John the Baptist was called to prepare the Way, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3. John obediently fulfilled that call - he preached repentance and forgiveness of sin, and Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of a doctrine of salvation to come.
Did John have to separate himself from society? To eat locusts and wild honey, and endure the discomfort of prickly camel's hair clothes? If we would hope to fulfill Christ's Great Commission, should we be acting similarly?
Christ calls us to spread His Gospel to all nations - to go out. John isolated himself away from the crowds - but we need to be in the midst of our community - not isolated from it. People won't come to us as they did for John - at least I know they won't come to me!
So what's it like to be baptized by the Holy Spirit? Luke tells us in Acts 2:2-4 that there is a great wind, and things like flaming tongues swirl around and indwell the believer. We'd be hard pressed to find many Christians who would describe it like that. But that first time, a powerful move was certainly needed in order for them to endure the many trials and persecutions they would encounter.
How do we know we have the Holy Spirit today? If we're saved - repented of our sins and believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ - we have the Holy Spirit. Some of us may have had a less obvious experience than others. And many of us may have grieved the Holy Spirit through our stubbornness to our own will - a lack of full surrender. Maybe some of us do need to separate ourselves from society - if only long enough to be able to discern and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.
Content:
- Mark's Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (v. 1)
- Isaiah's prophesy regarding a messenger calling out, "Prepare the way of the Lord..." (v. 2-3)
- John the Baptist came, preaching a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sin (v. 4)
- People of Jerusalem and whole Judean Countryside come, confessing their sins and being baptized in the Jordan River (v. 5)
- John wore a garment of camel's hair, a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey (v. 6)
- John's message: "Someone more powerful than I is coming; I baptize in water, He will baptize with the Holy Spirit (v. 7-8)
Divisions:
- Mark's testimony about the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy (v. 1-3)
- John the Baptist draws crowds from all over for baptism, repentance and forgiveness of sin (v. 4-5)
- John's message: One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit is coming (v. 6-8)
Subject Sentence:
Isaiah's prophesy fulfilled in John the Baptist
Aim:
To cause the audience to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit