IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Date: Jan. 16, 2016

Passage

Mark 1:1-8  (ESV)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

  “Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way,
  the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Daily Bread

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Key Verse: 1:3

  the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

First, the beginning of the good news (1-3). Mark starts out his gospel account with the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. The good news of the gospel began with the message God gave to the prophet Isaiah. God would send His messenger ahead of the Messiah. He would be a voice in the desert, preparing the way for the Lord in people's hearts.

Second, "...he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (4-8). John the Baptist was the Lord's messenger. John preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Everyone in the whole Judean countryside came and listened to him. They confessed their sins and were baptized. John was very humble, but his message was great: one much greater than he was coming. John baptized with water, but the one to come would baptize with the Holy Spirit. How can we be prepared for the Lord? When we listen to Jesus and repent of our sins, we are prepared to receive the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, prepare my heart to receive Jesus. Help me to confess my sin and repent. Baptize me with the Holy Spirit.

One Word: Receive the gospel by preparing my heart

Daily Bread

The Lamb Will Triumph

Revelation 17:1-18

Key Verse: 17:14

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Intro Daily