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.”
Mark 1:7-8
The gospel of Mark has a very fast pace as we very quickly get to the story of Jesus. We are introduced to John the Baptizer who also very quickly introduces us to Jesus. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus comes to us in full ministry presentation as the Servant King. We are prepared for Someone great with John, and from Jesus' baptism in the next verse of chapter one, all the way to the end of the book, Jesus is busy ministering and serving. The pace never lets up as the gospel of Mark shows Jesus Who is busy because He came to serve and give His life for many (Mark 10:45).
The humility of John speaks to the majesty of the deity of Christ. That John knew he could not even touch the sandal laces of Jesus spoke to the powerful mission Jesus would serve. And even as John's expectation is set before us of a powerful presence in Jesus, the very first introduction of Jesus has Him humbly baptized by John in the Jordan River. And at that moment God the Father sets His approval on His Son, verifying John's testimony in a powerful way (Mark 1:11).
Even as Jesus begins His ministry after John's arrest, Jesus humbly preaches in Galilee a very similar message that builds upon John's: "Repent and believe the gospel". Jesus calls for repentance just like John but with a different emphasis. John preached repentance because a king was coming sent from God. Jesus called for repentance because the good news was that the time had come, God had sent His Son, and the kingdom was here (Mark 1:15).
The King had come to redeem, heal, and forgive. He humbled Himself to serve and to save. He was prophesied by John. He was approved by God the Father. He was tempted in the desert and did not sin. Angels ministered to Him. And Jesus boldly proclaimed the good news that His kingdom was near to those who would repent and believe Him.
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