The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]. 2 ''As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. 3 A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” 4 John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. 6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. 7 And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”
The author of Mark’s Gospel starts his Good News of Jesus Christ the Son of God by introducing the messenger who was sent to prepare the way for the one who was to bring the ‘Good News’ of salvation. The evangelist interpreted passages from the OT (vv. 2-3) as foretelling the coming of Jesus; 'Now I am sending my messenger— he will prepare the way before me (Mal. 3:1).’ 'A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God (Is. 40:3)!' Jesus was the Lord whose way John the Baptist (JBap) prepared. JBap was the link between the OT and the NT. He was the last of the prophets and the first of the witnesses to the Messiah.
JBap preached a baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming of the ‘mightier’ one and the Kingdom of God. It was not a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. John was inviting the people to a conversion of heart, a turning back to God. JBap’s clothing was similar to Elijah’s clothing; “He wore a hairy garment with a leather belt around his waist. It is Elijah the Tishbite (2. Kgs. 1:8)!” Elijah was foretold in the OT to return before the Messiah came; “Now I am sending to you Elijah the prophet, Before the day of the Lord comes (Mal. 3:23).” Jesus also spoke of JBap as Elijah who had already come (Mk. 9:11-13). JBap lived an austere lifestyle as his diet reflected. Relative to Jesus, he ranked himself lower than a non-Jewish slave who would customarily perform the very lowly task of untying sandal straps. John told those who followed him that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. This was fulfilled just before Jesus ascended to heaven (Mt. 28:19; Lk. 24:49; Jn. 20:22).
Almighty God, you prepare your faithful for every task you ask them to do, and you give them everything they need to accomplish the task. We ask that you grant us the grace to have a conversion of heart and turn back to you when we stray so that we too can accomplish the tasks you assign to us. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments