MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM

Passage: Mark 1:1-8

Key verse: 3

NIV

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b](B) 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”[c](C)—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[d](D)

4 And so John the Baptist(E) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance(F) for the forgiveness of sins.(G) 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,(H) and he ate locusts(I) 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.(J) 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”(K)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One.
  2. Mark 1:1 Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.
  3. Mark 1:2 Mal. 3:1
  4. Mark 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
  5. Mark 1:8 Or in
  6. Mark 1:8 Or in
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, (A)the Son of God.[a]

2 (B)As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,[b]

(C)“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way,
3 (D)the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    (E)‘Prepare[c] the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

4 (F)John appeared, baptizing in (G)the wilderness and proclaiming (H)a baptism of (I)repentance (J)for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, (K)confessing their sins. 6 Now John was (L)clothed with camel's hair and (M)wore a leather belt around his waist and ate (N)locusts and (O)wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, (P)“After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 (Q)I have baptized you with water, but (R)he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 1:1 Some manuscripts omit the Son of God
  2. Mark 1:2 Some manuscripts in the prophets
  3. Mark 1:3 Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Mark writes about the beginning of Jesus' ministry on this earth. The ministry of Jesus had been prophesied throughout history. Verses 2 and 3 tell us the prophesy concerning Jesus and John the Baptist: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"; " A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

This messenger was John the Baptist. He was a messenger of Jesus to prepare the way for him. He appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The way to prepare our heart for Jesus is by repentance. We can see that people were thirsty for Jesus, the Messiah. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem came to John. They came out and confessed their sins and were baptized. They were ready to receive the messiah in their hearts. By repenting, they made a straight path for Jesus to their hearts.

Jesus cannot come into a heart cluttered with many sins. When we repent of our sins before Jesus and make straight paths for him in our heart, Jesus is ready to come in.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to repent of all our known and unknown sins so that Jesus may come into our hearts.

One Word: Repent, and make straight paths for Jesus