The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

– Mark 1:1-8 (NKJV)

Several years ago I had a really bad infection in my heart. It was so bad that I had to be on powerful antibiotic medicine three times a day for a week. The medicine helped fight the infection, but the doctor said the infection was so bad that it had damaged part of my heart and I needed surgery.

In today’s reading we see people coming to John the Baptist in repentance for their sin and being baptized. John helped them recognize that this was a good first step, but they really needed more. He recognized that he had been sent by God to prepare the way for people to come to God, but he knew that someone else was coming who would bring God, the Holy Spirit, to the people. John could offer water, but what everyone really needed was the Holy Spirit.

The word baptize literally means “to come into” or immersion. We see that picture in the water when someone is immersed or baptized into the water. We can also understand that it is by Jesus that we can be baptized or “brought into” the family of God through the Holy Spirit (John 3).

As we embark on this journey of reading through Mark, I am struck by the ministry of John. He was preparing the way for Jesus. He knew he didn’t have the one thing people really needed, only God did, and so he preached to prepare the way. I am grateful for those whom God has used in my life to prepare the way and point to the work of Jesus.

Father, thank you for sending John to prepare the way for Jesus. Thank you for sending people into my life who have pointed me to you and helped me come to know you and trust in you. I humbly ask that you would use me to point others to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.