Daily Devotional for Monday, August 28

John the Baptizer

“As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,” Mark 1:2, 3.

The Jews were awaiting a king. One who would come to rule and reign, but more importantly, one who would set His people free. When this prophecy of “prepare ye the way” (Isaiah 40:3) was declared by the prophet Isaiah, he was using the analogy of how they would pave the way of a king’s coming by smoothing out the roads on which he traveled. John was sent to pave the way of the coming Messiah. Not to make the road better for travel, but to prepare those believers spiritually through repentance and baptism. 

In the Old Testament, people would know the coming of a king by the work done on the roadway and by the royal guards or servants surrounding the horses or chariots. Yet John came alone as a servant to let people know that soon the Lamb of God would be among them starting His ministry. 

The Jews were awaiting a great entrance from a king. But this was not the road God had laid out for Israel’s deliverance. God’s plan was to set them free, not physically, but rather spiritually. Even though Israel as a nation rejected Jesus, there were still many who did believe and were baptized. John was preparing them for service to their Lord.

Given the description of John in Mark 1:6, it was hard for those who saw him and heard him to know exactly who he was and what he was doing. Does the coming of a king not deserve the royal treatment? Even so, John did pave the way and prepared a people who desired to follow and serve the Lord.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Your public confession of salvation and then baptism has paved the way to service for the Lord. Are you serving in the capacity the Lord wants?

Karry Irizarry