11 December 2020 – Mark 1:6-8 (NIV)

11 December 2020 – Mark 1:6-8 (NIV)

Scripture

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.”

Reflection

In the same way John prepared the way for the first advent of Jesus, it is the Church’s mandate to prepare the way for the second advent of Jesus. John the Baptist was as unlikely a candidate to do so. He certainly did not look like the part. He wore camel’s hair clothes and ate bugs! But this unlikely fellow ushered in the first coming of Jesus. In the same way the Church is to be the forerunners, or John the Baptist’s, to Jesus’ second coming. Make no mistake, to the world we’ll look funny and do things that may seem odd as we make every effort to lives in Jesus’ likeness. We are as unlikely candidates to do so as was John the Baptist! But Jesus has called us (in the same way he called John) to prepare this world for his second coming when he will finally come and permanently sit on the throne. As history has been kind to John the Baptist, it will be kind to the Church to I believe.

Thoughts for the day

  • What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
  • What does this passage tell you about humanity?
  • What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
  • How can you apply this message in an area of your life that needs transformation?
  • Is there anyone you think should hear or will benefit from this message? Go and tell them.

Prayer

Lord we ask you to shield us, our families, our churches, our cities and the nations of the world from the ravages of COVID-19.

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By |2020-12-03T12:29:18+08:00December 11th, 2020|Categories: Week 2|Comments Off on 11 December 2020 – Mark 1:6-8 (NIV)

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About the Author:

Joshua Xiong is the Worship Director at Shanghai Community Fellowship (SCF) and a graduate of Greenville University. He and his wife, Mai Kao, have three daughters and live in Shanghai, China.