Mark begins the gospel with a wilderness voice calling people to prepare the way of the Lord. Before Jesus steps into public ministry, John the Baptist calls people to repentance, reminding us that the good news often begins with conviction before it brings comfort.
Mark 1:1-3 ESV — “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’”
In this Cross Walk devotional, Pastor Jeremy reflects on how the Holy Spirit prepares our hearts for the presence of Jesus. Repentance is not condemnation; it is God’s mercy inviting us to turn, surrender, and clear the road for the King.
Today’s encouragement is to let the Lord straighten what has become crooked, remove what has been hidden, and prepare our hearts for fresh obedience. When Jesus draws near, the best response is surrender.