Mark 1:4-11

Enter John the Baptist

John the Baptist enters the stage in Mark 1 as the “voice of one crying in the wilderness,” (Isaiah 40:3) whose message and ministry is to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Mark describes the wildness of John’s wilderness attire and the relatively slim variety of his palate as reminiscent of the ascetic life of the prophet Elijah. His arrival brings a magnetism to the surrounding region of Judea and the cosmopolitan center of Jerusalem. His rugged and raw appeal stirs desire in the hearts of the nation to find their way to freedom and deliverance. The sinners, not the saints, flock to John’s side; surprisingly, John’s younger cousin, Jesus, joins the throng gathered at the river.

Why Baptize…