ON YOUR MARK: WEEK 1 DAY 1

MARK 1:1-8

JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Who are you, and what is your purpose?

Mark wastes no time in telling us what and who this book is about; it is the good news about Jesus. Before the reader can ask, “who is Jesus?”, Mark is ready with his description: Jesus is the Messiah (promised Savior) and the Son of God. Mark not only shares the purpose and identity of Jesus right away, but of John the Baptist as well. John’s purpose was to make the people ready to encounter Jesus; his whole identity was wrapped up in that very purpose. This included the place John lived, the way he dressed, and the way he ate; all of this was because he was appointed to be the one preparing the way for Jesus.

You are made in the image of God, and if you trust in Jesus, are redeemed by God. Your purpose is to follow Jesus and make disciples of Him. Is your identity and purpose influencing every aspect of your life? Is there any part of your life that you have kept separate from your identity and purpose in Christ?