January 2nd, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Getting It Straight

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees… Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law…” (Psa. 119:33,34).

Read Mark 1:1-8

[1] The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, [2] as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”- [3] “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'” [4] And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. [6] John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

What would you like to hear God say to you today? Consider verse 11.

Think Further

 

 “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah” (1) makes an arresting start to the Gospel for anyone who knew the story of God’s people at the time. The good news of Jesus’ victory suggests that the Messiah has won the battle. What battle is that?
Mark drops a hint in verses 2 and 3 (quoting Mal. 3:1 and Isa. 40:3). This prophecy speaks of returning from exile in Babylon to the Promised Land, as God has won the battle against the enemies of his people. Mark compares John preaching in the desert to the prophets who originally spoke these words. Just as God rescued his people from political oppression then, so God would rescue his people now. John’s hearers could have thought that John heralded rescue from the political domination of the Romans and the Herods. He preached of one who was coming who was stronger than he, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel had prophesied that when God restored the nation he would pour his Spirit into people’s hearts so that they would choose to obey the Law (Ezek. 36:24–27). At least one ancient Jewish text spoke of the Messiah making the nation holy and teaching them the Law.
People flocked to be baptized, confessing their sins, repenting and seeking forgiveness. They wanted to be a part of what they wanted to hear—God ending Roman rule. There is a twist in Mark’s tale, however. John calls the people to “prepare the way for the Lord” (3). As Mark makes clear later in his Gospel, this is the way to Jerusalem and the cross, as Bartimaeus discovers (Mark 10:52). The battle Jesus fights is against selfishness and his way is self-sacrifice. As we choose to follow him, we may find that he changes our priorities and our understanding of what he wants to do in our lives.

 “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah” (1) makes an arresting start to the Gospel for anyone who knew the story of God’s people at the time. The good news of Jesus’ victory suggests that the Messiah has won the battle. What battle is that?

Mark drops a hint in verses 2 and 3 (quoting Mal. 3:1 and Isa. 40:3). This prophecy speaks of returning from exile in Babylon to the Promised Land, as God has won the battle against the enemies of his people. Mark compares John preaching in the desert to the prophets who originally spoke these words. Just as God rescued his people from political oppression then, so God would rescue his people now. John’s hearers could have thought that John heralded rescue from the political domination of the Romans and the Herods. He preached of one who was coming who was stronger than he, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel had prophesied that when God restored the nation he would pour his Spirit into people’s hearts so that they would choose to obey the Law (Ezek. 36:24–27). At least one ancient Jewish text spoke of the Messiah making the nation holy and teaching them the Law.

People flocked to be baptized, confessing their sins, repenting and seeking forgiveness. They wanted to be a part of what they wanted to hear—God ending Roman rule. There is a twist in Mark’s tale, however. John calls the people to “prepare the way for the Lord” (3). As Mark makes clear later in his Gospel, this is the way to Jerusalem and the cross, as Bartimaeus discovers (Mark 10:52). The battle Jesus fights is against selfishness and his way is self-sacrifice. As we choose to follow him, we may find that he changes our priorities and our understanding of what he wants to do in our lives.

 

Apply

What priorities do you think Jesus wants you to change? What is your understanding of what Jesus wants to do in your life?

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, I need to be delivered from the habit of placing my expectations on You. I am not God—You are. Accomplish Your will in my life.

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