Mark 1:6-8

Summary of Mark 1:6-8

John the Baptizer wore camel’s hair with a leather belt and he ate honey and locusts.  He focused his teaching on the one who was coming – the one who is mightier than himself.  John says that he’s not worthy to even untie the sandal of the one who is coming. John tells the people that while he may baptize with water, the one who is coming will baptize people with the Holy Spirit.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

John’s lifestyle is intentional.  This isn’t the case of someone living in an ancient culture being different than us modern folks.  This is the case of someone in an ancient culture being different than the rest of the people in that same ancient culture!  Yes, John’s dressing habits were probably meant as a reminder of the prophets of the Old Testament.  However, I think there is something more to it.  John’s dressing and eating habits are a sign that following God implies a certain level of casting off the ways of the world.  To truly follow God and live according to God’s ways, we will necessarily need to forfeit some of the luxuries afforded to us by the world.

Why do you think most of us find John’s habits a bit odd?  On a spiritual level, what does it say about humanity that we see John as odd rather than as a true visionary and an obedient follower?  What luxuries in this life might you be better of forgoing in order to trust in God’s provision?

Second Thought:

John focuses on one who is mightier than him.  John’s focus is not on himself. His focus is on the coming Messiah, the one who will set us right with God, the one who will allow us to be in a direct relationship with God, and the one who will do for us what nobody else can do.  John’s focus isn’t on his own greatness but on God’s greatness and our utter need to rely upon God for forgiveness and righteousness.  He does what every good follower of God should do: he points to God.  {And for those of you who listened to my sermons the past few weeks … let me remind you that not only does he point to God, but John also makes disciples!}

Who is the center of your life?  Who is the center of your speech?  Who is the focus of your actions?  Why is it such a necessary challenge to remind us all that our focus should be on giving glory to God {and making disciples}?

Third Thought:

John is not worthy to untie the sandals of the Messiah.  The household servant/slave was the one who would untie the sandals of a visitor.  Then the servant/slave would wash the feet of a house guest.  John is saying that he isn’t even worthy enough to be a servant in the house that God’s Messiah will visit.  That’s humility right there.

How often do we as human beings become filled with self-righteousness?  How often do we think we are entitled to a visit from God?  Why is it important to remember that technically weren’t like John – not even worthy enough to be a slave in a house that Jesus should visit?  How cool is it to know this and also know that God visits us anyway?

Fourth Thought:

John pronounces a baptism of water for repentance (turning from out old lifestyle).  John also pronounces that Jesus will have a different kind of baptism: Holy Spirit.  I think it is important to keep these two baptisms separate.  All over the New Testament we see stories of people who encounter these baptisms at different stages in their life.  Many encounter water baptism prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Others encounter the baptism of the Holy Spirit prior to the water baptism.  What is rare in the New Testament is to find a story about a person who encounters the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit at the same time.  However, when we understand them as separate events (even if they should overlap the same moment of life) we can allow each component to do its part.  The water is a symbol of the turning away from our prior lifestyle.  As Paul says in Ephesians 1:13-14, the true reception of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of salvation.

Have you spent much time contemplating the two kinds of baptisms represented in the New Testament?  What benefit is there to continuing to think of them as two baptisms that can happen in any order or even simultaneous to one another?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:9-11