"Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" ~Mark 1:2-3

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send My messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ~Mark 1:1-8

John was quite the character - wild and woolly, he lived in the wilderness. I often wondered if his mom understood his calling. Her mind certainly did, but did her heart? Priestly families lived comfortably and had nice things. John pushed that aside to follow a mission that was prophesied hundreds of years before.

He and Jesus were cousins, spending their childhood years together; I wonder when they knew it was time to get to business? When did John leave his secure environment to live in the wild? Did he ever go home to celebrate the Sabbath with his family? Or did he instinctively know that the Messiah would bring the new Sabbath.

So many questions! Some day we will know, but for now, it’s enough to rest assured that the Messiah has come and included all of us, no matter what lineage we come from. Thank You, God!

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” ~Galatians 3:28

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