Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
We learn that Jesus Christ and His Gospel will change us. Luke quotes Isaiah's ancient prophecy that at the Savior's coming, "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth."
For me, this shows that all of us can change. While to many it may seem impossible to change, such as a mountain being brought low. However, we have all seen in nature how in an instant change can happen and it can be drastic change, and it is no different when it comes to us. Christ can change us in an instant from the inside out.
Those who are high and haughty can be made low, and those that are low can be elevated to a higher plane. With Christ all things are possible. Everyone of us has room for growth and improvement no matter what our current status is in life.
In order to be ready for this change, we must accept John the Baptist's invitation to repent and change. To prepare our mind and hearts to be ready to receive Jesus Christ. We must bring forth the fruit of repentance and be baptized.
This week we learn that Mark is the Gospel writer that we know the least about. We know that he was a missionary companion of Paul, Peter, and several other missionaries. Many scholars believe that Peter directed Mark to record what he did about the events of the Savior's life. And it is believed that Mark's Gospel was written before the other three.
What is repentance? Repentance is a might change of mind and heart. It was John the Baptist's mission to prepare the hearts and minds of the people to receive the Savior and to be willing to become more like him. How did he prepare the way? He said "Repent ye." He used some beautiful examples of wheat and fruit to portray and teach us about repentance.
He even warned that the ax is laid at the root of the tree and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast into the fire. He also mentions that the fan is in the master's hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor. He will gather the wheat into the garner but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
Somethings that really stand out to me about John the Baptist, are first his humble life. He is clothed in camel's hair, he eats locusts and honey, and he lives in the wilderness. We often talk about Christ's humble birth, and rightfully so, but John the Baptist had a humble life as well. I also am impressed by his straight forward way of speaking truth to individuals who asked him what they should do.
He tells the Pharisees and the Sadducees that they are a generation of vipers, and asks them who warned them to flee from the wrath that was coming. He then goes on to tell them to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. He bluntly tells them that they think that they are chosen simply because they are the descendants of Abraham. That they are the chosen people. But he tells them that God has the power to take the very stones and raise up children unto Abraham. And it is to them that he talks about the ax being at the root of the tree.
He also taught them that he baptizes with water, but there is one greater than he that will come after that will baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Then he also tells them about the master purging his floor.
There are people who came from several different places mentioned to be baptized of John. And after he shared the above mentioned messages of repentance with them, they asked him what they should do. He told them that if they have two coats to give to those who have none. And he says that if you have meat, then do likewise.
When the publicans came, they asked what they shall do, and he told them that they should exact no more taxes than those which are appointed them. Which it was a common practice to take more in taxes and they would keep the difference for themselves.
When the soldiers came to be baptized and they asked him what they should do, he tells them that they should do no violence unto any man, he tells them not to accuse people falsely and to be content with their wages.
And the scriptures go on to say that many other things John exhorted them to do.
Repentance leads us to have a change of heart and mind. It gives us a fresh new view of God, about ourselves, and about the world. It means that we will turn both our heart and our will toward God. We can see from the above examples that John the Baptist asked for change to take place in each situation. It is no different from us. We must change. We must also bring forth the fruits of repentance.
We also see from these chapters of scripture that Jesus Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. John expressed that he needed to be baptized of Christ, and that Christ had no need of baptism. However, Christ says let us fulfill all righteousness and John baptized Him. If Christ needs to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, then how much more are we in need of baptism?
Reflecting on my own baptism, I am grateful for the opportunity to choose to follow Christ's example to be baptized and to enter into that covenant path with Him.
For a Deeper Dive Into These Chapters, See Below
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