The Preaching of John the Baptist

Mark For Everyone

MARK 1.1–8 The Preaching of John the Baptist...

...You are sound asleep and dreaming, when suddenly the door bursts open and a bright light shines full in your face. A voice, breaking in on your dream-world, shouts, ‘Wake up! Get up! You’ll be late!’ And without more ado, the speaker splashes your face with cold water to make the point. Time to stop dreaming and face the most important day of your life.

That’s what the opening of Mark’s gospel is like. It’s a great way to start, because what Mark is telling us is that that’s what John the Baptist was like to the Jewish people of his day. John’s ministry burst in upon the surprised Jewish world. Many had been looking for a sign from God, but they hadn’t expected it to look like this. Many had wanted a Messiah to lead them against the Romans, but they weren’t anticipating a prophet telling them to repent...

Taken from Mark for Everyone by Tom Wright