“As it is written in
the Prophets: ’Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare
Your way before You.’”
This is
the only time Mark quotes the Old Testament on his own (without the words of
Jesus). Obviously, since his audience was to the Gentile Christians, it would
be silly to be constantly spouting off Jewish references, but he does do this
one.
In
ancient times, when kings were riding into a city, they would send messengers
before themselves to announce their arrival and their intent on coming. In
response, the community would often repair the roads the king would be
traveling on before he came.
Isn’t
that exactly what happened with John the Baptist? He came and announced that
the King of all Kings was coming, and that they needed to repair their hearts
(repent), and acknowledge him when he came… because he would take those sins
away if they believed.
Think
now about John’s past. The son of a priest, a few months older than Jesus, his
cousin. His entire life, he has had time to know what Jesus is. But God had
been working on his heart from the very beginning… until he finally led him to
the spot he was in right in this moment. Telling the people that Jesus was
going to begin his ministry.
God
works on our hearts for a long time before things come to fruition. Thinking
about even where I am now, in Costa Rica as an intern for Potter’s Field
Ignite, I remember that it all was from a bunch of little steps. God did a
bunch of little things in my life that led me to where I am. It wasn’t always
the giant moments. It reminds me of a saying, “Every single day of your life
has led you to where you are now. How will you use it?”
Today,
I will do my best to do what I can for his kingdom. God give me the strength,
courage and boldness I need today to teach English to kids that speak close to
nothing of it, while I only speak a little Spanish. Give me the words to say
and the things to do. I will study my Spanish today before going in front of
those kids.
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