Saturday, November 26, 2005

Mark - John the Baptist, the Prophet of God

John the Baptist, the Prophet of God

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

The gospel, the good news, starting at the beginning, telling the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark starts the gospel proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. Some people do not believe that he is God, the Son, yet the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, all show Jesus as the Son of God who came in the form of a human. He is also referred to as the son of man, the son of David the king, the fulfillment of prophecy.

Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

John, the Baptist,not the apostle John, was out in the desert region near the Jordan River. He baptized, immersing people in the river. He preached the baptism of repentance, the change of mind, turning from sin. He preached the remission of sins, not by his baptism, but by one who would follow him. He was preparing His path and preparing the peoples hearts to receive him.

Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Many from all around came to John, the prophet of God, to be baptized, confessing their sins. His baptism did not forgive sins, Jesus would be the one who forgives their sins, removing them completely.

Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

This was not a prophet as Baalam, seeking money or material wealth. He lived alone in the desert, eating what was available in the desert; locusts and wild honey. He covered his loins with the skin of the camel, a coarse hair, the hair used to make sack cloth, the cloth used for repentance. John did not preach a prosperity message, dressed in fancy clothing, he came to preach the way of repentance and to prepare the way for the Son of God.

Jesus would later speak of John in this way: concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? Jesus confirmed that this was the prophet spoken of by Isaiah.

Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

John was the last of the old testament prophets. The new testament began with the shedding of the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, the son of man.

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