MARK 1:1-8
1. John cried, “Prepare” (see DEEPER STUDY # 3—Mk.1:3). Note that he was crying “in the wilderness.” The world is a
wilderness full of dangerous, rough, uneven, thorny, and rocky roads. It is easy to get lost in the wilderness of the world, to stumble
and injure oneself. It was in the world where the messenger of God had to cry, “Prepare—prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at mid-
night, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning” (Mk.13:35).
“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that
wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they
may open unto him immediately” (Lk.12:35-36).
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor.6:17-18).
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every
good work” (2 Tim.2:20-21).

2. John baptized all who believed in the Messiah.
3. John preached repentance and forgiveness of sins. A person was to repent, to turn from his sins to God; then the person
was to be baptized, “fulfilling all righteousness” (Mt.3:15). Baptism was part of the act of repentance. There was no true repen-
tance without it. A man was to feel sorry for his sin, turning from his sin to God. Part of his turning to God was being baptized.
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. The person who truly repented was baptized, and his sins were forgiven.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk.13:3).
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Chr-
ist for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of re-
freshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart
may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” (1 Jn.1:9).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have
mercy” (Pr.28:13).
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”
(Is.55:7).
“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and
hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice,
saith the LORD” (Jer.3:13).

4. John’s impact was enormous. Note the word “all” (v.5). All were flocking out to him and being baptized. This was
shocking, for Jews were never baptized. Baptism was only for Gentile converts to the Jewish faith.

Thought 1. An enormous impact will be made for God if three things are true:
⇒ if the messenger is truly called of God as John was called.
⇒ if the messenger lives for God as John lived.
⇒ if the messenger witnesses and preaches for God as John witnessed and preached.

DEEPER STUDY # 3
(1:3) Roads—Prepare: this is a graphic scene. In ancient days, most roads were hardly more than dusty paths. When a king
was about to visit a certain place, a runner would run some distance ahead of the king and shout, “Prepare! The king is com-
ing.” And the people would immediately begin to clean and level the road for the coming king. John was saying, “I am but a
voice crying, ‘Make ready! Prepare! The King is coming!’”


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(1:

6) Self-Denial: the spirit of God’s messenger was self-denial.
1. His living quarters were in “the wilderness,” that is, in the country. He deliberately chose to live away from the city
with all its distractions and temptations. He chose to live where he could be alone with God in meditation and prayer.
2. His clothing was simple, made of camel’s hide with a belt made of some other animal’s skin.
3. His food was simple. It was locusts and wild honey (Lev.11:22-23).

Thought 1. John knew that life was more than food and clothing and housing. He knew that he must not allow any-
thing to distract him or the people from God...
• not living in extravagant luxury.
• not being dressed in the latest and most expensive fashion.
• not eating the most tasty dainties.

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