Road Word Ahead --- Mark 1:1-8 --- Second Sunday of Advent

 

 

Mark 1:1-8 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,’”

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

First of all, John’s baptism was not Christian. Sure, we call him John the Baptist, but that doesn’t mean the same as what we think of today in churches that baptize. Nope, John’s type of baptism was to prepare Israel… the Israel of his day for the coming reception of Jesus.

Jesus’ coming begins in revival. People then and today want to think that Jesus’ coming is for political change. But political change is NOT why God sent Jesus into this world. Jesus was sent to revive the people yesterday, and today, to eternal life. with, and in, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Here, in this beginning of the Gospel Book of Mark, we learn of the word gospel.

Gospel is the message of salvation through Jesus. Gospel is not “good advice.” Rather gospel is good news. Gospel is much more than guidance. Gospel is life changing.

John’s message is a fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy of one sent to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. In the preparation, the priority is not on John. In the preparation, the priority is on Jesus.

John, or the Church, or ourselves, for that matter; must not do anything to block Jesus’ entry into this world, the Church or our hearts. We are to prepare for Jesus sure entry. Get ready for it! Because Jesus is coming! Like it or not…

And Jesus does come… into the world… into the Church… into the lives of all people.

Yes, Jesus comes in the wilderness of John, Jesus comes into the wilderness of life… Jesus comes yesterday… today… and tomorrow. Prepare for Jesus coming. It’s a sure thing.

But how?

How do we pave this road for Christ? How do we prepare?

Well, it’s certainly not through our actions of paving the road for Christ. Preparation is not about what we do. It’s not about our work. No! The paved road of Jesus coming is not made for me or for you. The paved road is for Jesus coming. So, are we going in circles here? Not at all…

First let’s consider sin. We were all born into a sinful world. We were born into sin and will go out of this world in sin. Sin exists. Want proof? Look around at the war, greed, sexual immorality, gluttony, the lies, the murder, the stealing, the abuse of one another for whatever reason. We sin! I don’t even need to drag Adam and Eve into this thing about sin. Just look around, read the news.

God created paradise. But we sure don’t live in a world of paradise!

So, how do we prepare?

Repentance leads to John’s type of baptism. In John’s baptism the Israelites were to turn away from sin and turn to the coming God in Flesh… Jesus.

Repentance is not just being sorry for your sin. Repentance is NOT confession. In true repentance God breaks me and you down. God turns me and you around to face him. Repentance is an act of God upon you or me. In a sense God is the one that repents you or me. As we turn from our sinful, selfish, lost lives and turn to God, we are made aware of our sinfulness and need for salvation. We see our need for the Gospel. God makes it obvious. We don’t… we can’t… this repentance is God’s work.

This turning from sin to God is not a simple turn. This turn, this metanoia (Greek), is a complete change. In John’s baptism the people came to confess their sin and bury that sin deep in the water to die there under that water. Therefore, John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. A turning from one way of life in the Law to a new way of life in the Gospel of the coming, and soon presence of Jesus.

In this action of God, we separate from the world’s material glory, the world’s power and greed, our own sinfulness and turn to God instead.

Now back to the paving of the road. Jesus enters upon the pavement and shows all the world that Jesus is greater than all. We discover that the paving of the road was never about what we do. The paving of the road belongs to Jesus and the paving of the road points to Jesus coming. Jesus comes to us with a different kind of baptism.

In Jesus’ baptism, it’s not about our own “do” or “go.” Rather, Jesus’ baptism is about “come” and “receive.” In Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit comes to us and invades us. In Jesus baptism life becomes outward, instead of inward. Our life turns away from our selfishness and becomes a life lived in love of God and love of all those God gives to us each and every day.

God wants no one to perish. So, God comes to us upon the road paved straight into our lives at Baptism. God’s Word stands forever. In God’s Word we receive… Through Jesus comes love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace. And they all kiss in Christ.

Come. Lord Jesus, come… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen