Mark 1:2 (NASB)

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way;

Bible Commentary

Mark 1:2 is a Bible verse that describes who John the Baptist was. It was his calling to proclaim Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and to preach forgiveness of sin and baptize the repentant.

This message was totally different than anything that had ever been taught. Before Christ, there had to be a sacrifice given for the atonement of sin.

Leviticus 4:31 Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat was removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar for a soothing aroma to the LORD. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

The religious leaders of that time thought John was some crazy man who was living in the woods teaching this radical message of redemption.

Besides being the messenger of God, John was also the preparer. I don’t know about you, but when thinking about John going before and preparing the way for Christ, I visualize an image of John clearing a path in the jungle–machete in hand, chopping and clearing away the limbs and brush in front of them.

But what John was literally doing was preparing the people mentally for the coming of Jesus. He was going before Christ and letting everyone know exactly who Jesus was and what He came to do. He had to change their mindset.

Something New

Jesus came to do something new. In order for the people to receive Him, they would have to think differently. Believe differently. Have you ever recognized in your own life the Lord changing or preparing your mindset for something He has planned for your future? We have to change the way we think in order to receive the Kingdom of God.

Just as John came to prepare people mentally, Jesus came to prepare their hearts and ultimately become the living sacrifice for the atonement of all man’s sins.

Today, it is the calling of all Christians to tell the lost about the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ and the freedom they can experience through salvation and to prepare the way for Jesus’ second coming.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Not only do we have a responsibility to continually grow in our spiritual journey by following Christ, we also have a responsibility to disciple others the way Jesus has discipled us.

Study Mark 1:2, and learn from John the Baptist about how to prepare the way for Jesus to come back.