“2 See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight” Isaiah 40:3.
Mark begins his Gospel with the reference above to what Isaiah, the prophet, wrote about John the Baptizer more than 700 years before the birth of Christ. John was sent by God as His messenger. John was like the angels who are also God’s messengers. And God sent John the Baptizer into the desert to announce a baptism of repentance, to forgive sins (see Mark 1:4). You see, from the beginning, God has His plan, and the plan of God always surprises. After all, no one expected God to come as One who called us to repent!
John was a shouting voice, a voice c crying out from the wilderness! Instead of just remembering the story of Exodus, John was telling us that we too are part of the story. While Israel had to leave behind Egypt and the world of sin, so too are we to leave behind our word of sin and follow Christ. Oh yes, we are very much a part of the story. Each of our lives is a part of the story. And what we ALL share in this story is the call to repent! It’s time to stop, turn around, retrace our steps, and then get on the right path and follow Christ. That is what repentance means! This is why John’s baptism was a “baptism of repentance” Mark 1:5. What John did with water Jesus would do with the Holy Spirit, or the Baptism of Fire!
So dear friends, as we begin to bring the Gospel of Mark to prayer, leet us begin today with our repentance. Turn around in your prayer, retrace your steps, and bow down before the Lord today in prayer, asking Him for the grace of repentance. Bring your repentance to God in prayer today.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” Acts 3:19.
“Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’”
Matthew 4:17.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 4:17.
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