24.114 | Repentance | Mark 1:4-8 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

2024-05-10

Text: Mark 1:4-8 ESV 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not w...

Text: Mark 1:4-8 ESV

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5 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.

6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

7 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.

8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

-Mark 1:4-8 ESV

REPENTANCE

John's message to the people to repentance [turn away from their sins] is the spiritual truth behind the geographic metaphor. Their repentance would prepare them for the coming Messiah. In like manner, by rejecting our sins and seeking God's forgiveness, we smooth the way for our hearts to receive God and the forgiveness we so desperately need.

John did appear much different than others. He was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. He himself has recognized that he was the ‘voice from the wilderness.’ And as such, he and his message of repentance was counter-culture and unpopular.

He was a simple prophet with a straight forward prophetic message. The Messiah would soon appear. He exalted Him so much, expressing that the Messiah is so great that a menial job of untying the sandal he felt so unworthy to do. In other words, serving Him is the greatest privilege for John. Do you feel the same?

Why?

He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He grants forgiveness and baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. His giving us the Spirit is the best expression of God’s goodness. As Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” [Luke 11:13]

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