The Voice from the Wilderness

Mark 1:2-4

2 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 desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

NIV

The Voice from the Wilderness

(Mark 1:1-8)

Intro:

              A.  Christmas lights are up and people travel to see wonderful displays.  There are some that are set to music and others that light up the front yard or front of a house.  There are some with a cartoon theme and others that depict the manger scene.  As you travel around, looking at those wonderful lights, you sit in wonder and let the sound of the season fill you.  I love Christmas displays in other people’s yard.  I like to drive by and look at them, comment on them, and even critique them.  Like I am some authority.

              B.  I do like ones that are religious.  I like seeing people profess a faith in Jesus Christ.  When he was born we don’t know and truthfully, it probably wasn’t Dec. 25.  But I still appreciate people who are thankful that Jesus was born.  I appreciate that they are willing to let their yard tell the story of his birth.  They are a voice crying out in our society Jesus is more than a religious story, he is the Christ of God.

              C.  It’s not easy to be a voice for something that people critique or criticize.  It’s not easy to tell others about the need to be saved when you know you are not perfect.  Yet, if there was no voice crying out, those who still need to hear would not get the opportunity.

              D.  Before Jesus was born another child was born.  This morning I want to look at the life of man that God brought into this world to get his world ready for Jesus.  The voice from the wilderness.

I.  The Baby With Purpose

              A.  Our study begins with an answer to prayer.  There was a priest named Zachariah who was married to a woman named Elizabeth.  They were now older, but it seems like from early on in their marriage they were a people who prayed.  I am sure they prayed for all the right things and offered prayers on behalf of Jewish people, but they had a personal prayer.  They wanted to have a child, but couldn’t.

              B.  Luke 1:6-7 tells us about how God saw them.  You would think that these two God-honoring people would have been blessed by God with a family, but that was not the case.  It didn’t keep them from doing God’s work and will.  There is no writing of blame or disappointment towards God.  Instead, find Zachariah doing what God appointed him to do, and that was to serve at the temple. 

              C.  Zachariah was burning incense inside the temple while a multitude of people were praying outside.  The idea of incense was the aroma was pleasing to God and it was connected to the prayers of the people.  There in the temple and angels appears and tells him these words (Lk 1:13-17).

              D.  The child was not just chosen by God and given to them by miraculous pregnancy in their old age, but the child would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.  The child was chosen for a purpose, that purpose was to get the people ready for Jesus.  After John was born, Zacharias gave a great prophesy that we rarely read.  Two verses in that prophesy tell us again of the ministry of John (Lk 1:76-77).

II. The Man With Purpose

              A.  Mark begins his Gospel of Jesus with the man John.  He begins with a quote from Isaiah and Malachi (Mark 1:2-3).  John came with a purpose, a ministry that he understood.  He knew who he was and who he was not.  For many saw John coming from the wilderness, dressed in strange clothes with a strong message and wondered if he were the Messiah.  But John came preaching a message to help people get ready for Jesus, to help prepare them for what it means to be a part of the kingdom of God.  It was a message of repentance and people responded.

              B.  Many came from Judea to where John was at the Jordan River and were baptized by him, confessing their sins.  It seems strange to think that people who saw themselves as the children of Abraham, the people of God, the chosen ones to find them going through the cleansing rite of baptism and confessing of sins.  That’s what the animal sacrifices were to do.  That was the point of the Day of Atonement.

              C.  But John wanted people to think differently.  He was calling them not to leave their Jewish faith, but take hold of the Messiah that was now among them.  Listen to what he says in Mark 1:7-8. 

              D.  When Jesus came to be baptized it was difficult for John, for he knew that Jesus was not there to repent of sin but for something else.  When Jesus told him that it was to fulfill all that was righteous, John baptized Jesus and when he did, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and God spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, whim whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)

              E.  Even some of John’s disciples wondered about Jesus.  John did what his ministry was all about, he points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

III.  John’s Ministry Continues

              A.  John did exactly what God desired for him to do.  John knew that Jesus must increase and he must decrease.  John knew that his purpose was to get people ready for Jesus.  But we need to realize that ministry now belongs to us.

              B.  Paul would call us jars of clay, but help us to know that our message is a treasure within.  We are ambassadors for Christ with a message of reconciliation. 

              C.  Christmas time is here.  People all around you are physically shining lights in their yard at night telling about the birth of Jesus.  We are in what some call Advent season and looking forward to the Second Advent of Christ.  But the truth is, we are in the season of message and ministry.  Our message is no different that John’s.  We call people to see Jesus, to come to Jesus, to be baptized into Jesus.  We share with them the story of salvation.  We admit our own sin and lead others to Christ.

Conclusion:

              A.  At the end of John’s life, when he is in prison and seemed to feel alone, he sent people to Jesus.  Jesus told them to go to John with these words (Lk 7:22-23). 

              B.  God prepares the heart, we sow the seed.  God calls, we become the voice crying from the wilderness.  God uses us to prepare people to receive Jesus.  That’s message and the ministry.  The role we play is not about trying to defend or criticize the Christmas season, but to let our light shine.

              C.  If you are here and are saved, then let me remind you that you are a part of those that Jesus has healed. But maybe it is the time of year that brings you to worship.  The message is simple, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus.  The voice calling you is not John’s nor mine, but God’s.  Hear the voice calling you to come to him.  If we can help you in your walk with the Lord, then come as we stand and sing.

Because of Jesus,

Jeffrey Dillinger, minister