Daily Devotions
Mark
Day 23
Text: Mark 1 "Though now you do not see Him, yet believing..." 1 Peter 1:8b
CONCLUSION OF THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
The ministry of John as the forerunner was effectively concluded after he had introduced and anointed Jesus for His public ministry. The time for Jesus to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom had come.
Mark hinted at the difficult times in which John ministered in, in the following text.
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.”MARK 1:14
1. The times of Herod Antipas the Tetrarch (Cf. Matthew 14:1-12)
John spoke up against his marriage to Herodias. She was in fact Antipas’ niece!
2. Times of great Political abuse
Salome, the daughter of Herodias, pleased Antipas with a dance and her reward was the head of John the Baptist.
3. Hard and sad times indeed
When a good and righteous man can lose his life in such circumstances, then the times may be described as hard and sad.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS
It is not without significance that Mark introduced Jesus the way he did.
1. Preaching
Many have not fully appreciated the significance of this ministry.
a) The tradition of the prophets of God
The great prophets of God were essentially preachers.
b) A message from God
All preachers are fully aware that they proclaim a special message from God. The messages of the prophets of old were often prefaced with these words, “Thus says the Lord…”