Mark 1:1-8 What Would John The Baptist Say To You

But how do I do this? How do I find courage to confess all my sins to God? How do I know that I am really forgiven? Where can I find strength to change, to reform my life? How does this take place? What would John the Baptist say to you? He would say, “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” Back then, that was the job of a slave. I’m not even worthy to do that, John says. Someone is coming. Someone greater than you, greater than I. He is the one who will give you courage to confess all your sins to God. He is the one who will take every single one of your sins away. He is the one who will strengthen you and change you into a new person, a new creation. John said, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Someone greater, more powerful, more compelling, more amazing than anyone that has ever lived, someone is coming. He will demonstrate his power in all kinds of ways. His miracles. His resurrection. His gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. And his gift of the Holy Spirit and faith and hope and love to you.

One thing I’ve noticed recently is that there are a lot of holiday recipes being shared. A special recipe for egg nog, a special recipe for the perfect Christmas dinner. This is the time of the year not only for sharing our love, but also our recipes! Obviously, John the Baptists didn’t have a lot of recipes people would have been interested in, unless you’re planning to eat grasshoppers and wild honey for your Christmas dinner. But what would John the Baptist say to you, if you were to ask him, “What is the recipe for a successful Christmas?” What would John the Baptist say? According to our text for this morning, John would tell you that there are two main ingredients – the recipe for a successful Christmas is this – a heart full of repentance, and a heart full of Christ. Practice the three “R’s” of repentance, and ponder the mystery and majesty of Jesus Christ – those two ingredients make up the recipe for a successful Christmas, regardless of your circumstances. You can be living by yourself out in the desert, with nothing to eat but grasshoppers and wild honey. But even for you, your Christmas will be successful, as you repent and focus on Christ.

Let your Christmas preparation be a time that is filled with more than just a series of advertising and empty cliches. Caring and sharing and family and giving and charity are all good things, not just for Christmas, but all year round. These things cannot be truly enjoyed or carried out until you first understand that Christmas is a time for repentance, and a time for Christ. It is a time to rejoice that someone has come, someone greater than John the Baptist, greater than you or I, someone has come who brings real meaning to this special time of the year. Amen.