John the Baptist Appeared…Preaching
Posted by Pastor Pat on February 20, 2009
Read Mark 1:2-8
John the Baptist is the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1. He came as the forerunner to the arrival of King Jesus. He came to prepare the way by calling people to repentance and confession for the forgiveness of sin. John is a unique person. Although the role of prophet would continue after John, he is the last of his kind. After him a new order would begin. The simplicity of John’s life is compelling. He was one of only three life-time Nazarites (cf. Samson, Samuel). One of the arresting features of a life-long Nazarite was their vow never to cut their hair (Numbers 6). John was thirty years old when he appeared baptizing individuals in the Jordan. The imagery of a man with thirty years worth of hair wearing the garment of skin set him apart from the general populace. Anyone existing at that time in that geographical location fully understood what he represented.
John’s entire life consisted in his complete devotion to God by preparing the way of one who was coming. This marked him and his ministry. Nothing John did detracted from this singular pursuit. The text before us highlights three aspects of John’s ministry (Mark 1:2-8): the source of his authority, the nature his ministry, and the quality of his humility.
