Mark 1:4- 8 (MSG)
John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey. As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out."
Two things stick out more than any other in the reading today. First, God’s choice to be the “introduction” to Jesus’ earthly ministry. By worldly standards, John (the Baptist, not the Pastor) was as mentally disturbed as they come with his myriad of odd behaviors and bohemian lifestyle. He shouted about repentance, how God was coming soon and he wore camel skins and ate locusts. Remind you of anyone you may have seen on the street corner lately? But this is what God does over and over again. He uses those things and those people that the world writes off to be His light to the world. (There is hope for you and I!). It’s a reminder that we should not judge by worldly appearances because God can use anyone to spread the Gospel. So part of our life-change is seeing the world differently- from the alcoholics and addicts in the shelter to the kids in our classrooms.
The second thing leaping off the page is this: Despite his message being one of repentance and death-to-self, the people thronged from all over the countryside to hear- and follow- this baptism. This is but a small example showing us how much people truly want, and desperately need, hope. And we desperately want to make a change and become willing to do anything to make it happen. To be open and honest in confession. To change. To find purpose and direction. To fill the Jesus-shaped void within.
Are you desperate or hungry enough for God that you will make a life-change?
