"As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
Mark 1:2-3 (Read v. 1-8)
John the Baptist was not a Baptist, but he was sent to prepare the way of the Lord by calling upon all to repent of their sins and evil ways and to be baptized in the name of the one who was to come and who would make atonement for the sins of the world by bearing upon the cross the full punishment for the sins of all.
As the Bible tells us in v. 4, "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." And John pointed his hearers to the one who was coming after him but who was mightier and greater than John. He pointed people to Christ Jesus, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
John was just a messenger to point people to Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world. John baptized with water; Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit.
As we expectantly await Jesus' return, we would do well to heed John's message and repent of our sinful ways, looking to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins. Only through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus can we be ready and stand in His judgment! (Cf. Acts 3:19; 4:12).
And we continue the preparatory work of John the Baptist yet today, calling upon all to repent of their evil ways and to place their faith in Christ Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again and is coming in judgment to establish His everlasting kingdom. We call upon all to repent and be baptized in Jesus' name (Acts 2:38-40; Luke 24:46-47; Mark 16:15-16). We baptize with water according to Jesus' command (Matthew 28:19); Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-6; Titus 3:3-7).
Have mercy on us, O God, and wash away our sins in the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we might be ready for His return; and grant that we too would be a voice crying out in the wilderness calling others to repent and look to Jesus for eternal salvation. In His name, we pray. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]
Editorial on 12/13/2017