Welcome to Day 3 of our 40 Day challenge! Mark 1:1-8 and John 1:29-34

(Catch up with us, with our reading list, and Day 1, Day 2)

*Note: Just as this challenge began, we started getting much larger storms than the forecast predicted. Our power was out all day, and continued going on and off for the next week! I’m just now catching up on being able to get these posted and shared with you. Thank you so much for your prayers! ♥

Today we are in Mark 1:1-18 and John 1:29-34

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Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as 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 wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 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, and he ate locusts 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. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John 1:29-34

John Testifies About Jesus

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

 

John is such a remarkable person. He lived a life truly set apart, away from family and society. He was obedient to the extreme life choices God prompted him to make, eating bugs and wearing camel hair. And somehow, his proximity to Jesus was not a stumbling block to him! Jesus said a prophet isn’t honored in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home (Mark 6:4) Our proximity to others can be a stumbling block to seeing the supernatural work of God in them. What an amazing man John was to be the only one this side of the cross to see Jesus as He was.

Making decisions that go against popular opinion and culture helps us detach from other’s opinions of us. And so John had a lifetime of not making popular decisions. He relied on God’s opinion, not mans’. This set him up well to see what God was saying about Who Jesus was. His whole life was dedicated to the Lord and he saw his role clearly in being the forerunner to the Messiah. How amazing that he saw it was his own cousin, and that didn’t change his position at all. He was so connected to the heart of God that Mark 6:4 did not apply to him. Amazing!

Jesus told us in Mark 11:11 that there is no one born who is greater than John. And yet, the least in the Kingdom would be greater than John. What a humbling message of the blessings for the church! John paved the way for Jesus and His announcement of the Kingdom coming to us. What an incredible blessing to be a part of, and one that should bring us to our knees in gratitude.

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

 

We’ll see you tomorrow, for Day 4 and Matthew 4:1-11

♥ Samantha