Bethlehem Baptist Church

Preparing The Way

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The Gospel of Mark, at the core is about Discipleship. A real relationship with Jesus, following Jesus,  trusting Jesus, fellowship with Jesus, believing in the teachings of Jesus, being molded and shaped by Jesus, and preparing to face what Jesus faced. 

  • All the Gospels give an account of John proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
  • My favorite…John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
  • Here in Mark we get the overview of what happened. 
    • We get introduced to John the Baptist, what he was doing, and why he was doing it. 
      • Baptizing in the wilderness
      • proclaiming a baptism of repentance (remember the word repentance)
      • for the forgiveness of sins.
      • As crazy as John the Baptist was, people were coming to him. Confessing sins to him.
      • John the Baptist also recognized his purpose…
        • “After me comes he who is mightier than I”
          • John the Baptist was humble.
          • “The strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie”
            • John the Baptist recognized his place and worth.
            • “I have baptized you with water”
              • John used what he could, what he had…water to wash and cleanse away sin.
              • It makes sense…when we are dirty we get in water and wash to get clean. 
              • But when John the Baptist was baptizing people Jesus hasn’t yet died or resurrected. 
              • The act of baptism was yet another means by which people tried to rid themselves of sin but couldn’t. 
                • The act of baptism did not, does not even today, atone for sin.
                • However, Jesus seen the importance of this act and asked John the Baptist to baptism Him.
                  • Jesus knew that what John the Baptist was doing was meaningful, had importance, and would allow for people to remember.
                  • Jesus is the one that made Baptism important, necessary, and meaningful.
                  • John prepared the way for us to follow The Way, Jesus. 
                  • Prior to John the Baptist people were doing cleansing rituals that could be considered baptism-like.
                    • None were being baptized as John the Baptist called…for the repentance of their sins.
                      • Repent means to turn away from…
                      • So John was calling for people to be washed clean of their sins, but it’s more. 
                      • John the Baptist was sent to “Prepare the Way”.
                        • His purpose was to get people ready for the Messiah…for Jesus.
                        • The way that John baptized people was fulfilling the prophecy that told us that Jesus would die, be buried, and then raised again to life.
                          • It wasn’t just so people could get clean…baptism was to prepare people for Jesus, “the Way, the Truth, the Life.”
                          • When Jesus was baptized by John it changed everything. The whole purpose of baptism changed from simply getting clean to dying to one’s self. 
                          • Jesus comes out of the water and Heaven opens up.
                              • v.11 there is a voice from Heaven.
                                • “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
                                • There are witnesses to Heaven opening up, the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus, and now a voice. 
                                • For those gathered, witnessing the baptism of Jesus, this is a special moment and one that brought many to faith in Christ. 
                                  • Acts 2:41 talks about Peter continuing the message of “Repent and be baptized”.
                                    • Thousands have heard and received this message that John the Baptist Prepared.
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                                      Bethlehem Baptist ChurchBy Bethlehem Baptist Church