Voice in the Wilderness

John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8.

All four gospel accounts apply the same passage from the Book of Isaiah to John the Baptist, the messenger who called all Israel to repent in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival. The quotation identifies John as the forerunner who was expected before “the day of the LORD”:

• “The voice of one crying, in the wilderness, prepare the way of Yahweh. Make level in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be exalted, and every mountain and hill will be made low; and the uneven will be made level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it” - (Isaiah 40:3-5).

• “John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle about his loins, and he did eat locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, There is coming after me he who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am unworthy to stoop down and unloose. I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit” - (Mark 3:4-8).

[Waterfall - Photo by Andrew Coelho on Unsplash]

John’s activities paralleled aspects of the prophetic ministry of Elijah. For example, John also was “clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt,” and like Elijah, he spent time in the desert - (2 Kings 1:1-8, Malachi 3:1-3, 4:5, Mark 9:12-13, Luke 1:17).

The Greek noun translated as “repentance” in the passage from Mark signifies a change of mind. The call was for more than just remorse over past misdeeds. Baptism in water confirmed and demonstrated a man’s act of repentance, and it was done for “the remission of sins.” Repentance required the complete reorientation of a person’s life.

The term “remission” in Greek or English means to release or discharge something. While baptism in water was a necessary part of the process, by itself, it would be powerless to forgive sins without genuine repentance.

Elsewhere in Scripture, “remission” is applied to the “discharge” of debt and “divorce” decrees. Repentance followed by water baptism discharges the stain of sin. According to John the Baptist, repentance and water baptism were necessary for Jewish men and women to prepare for the arrival of the Messiah.

John summoned the entire nation to repent and be baptized or “immersed” (the meaning of the Greek verb or ‘baptizô’ - βαπτιζω). The crowds that came to hear the Baptist included Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests, Israel’s religious leaders. Representatives of all levels of Jewish society heard his warning and call - (Matthew 3:6, John 1:19).

His preaching pointed the crowds to the Messiah who would bring the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Furthermore, John compared himself with this “Coming One” in three ways: Might, Worth, and Mode of Baptism. The Greek adjective translated as “mightier” is used later in Mark to describe Jesus as the “mighty one” who binds the “strong man,” namely, Satan - (Mark 3:22-30).

John described himself as not even worthy “to unloose the strap of his sandals.” In first-century society, removing another man’s footwear was a menial task normally assigned to slaves and domestic servants.

THE SPIRIT

In such ways, John portrayed himself as unworthy of becoming even the lowest household slave of the coming Messiah. Even John’s baptism in water was preparatory, not final. He baptized sinners in water, but the Messiah would “baptize them in the Holy Spirit.”

• “John testified, saying, I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize in water said to me, Upon whomever you will the Spirit descending and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizes in the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God” – (John 1:31-34).

The Gift of the Spirit was an expectation of the “Last Days,” the “Promise of the Father,” and “the Blessing of Abraham.” It was foundational to the coming New Covenant and to the identification of the People of God. The presence of the Spirit would set them apart from other men and cause them to keep “the righteous requirements of the law.” The Spirit would “circumcise their hearts” - (Acts 2:38-39, Galatians 2:14, Isaiah 44:3, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:26-27).

In the gospel accounts, Jesus does not abandon water baptism, but his baptism adds something new and significant, the baptism in the Spirit; therefore, his “baptism” is superior to anything previously experienced by the people of Israel.

Jesus of Nazareth was the one who would give the Gift of the Spirit to his people and thereby usher in the Age of the Spirit and God’s Kingdom. However, he would not do so until after his Ascension and his Exaltation to reign from the Throne of God:

• “For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives not the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand” – (John 3:34-35).

• “It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” – (John 16:7).

• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth” – (Acts 1:8).

• “This Jesus God raised up, of which we all are witnesses. Being, therefore, by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured forth this, which you see and hear” – (Acts 2:32-33).

John set the stage for the public unveiling of the Messiah of Israel and the Herald of the Kingdom, Jesus of Nazareth. He would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit, “and fire.”

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SEE ALSO:

• Anointed by the Spirit - (Jesus is the anointed Son of God whose life and ministry were characterized by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit)

• The Beginning of the Good News - (The promised Kingdom of God arrived in the ministry of Jesus the Messiah, commencing with his baptism – Mark 1:1-3)

• Rend the Heavens Asunder! - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus, Son, Messiah, and the Servant of the LORD)

• The Promise of the Father - (With the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the blessings for all nations promised to Abraham commenced)