Mark 1:1-8 · John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" -- 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 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 will come one more powerful than I, the thongs 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."

The Beginning of the Story
Mark 1:1-8
Sermon
by Maxie Dunnam
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“And now you know the rest of the story!” That’s the way Paul Harvey closes those dramatic monologues which keep your mind on tiptoe as you discover the fascinating life details and historical quirks of notable people and events. Paul Harvey is a craftsman with words and pulls us to the edge of our seat to learn the rest of the story.

Mark, our Gospel writer, does the same thing - but for “the beginning of the story”, not the rest of it.

A visitor to the Grand Canyon looked at that mighty panorama of God’s craftsmanship and said, “Man, something happened here!” That’s what Mark’s Gospel is saying, and that’s what you say as you get into it.

You read the Gospel of Mark, and you get the impression that Jesus has come to take charge of the world. He has come to release you from whatever holds…

ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Collected Sermons, by Maxie Dunnam