Mark 1:2-8 John the Baptist
Take time every day to communicate with God through prayer and Bible study.
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: December 24, 2017 Mark 1:2-8
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word
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.”
(Understanding the Passage) Anything that is included in Mark must have a purpose. I think the purpose here is to set the stage for Jesus’ baptism. Peter would have included the baptism when he witnessed to people about Jesus because the baptism was when either he heard or people he knew heard God the Father testify that Jesus was His son. Thus, Mark had to set the scene up for those who had not experienced John’s firsthand witness. First, Mark begins with a scriptural prophecy that John the Baptist had applied to himself. Then, Mark shows how John was a fulfillment of this prophecy and how popular John was with the people.
Why was it necessary for John to prepare the way at this time? I tried to find out if the Jews were being extra wicked at this time, but I could not find any information about that question. I know that there must have been extra demoniac activity since there were so many mentions of casting out demons in the New Testament. Maybe John just needed to jumpstart the Jews into thinking about their spiritual life. He showed them not only that they were sinful, but that there was forgiveness from God for their sins if they repented. He was also a herald, announcing the appearance of royalty.
Even though he stayed in the wilderness area, people from all over Judea including Jerusalem would come out to hear him and be baptized in the Jordan River. People from Jerusalem would have to travel northwest to reach John the Baptist. From Nazareth, Jesus would have had to travel south west.
John already knew about being baptized by the Holy Spirit. He was filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb and drawn to Jesus even before either of them was born. Thus, John knew how to listen to God and follow His instructions. John was still human with doubts and lacked some key knowledge. However, his humility allowed him to listen and be led by the Spirit. He had a connection with God that allowed him to be used in a great way.
Multiple gospels describe John’s unique way of life. I’m not sure why this was important, but it must have been important in order for them to all include this aspect of John. I think this might have been to show that John was a Nazarene, dedicated to God in a special way. I think that it might have also been to connect him to Elijah in the people’s minds.
(Revelation of God) God wants everyone to be saved. He made every effort to prepare people’s hearts so that they would be ready for the Messiah. He is making the same effort today. He will leave no avenue untried to reach even the most hardened heart with His love.
(Application) The only lesson for myself that I get this morning is that I should emulate John’s humility–his ability to listen to God and follow those lessons, as well as his lack of ego where his Master was concerned. John did not let his popularity go to his head. He knew that he was a messenger and that the greater one was always to be his focus. He knew that His Master was coming even though he didn’t know what his Master looked like. John had faith in the Messiah strong enough for him to move the nation of Israel to repentance so that they would be ready for the appearance of their Master. I, too, need the faith to prepare the way for the coming of my Master who I have never seen, to bring the people around me to repentance and to prepare the way for the Lord.
(Prayer) I pray that I will be humble like John and point everyone to You rather than taking glory for myself. Help me to listen to Your Spirit when You speak to me, and to faithfully follow Your direction.