a truth that people are drawn to? Living a life that attracts attention? And is it THE truth and attracting attention for the glory of God, not for the attention itself? My action will be to make sure that is the case — speaking the truth, acting for the glory of God.
You would think someone as powerful as Jesus wouldn’t need a preparer. Thank you very much, but I can manage this road from goodness to glory Myself, I imagine Him saying. But it isn’t so. Jesus humbles Himself to follow a path prepared by someone not worthy to untie His sandals.
Action: How much more do I need to walk a prepared way. Prepared by God, and prepared by a few others around me. I will look for ways to step behind others in front of me, trusting their position there somehow sets my path up just right.