Daily Devotions
Mark
Day 14
Text: Mark 1
"Grace to you and peace be multiplied..." 1 Peter 1:2
ANGELIC PRONOUNCEMENT CONCERNING THE FORERUNNER
The ministry of the forerunner was not easy. It would take a very special person to fulfil this role. The preparation of the forerunner began even before John the Baptist was even born. Let us recall the following details:-
1. John was “a miracle baby”
His parents, Elizabeth and Zacharias were past child-bearing age, when the angel Gabriel announced to them that they would have a special son (Cf. Luke 1:5-25).
2. John was especially blessed by the Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God would especially embrace John, even when he was in the womb of his mother (Cf. Luke 1:15).
3. John’s destiny
The angel Gabriel announced John’s destiny.
“He will be great in the sight of the Lord…
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother’s womb.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”LUKE 1:15-17
GOD’S PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT
Mark noted that God was personally involved in the sending forth of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah.
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”MARK 1:2
1. The Father’s personal Word to the Son
The construction of the above sentence suggests strongly that this was a personal word from God the Father to His beloved Son.
2. The Father’s personal Word concerning the forerunner
a) He would be God’s special messenger.
b) He would prepare the way of the Messiah.
John would prepare the way of the Lord through a special baptismal ministry.