TheHer

aldoft
heNewKi
ngMar
k1:
1–8
Wecomenowt
otheGospelofMar
k.Openy
ourBi
ble,
ify
ouwi
ll
,tot
hef
ir
stchapt
erofMar
k.
Thef
ir
stchapt
erofMar
k.Andwear
egoi
ngt
oreadf
ory
out
heopeni
ngei
ghtv
erses.And
t
henwe’
regoi
ngt
olookatt
hem t
hismor
ning.

Mar
kchapt
er1andv
erse1.“
Thebegi
nni
ngoft
hegospelofJesusChr
ist
,theSonofGod.
Asi
tiswr
it
teni
nIsai
aht
hepr
ophet
,‘Behol
d,IsendMymessengeraheadofYou,whowi
ll
pr
epar
eYourway
;thev
oiceofonecr
yingi
nthewi
lder
ness,
“Maker
eadyt
hewayoft
heLor
d,
makeHi
spat
hsst
rai
ght
.”
‘

“Johnt
heBapt
istappear
edi
nthewi
lder
nesspr
eachi
ngabapt
ism ofr
epent
ancef
ort
he
f
orgi
venessofsi
ns.Andal
lthecount
ryofJudeawasgoi
ngoutt
ohi
m,andal
lthepeopl
eof
Jer
usal
em;
andt
heywer
ebei
ngbapt
izedbyhi
mint
heJor
danRi
ver
,conf
essi
ngt
hei
rsi
ns.

“
Johnwascl
othedwi
thcamel
’
shai
randwor
eal
eat
herbel
tar
oundhi
swai
st,andhi
sdi
et
wasl
ocust
sandwi
ldhoney
.Andhewaspr
eachi
ng,andsay
ing,‘
Aft
ermeonei
scomi
ng
whoi
smi
ght
iert
hanI
,andIam notf
itt
ost
oopdownandunt
iet
het
hongofHi
ssandal
s.I
bapt
izedy
ouwi
thwat
er;
butHewi
llbapt
izey
ouwi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.
’”ThusdoesMar
kbegi
n
hi
shi
stor
yoft
heLor
dJesusChr
istdr
awnf
rom hi
sti
mespentwi
tht
hebel
ovedapost
le
Pet
erwhoi
sthehumansour
ceofhi
sinf
ormat
ion.Ofcour
sesuper
int
endedandgui
dedby
t
heHol
ySpi
ri
tsot
hatwhenhewr
ote,
hewr
oteunderdi
vi
nei
nspi
rat
ion.

Thekeywor
dthatIwanty
out
olookati
sinv
erse1.I
tist
hewor
d“gospel
.”Thewor
d
“
gospel
,
”ofcour
se,i
sver
yfami
li
art
ous.Somet
imeswhenweuset
hewor
d“gospel
,
”we
act
ual
lymeanabook,
li
ket
heGospelofMat
thew,
theGospelofMar
k,GospelofLuke,
ort
he
GospelofJohn.

Buti
ntheNewTest
ament
,thewor
d“gospel
”isnev
erar
efer
encet
ooneoft
hosef
ourbooks.
Thewor
d“gospel
”int
heNew Test
amental
way
sref
erst
othemessageofsal
vat
ion,and
t
hat
’si
tsusageher
e.Howar
ewet
ounder
stand,
then,
int
hecont
exti
nwhi
chMar
kiswr
it
ing,
t
heusageoft
hiswor
d?Howwoul
dfi
rstcent
urypeopl
evi
ewi
tssi
gni
fi
cance?Ther
eis,
her
e,
gi
vennodef
ini
ti
onoft
hewor
d“gospel
.”TheGr
eekwor
deuaggel
ioni
sthewor
d“gospel
”
t
hatappear
sinourEngl
ishBi
ble.

Butwhatdi
dthewor
deuaggel
i
onmeant
othosewhowoul
dreadorheart
hisbookr
ead?I
s
i
tawor
dthati
ssoi
nimi
tabl
yChr
ist
iant
hatwei
nvent
edi
t?I
sthewor
d“gospel
”ourwor
d?I
s
euaggel
iondi
sti
nct
ivel
yaNewTest
amentwor
d?

Wel
l,t
heanswert
othatquest
ioni
sno.I
t’
sav
eryol
dwor
d.Andi
twasav
eryf
ami
li
arwor
d,
bot
htoJewsandt
oGent
il
es,
longi
nusageandr
atherspeci
fi
cini
tsmeani
ng.Yes,
thewor
d
euaggel
ionmeansgoodnews,j
oyousmessage,gl
adt
idi
ngs.Buti
thadamor
etechni
cal
usage,bot
hint
hemi
ndsoft
heJewsandt
heGent
il
esaswel
l.Andr
emembernow,Mar
kis
wr
it
ingf
rom Romet
oRomanChr
ist
iansandRomannon-
Chr
ist
ians,pr
imar
il
ythenaGent
il
e
audi
ence.
I
t’
simpor
tant
,then,t
oconsi
derhow t
heywoul
dunder
standt
hiswor
d,si
ncehedoesn’
t
def
inei
tfort
hem.Butl
et’
s,f
ir
stofal
l,wonderhow t
heJewswoul
dunder
standi
t.Ther
e
cer
tai
nly wer
e Jews among t
he Chr
ist
ians.Ther
e wer
e cer
tai
nly Jews among t
he
non-
Chr
ist
ianswhowoul
dreadandhav
ereadandcont
inuet
oreadt
hisbook.

So,whatdoesgospelmeant
othem?How doesi
tconnectt
othem?Wel
l,i
tisusedi
nthe
Gr
eekv
ersi
onoft
heOl
dTest
amentcal
ledt
heSept
uagi
nt.TheOl
dTest
amentwr
it
ten
or
igi
nal
lyi
nHebr
ew,butt
her
eisaGr
eekv
ersi
onofi
tinwhi
cht
hewor
deuaggel
i
oni
sthe
bestt
ransl
ati
onoft
heOl
dTest
amentwor
d.Fort
hat
,Iwoul
dtakey
oubackt
oli
sten
car
eful
lyt
oIsai
ahchapt
er40.

I
sai
ahchapt
er40.Thi
sisav
eryi
mpor
tantchapt
er,byt
heway
,Isai
ah40,becausei
tlooks
f
orwar
dtot
hecomi
ngofMessi
ahi
nthef
ardi
stantf
utur
e.I
tal
sol
ooksf
orwar
dint
henear
f
utur
etot
hechi
l
drenofI
sraelbei
ngr
eleasedf
rom capt
ivi
tyandgoi
ngbackt
othei
rland.
Thati
swhychapt
er40begi
ns,“
‘Comf
ort
,Ocomf
ortMypeopl
e.Speakki
ndl
ytoJer
usal
em.
Cal
loutt
oherherwar
far
ehasended,heri
niqui
tyhasbeenr
emov
ed,shehasr
ecei
vedof
t
heLor
d’shanddoubl
eforal
lhersi
ns.
’
”Herpuni
shmenti
sov
er;i
t’
sti
mef
orr
est
orat
ion.
That
’swhatI
sai
ahi
ssay
ing.Andt
hatl
ooksi
nthenearf
utur
efr
om I
sai
ah’
svant
aget
othe
r
etur
nfr
om t
heBaby
loni
ancapt
ivi
ty,andf
rom t
hef
arv
iewpoi
ntt
othef
utur
ecomi
ngof
Messi
ah.

Dr
oppi
ngdownt
over
se9i
nthatchapt
erwer
eadt
his,
“Gety
our
sel
fuponahi
ghmount
ain”
–andt
her
e’sanannouncementcomi
ng;f
indt
hehi
ghestpoi
ntt
omaket
heannouncement
soy
oucanbehear
dbymostpeopl
e–“
OZi
on,
bear
erofgoodnews”–andt
her
eist
hewor
d
i
ntheSept
uagi
nt,
euaggel
ion,
goodnews–“
Lif
tupy
ourv
oicemi
ght
il
y,OJer
usal
em,
bear
er
ofgoodnews;
li
fti
tup,
donotf
ear
.Sayt
otheci
ti
esofJudah,
‘Her
eisy
ourGod!
’Behol
d,t
he
Lor
dGodwi
llcomewi
thmi
ght
,wi
thHi
sar
mrul
i
ngf
orHi
m.Behol
d,Hi
srewar
diswi
thHi
m
andHi
srecompensebef
oreHi
m.”

I
tisannounci
ngt
hegoodnewsoft
hear
ri
valofGod.Thati
sit
susage.I
tref
erst
otheascent
ofGodt
orul
e,“
TheLor
dGodwi
llcomewi
thmi
ght
,wi
thHi
sar
mrul
ingf
orHi
m.”When
y
ou’
ret
alki
ng aboutgood news,y
ou’
ret
alki
ng aboutt
hisi
sthe bestnews possi
ble.
Remembernow,t
hesear
epeopl
ewhoar
ecapt
ive.Theyar
ebei
ngt
old,“
Ther
eiscomi
nga
r
est
orat
ion.Thepuni
shmentandchast
isementi
sov
er;y
ou’
regoi
ngback,andt
heLor
dis
goi
ngt
oascendagai
nint
oHi
sthr
one,
andHei
sgoi
ngt
orul
eov
ery
ou.
”

I
nthef
ort
y-secondchapt
er–ort
hef
if
ty-
secondchapt
erofI
sai
ah,
wef
indasi
mil
arusageof
t
hisi
nthesamecont
ext
.Ver
se7,I
sai
ah52,“
How l
ovel
yont
hemount
ainsar
ethef
eetof
hi
m whobr
ingsgoodnews”-agai
nthi
sist
hesamegoodnews–“
whoannouncespeace,
whobr
ingsnewsofhappi
ness,whoannouncessal
vat
ion”– andwhati
sgoi
ngt
obr
ing
happi
ness,
andpeace,
andsal
vat
ion?–“
Sayt
oZi
on,
‘YourGodr
eigns!
’
”

So,
whi
let
hewor
deuaggel
ionmi
ghthav
esomebr
oadmeani
ngs,
itst
echni
calmeani
ngwas
t
odescr
ibet
hev
erybestnewspossi
ble,whi
chwast
heascentofanewKi
ng,t
heascentof
asov
erei
gnt
oHi
sthr
oneov
erHi
speopl
etopr
oducesal
vat
ionandpeaceandhappi
ness.
Thati
sthewayt
heJewswoul
dvi
ewi
t,andt
hati
sthewayi
tisusedt
her
ebyI
sai
ah.

Bot
hpassagesconsi
der
,then,t
her
etur
noft
heJewsf
rom Baby
loni
anexi
l
e.Whent
heygo
backt
othei
rlandandGodagai
nwi
lldwel
linZi
on,Godagai
nwi
l
lascendt
oHi
sthr
one.A
newt
empl
ewi
llbebui
lt
,whi
chi
sli
keGod’
spal
acei
nwhi
chHedwel
ls.Anddur
ingt
het
ime
ofcapt
ivi
ty,r
emembert
het
empl
ehadbeendest
roy
ed,asi
twer
e.God’
spal
acehadbeen
t
urnedt
orubbl
e.Thepeopl
ehadbeencar
ri
edaway
.Godhaddwel
twi
tht
heexi
lesi
n
Baby
lon,
accor
dingt
othepr
ophetEzeki
el.

Butt
hedaywoul
dcome,say
sIsai
ah,whent
hepeopl
ewi
llgoback,andGodwi
llgoback
wi
tht
hem andascendt
oHi
sthr
one.Thi
swi
llhappeni
nthenearf
utur
e.Andi
tdi
d,i
nthe
gr
eatr
etur
noft
heJewsf
rom Baby
loni
anexi
leandt
her
ebui
ldi
ngoft
het
empl
e,andGod
agai
ntaki
ngHi
spl
aceast
hesov
erei
gnov
erHi
stheocr
ati
cnat
ionI
srael
.

So,
iti
sawor
dofent
hronement
.Iti
sthewor
doft
hegoodnewsofasov
erei
gnr
ulert
aki
ng
Hi
sthr
one.Andt
hei
mager
yisofGod,t
heGodofI
srael
,theonl
ytr
ueGod,est
abl
ishi
ngHi
s
t
hronei
nJer
usal
em.

I
nthenearf
ulf
il
lment
,thathappenedi
nther
etur
nfr
om Baby
lon.I
nthef
arf
ulf
il
lment
,thati
s
t
hemessi
ani
cpr
omi
set
hatt
heKi
ngwi
llcomei
nthef
utur
eandest
abl
i
shHi
ski
ngdom i
n
I
srael
,andsetupHi
srul
eandHi
sthr
onet
her
e,andt
hatwi
llhappenwhenJesusr
etur
nsand
set
supHi
smi
ll
enni
alki
ngdom.

So,t
hewor
dhasr
efer
encet
othear
ri
valofaki
ng,t
heascentofaki
ngi
nJewi
shusage.
Whataboutpaganusage?How woul
dtheRomansunder
standt
hatwor
dsi
ncet
heydi
dn’
t
necessar
il
yhav
eanyJewi
sh hi
stor
y?Wel
l
,letmer
ead y
ouan i
nscr
ipt
ion.Thi
sisan
i
nscr
ipt
ionf
rom t
heRomanwor
ld.Thedat
eis9B.
C.Okay
?Bef
oreChr
ist
.Thi
sist
he
i
nscr
ipt
ion,“
ThePr
ovi
dence,whi
chhasor
der
edt
hewhol
eofourl
if
e”– t
ransl
atedi
nto
Engl
i
sh,obv
iousl
y– “
showi
ng concer
n and zeal
,has or
dai
ned t
he most per
fect
consummat
ionf
orhumanl
if
ebygi
vi
ngi
ttoAugust
us,
byf
il
li
nghi
m wi
thv
irt
uef
ordoi
ngt
he
wor
kofabenef
act
oramongmenandbysendi
ngi
nhi
m,asi
twer
e,asav
iorf
orusandt
hose
whocomeaf
terus,t
omakewart
ocease,t
ocr
eat
eor
derev
ery
wher
e.Thebi
rt
hdayoft
he
godAugust
usi
sthebegi
nni
ngf
ort
hewor
ldoft
heeuaggel
ion”-oft
hegospel–“
thathas
comet
oment
hroughhi
m.”

How i
nter
est
ing.Theyusedt
hewor
deuaggel
ionont
hatoccasi
on,i
nthati
nscr
ipt
ion,t
o
descr
ibet
hear
ri
valofCaesarAugust
us.CaesarAugust
usi
s-“
byt
hePr
ovi
dence,
”itsay
s–
t
heonewhowi
l
lbr
ingt
oust
hewor
kofabenef
act
or,
thewor
kofasav
ior
,makewarcease,
cr
eat
eor
derev
ery
wher
e.I
tist
hear
ri
valofagod.Thegoodnews,t
hen,i
sthatAugust
us
Caesarhasar
ri
ved.Thatact
uali
nscr
ipt
ionwasdedi
cat
edt
ohi
m,appar
ent
ly,
onhi
sbi
rt
hday
.
Then,
asat
echni
calt
erm agai
ntor
efert
otheascendancyoft
het
ri
umphofanemper
or.
So,t
heJewsandt
hepaganswoul
dbot
hseet
hatwor
dassi
gni
fyi
ngt
hear
ri
valofanew
monar
ch,
andt
hatwoul
dsi
gni
fyt
hear
ri
valofanewer
a.Andt
henewer
awoul
dbeaner
aof
or
derandpeaceandsal
vat
ionandbl
essi
ng.

So,
Mar
kchoosesawor
dthatspr
eadsi
tsel
facr
ossJewandGent
il
e,andi
ndeed,
hei
sabout
t
owr
it
ethehi
stor
yofanewKi
ng.AnewKi
ng.Thegoodnewsi
saboutt
obet
old,atl
east
t
hisi
sthebegi
nni
ngoft
hegoodnews.Thest
oryi
sst
il
lbei
ngwr
it
ten,f
ort
heKi
nghasnot
f
ull
ytakenHi
sthr
onewhi
chonedayHewi
l
linanear
thl
ywayandf
inal
lyi
nthenewheav
en
andt
henewear
thasanet
ernalKi
ng.

ButMar
kwi
llbegi
ntot
ellt
hest
oryoft
hear
ri
val
,andascendency
,andest
abl
ishment
,and
ent
hronementoft
henewKi
ngwhoi
sfarmor
egl
ori
oust
hanal
lot
herki
ngs,
andHi
snamei
s
JesusChr
ist
,theSonofGod.Hei
sthenewKi
ng.

Thi
sist
hest
oryoft
henewKi
ngwhohasar
ri
ved,whoi
saboutt
oinaugur
ateHi
ski
ngdom
andbr
inganew er
aofsal
vat
ion,bl
essi
ng,peace,andor
dert
othewor
ld.Onehi
stor
ical
wr
it
ersay
s,“
Thepar
all
elbet
ween‘
evangel
’
”-ort
hegospel–“
int
hei
mper
ialcul
tandt
he
Bi
blei
sCaesarandChr
ist
,theemper
oront
het
hroneandt
hedespi
sedr
abbiont
hecr
oss
conf
ronteachot
her
.Bot
har
egospelt
omen.Theyhav
emuchi
ncommon,butt
heybel
ong
t
otwodi
ff
erentwor
lds.
”

So,Mar
kbegi
nshi
shi
stor
icalaccountoft
hel
if
eofJesuswi
thl
anguaget
hatwoul
dmake
hi
sRomanr
eader
sknow t
hatt
henew andmostgl
ori
ousKi
nghascome,andHeset
s
Hi
msel
fagai
nstal
lot
herki
ngs,
incl
udi
ngCaesar
.Hei
sthet
hemeoft
hishi
stor
y.Andt
hisi
s
onl
ythebegi
nni
ngofHi
sst
ory
.Andwhati
sHi
sname?JesusChr
ist
,theSonofGod.

Jesusi
dent
if
iesHi
shumanname,YeshuaorYehoshuai
nHebr
ew – basi
cal
ly
,Joshua-
meani
ngYahwehi
ssal
vat
ion.Yehoshua-Yahwehi
ssal
vat
ion.That
’sHi
sname.“
Cal
lHi
m
Jesus,f
orHewi
llsav
eHi
speopl
efr
om t
hei
rsi
ns,
”Mat
thew 1:
21.Hi
sti
tl
e–Hi
snamei
s
Jesus,Hi
sti
tl
eisChr
ist
.Thati
snotaname;t
hati
snotHi
slastname.That
’sat
it
le.Roy
al
t
it
le.TheAnoi
ntedOne.That
’swhatMessi
ahmeans.Chr
istandMessi
ahar
ethesamet
hing.
I
tmeansAnoi
ntedOne.I
t’
sar
oyalt
it
le.Hi
shumannamei
sJesus.Hi
sroy
alt
it
lei
sMessi
ah,
t
heAnoi
ntedOne.Si
mpl
yKi
ng.Andhi
sli
neage?Hei
stheSonofGod.Onei
nnat
urewi
th
God,
coet
ernal
andcoequal
.

Andt
husdoesMar
kint
roduceust
othebegi
nni
ngoft
hehi
stor
yofKi
ngJesus.The
begi
nni
ngoft
hehi
stor
yofKi
ngJesus,t
heSonofGod.Nott
heSonofsomeot
herear
thl
y
monar
ch.

I
nJohn1:
49,
“Nat
hanaelsai
dtoJesus,
‘Youar
etheSonofGod;
Youar
etheKi
ngofI
srael
.’
”

AnewKi
ngwi
thar
adi
cal
l
ynewki
ngdom,unl
ikeanyot
herki
ngandanyot
herki
ng,andone
whoset
sHi
msel
fabov
eal
lot
herki
ndsandal
lot
herki
ngdoms,
onewhom t
heBi
blecal
lst
he
Ki
ngofKi
ngs.Thi
sist
hebegi
nni
ngoft
hegoodnewsofHi
sascentt
oHi
sthr
one.
Hepr
ovesHi
msel
ftobet
hedi
vi
neKi
ng,t
heSonofGod,byHi
swor
dsandHi
sdeedsi
nthe
f
ir
sthal
fofMar
k’sGospel
.Hepr
ovesHi
msel
ftobet
heSonofGodandt
hepr
omi
sedKi
ng
i
nthesecondhal
fbyHi
sdeat
handr
esur
rect
ion.So,atf
ir
sti
t’
sHi
sdeedsandwor
dst
hat
pr
ovewhoHei
s;i
nthebackhal
fit
’sHi
sdeat
handr
esur
rect
iont
hatpr
ovewhoHei
s.Andi
n
t
hev
erymi
ddl
e,t
hev
erysummi
toft
hebook,Pet
ermakest
heconf
essi
on,“
Youar
ethe
Chr
ist
”–orbet
ter–“
Youar
etheKi
ng;
Youar
eexact
lywhoYoucl
aimt
obe.
”

Andso,
thi
sisabookaboutt
hear
ri
valoft
hegr
eat
estKi
ngev
er,
thenewKi
ng;
thenewKi
ng
i
ntr
oduci
nganew ki
ngdom andanewer
afort
hewor
ld.Andi
t’
sonl
ythebegi
nni
ngoft
he
st
ory
,becauset
hest
orywi
llgoont
hroughal
lofhumanhi
stor
yandf
inal
lybeconsummat
ed
i
nthenewheav
enandt
henewear
thwhenHewi
llr
uleandr
eignf
orev
erandev
er.

So,Mar
kest
abl
ishest
hen whatt
hisbooki
sabouti
nhi
sopeni
ng sent
ence.Now,he
est
abl
ishessev
eralt
rut
hsaboutt
henewKi
ng.Letmegi
vey
ouf
iveoft
hem.Okay
?Tr
uths
aboutt
henewKi
ng.Numberone,
thepr
omi
seoft
henewKi
ng.Thepr
omi
seoft
henewKi
ng.
Ver
ses2and3,“
Asi
tiswr
it
teni
nIsai
aht
hepr
ophet
:‘Behol
d,IsendMymessengerahead
ofYou,
whowi
llpr
epar
eYourway
;thev
oiceofonecr
yingi
nthewi
lder
ness,
“Maker
eadyt
he
wayoft
heLor
d,makeHi
spat
hsst
rai
ght
.”
‘”

Thosear
epr
opheci
esat
tri
but
edt
oIsai
ah.I
tist
heonl
yOl
dTest
amentpr
ophecyi
nMar
k’s
i
ntr
oduct
ion.Youwi
l
lfi
ndt
hrought
hebookofMar
kthatt
her
ear
eanumberofpr
opheci
es.
I
nfact
,they
’rei
nbol
dty
pe,ori
nuppercasel
ett
ers.So,t
hisi
stheonl
ypr
ophecyi
nMar
k’s
i
ntr
oduct
ion.Thi
sist
heonl
yonet
hatheusesi
nthebegi
nni
ng.

Whati
snot
abl
eabouti
tisi
tisn’
tpar
ti
cul
arl
yaboutt
heKi
ng;
it’
saboutt
heher
aldoft
heKi
ng.
AndMar
k,r
emember
,iswr
it
ingt
oGent
il
es.He’
swr
it
ingt
oRomanChr
ist
ians– and,of
cour
se,Roman non-
Chr
ist
ians – who wi
llhearhi
shi
stor
yread.He i
snotconcer
ned
pr
imar
il
yaboutt
heJews,sohedoesn’
tfr
ont
loadhi
sbookwi
thal
otofpr
opheci
es.He
doesn’
tmakeef
for
tst
oconnectt
hear
ri
valofJesuswi
tht
heOl
dTest
ament
,say
,bygi
vi
ng
geneal
ogi
es l
ike Mat
thew and Luke ar
e so car
efult
o gi
ve.He doesn’
tgi
ve speci
fi
c
pr
ophesi
esaboutJesus,suchast
hev
irgi
nbi
rt
h,Bet
hlehem,cal
ledoutofEgy
pt.Andt
her
e
ar
eanumberofpr
ophesi
est
hatMat
thewr
efer
stoandLuker
efer
sto.Noneoft
hosedoes
Mar
kref
ert
oint
hebegi
nni
ngofhi
shi
stor
y.I
tissi
mpl
yenought
osay
,“Hei
stheSonof
God.
”Hei
stheSonofGod.

Mar
kknows,howev
er,t
hati
fGent
il
esar
etol
ookatt
hest
oryoft
hisnewKi
ngandseei
tas
sor
tofanaut
hent
icar
ri
valofanewKi
ng,t
hent
heywoul
dexpectt
hatt
her
ewoul
dbesome
ki
ndofaut
hor
it
ati
ve,cr
edi
bleher
aldwhowoul
dannouncet
hear
ri
valoft
heKi
ng,because
t
hat
’sexact
lyt
hewayi
twasi
nthei
rwor
ld.Noki
ngev
erar
ri
vedandsai
d,“
Hey
,I’
mtheki
ng,
andI
’
m her
e.”Theki
ngal
way
shadaf
orer
unner
.Theki
ngal
way
shadanent
our
age.The
ki
ngal
way
shadsomecomi
ngbef
orehi
mtopr
epar
ethewayandmaket
hepeopl
eready
,
andt
henwasappr
opr
iat
elyi
ntr
oducedbysomeonewhobor
eaut
hent
ici
tyandaut
hor
it
yto
maket
hati
ntr
oduct
ion.
So,Mar
k,consi
stentwi
tht
heGent
il
eappr
oacht
ohow ki
ngswer
eannounced,goest
othe
Ol
dTest
amentf
ort
heonl
yti
mei
nthebegi
nni
ngofhi
sGospel
,nott
ofi
ndapr
ophecyabout
Jesus,
butt
ofi
ndapr
ophecyaboutHi
sher
ald,
togi
veaut
hent
ici
tyt
oHi
sher
ald.

Wi
thal
ltheOl
dTest
amentt
ext
sthatconnectt
oJesusChr
ist
,Mar
kusespr
ophecynot
aboutt
henewKi
ngatal
l
,butaboutHi
sfor
erunner
,theonewhoi
stopr
ocl
aim Hi
sar
ri
val
.
Thi
swoul
dbei
ntheki
ndofof
fi
cialst
ruct
ureofwhatpeopl
eint
heGent
il
ewor
ldwi
llbe
usedt
o.

So,t
her
eiscomi
ngamessenger
.That
’si
dent
if
iedi
nver
se2,“
IsendMymessenger
.”And
hef
urt
heri
dent
if
iest
hemessengerassomeonewhowi
llbeav
oicecr
yingi
nthewi
lder
ness.
Thi
sisf
rom t
heanci
entpr
ophet
s.He’
squot
ingf
rom t
heanci
entpr
ophet
s,andhel
abel
sthi
s
f
rom I
sai
aht
hepr
ophet
.Cer
tai
nlyI
sai
ahwaswel
l-
knownt
oev
enGent
il
eChr
ist
iansbecause
ofhi
svastbook,muchofwhi
chwascent
eredont
hear
ri
valofMessi
ah,t
heser
vantof
Jehov
ah,
asI
sai
ahi
dent
if
iesHi
m.So,
hedr
awspr
opheci
esoutofI
sai
ah.

Byt
heway
,Mat
thew,Mar
k,Luke,andJohnal
luse–al
luset
hesepr
opheci
est
olabelJohn
t
heBapt
istast
hef
ulf
il
lment
.Johnt
heBapt
isti
sthef
ulf
il
lmentoft
hesepr
opheci
es,
andal
l
f
ourGospelwr
it
ersi
ndi
cat
ethat
.“Asi
tiswr
it
teni
nIsai
aht
hepr
ophet
”–orpr
efer
abl
y“asi
t
hasbeenwr
it
ten.
”ThenewKi
ngi
snotanewpl
an;
thenewKi
ngi
snotanaf
ter
thought
.Thi
s
i
sthepl
ant
hatGodwaswor
kingouti
nanci
entt
imes.Thepl
ani
sonecul
minat
ingi
nthe
ar
ri
val
oft
henewKi
ng,
JesusChr
ist
,theSonofGod.

TheGent
il
ereader
sneedt
oknow t
hatt
heonewhoannouncedHi
sar
ri
vali
stheone
pr
ophesi
ed byt
he anci
entpr
ophet
s,and byt
he not
abl
e pr
ophetI
sai
ah f
rom t
he Ol
d
Test
ament
.Hei
sanof
fi
cial
,di
vi
nel
ycommi
ssi
onedher
aldf
ort
henew Ki
ng.Andso,he’
s
t
heonebei
ngdescr
ibedi
nthesepr
opheci
es.

Now,j
ustasanot
e,i
tsay
s,“
Asi
tiswr
it
teni
nIsai
aht
hepr
ophet
,”t
heny
ouhav
eaquot
ein
v
erse2,
andaquot
einv
erse3.Ver
se2i
sact
ual
lyMal
achi3:
1;andv
erse3i
sIsai
ahchapt
er
40,v
erse3.Thi
sisnotanuncommont
hingt
odo,t
oref
ert
oonl
yoneoft
heOl
dTest
ament
pr
ophet
s,t
hemor
epr
omi
nentone,t
hemor
enot
abl
eone,andt
ucki
nanot
herpr
ophecyby
anot
herpr
ophet
,si
ncei
twasal
ltheWor
dofGod.

Thesepr
opheci
esgot
oget
hersoper
fect
ly,andbot
href
ert
othesameper
son,sot
heymay
hav
ebeenf
requent
lyusedt
oget
her
.Mal
achii
sthei
ntr
oduct
oryone;I
sai
ahi
sthemor
e
i
mpor
tantone.Butbot
har
egener
alr
efer
ences.I
fyougo back,t
hey
’re– and t
hisi
s
somet
hingy
ouneedt
oknowt
hatNewTest
amentwr
it
ersdo.Somet
imest
heyquot
eexact
ly
f
rom t
heHebr
ew;somet
imest
heyquot
efr
om t
heSept
uagi
nt,t
heGr
eekOl
dTest
ament
;
somet
imes t
heymake sor
tofa gener
alr
efer
ence t
oat
ext
,and somet
imes i
t’
s an
i
nter
pret
iver
efer
ence.Becauser
emembernow,t
heNewTest
amentwr
it
ersar
einspi
redby
God.Andso,whent
heyi
nter
pretanOl
dTest
amentt
ext
,theyi
nter
prett
hati
nani
nspi
red
way
.
So,t
heyal
way
sgi
vet
het
ruei
nter
pret
ati
onoft
het
ext
.Somet
imesy
ou’
ddi
rect
lyquot
eit
;
somet
imesi
t’
sani
nter
pret
ivequot
e.Her
eyouhav
esomei
nter
pret
ivequot
ati
on,
cer
tai
nlyi
n
t
hecaseofMal
achi3:
1.

Butl
et’
slookatMal
achi3:
1int
het
extofMar
k1.Mal
achi3:
1recor
ds,“
Behol
d,IsendMy
messenger
”-andMal
achisay
s-“
bef
oreMe.
”Her
eyouhav
eani
nter
pret
ati
onoft
hat
,
“
Behol
d,IsendMymessengeraheadofYou,
whowi
l
lpr
epar
eYourway
.”Obv
iousl
y,Youand
Yourr
efer
stot
hecomi
ngKi
ng.Butbef
oret
heKi
ngcomes,aheadofHi
m comest
he
messenger
.So,
thi
sisapr
ophecyt
hatt
her
ewi
llbeonewhocomesbef
oret
heKi
ngcomes,
whosej
obwi
llbet
opr
epar
eHi
sway
.

Li
keal
lpr
ophet
s,t
hisi
samessenger
.Al
lpr
ophet
sar
epr
ocl
aimer
s.He’
sapr
eacher
.Hewi
ll
makeast
rongcal
lforpeopl
etopr
epar
efort
hear
ri
valoft
henew Ki
ng.Mal
achi3:
1isa
di
rectr
efer
encet
othi
smessenger
,thi
sher
aldoft
hecomi
ngnewKi
ng.

Andt
hen,i
nIsai
ah40andv
erse3,wer
eadasr
ecor
dedher
einMar
k1:
3,“
Thev
oiceofone
cr
yingi
nthewi
lder
ness,‘
Maker
eadyt
hewayoft
heLor
d,makeHi
spat
hsst
rai
ght
.’
”Now
r
emember
,Ir
eady
ouear
li
er–r
ight
?–f
rom I
sai
ahchapt
er40,t
heopeni
ng,andt
hendown
i
nver
ses9and10,I
sai
ahpr
ophesi
edt
her
etur
noft
heJewsf
rom t
heBaby
loni
ancapt
ivi
ty.
Hepr
ophesi
edt
heywoul
dcomebackt
oIsr
ael
;theywoul
dgot
hrought
hewi
lder
ness,and
Godwoul
dleadt
hem.Andwhent
heyar
ri
ved,Godwoul
dbewi
tht
hem,andHewoul
d
ascendt
oHi
sthr
one,
andagai
nHewoul
drul
eov
ert
hem.

Andso,i
ntheneari
ntent
ionoft
hatpr
ophecy
,Hewast
alki
ngaboutt
her
etur
nfr
om t
he
Baby
loni
ancapt
ivi
tyandt
heascendancyofGodt
oHi
ssov
erei
gnpl
aceov
erar
econst
it
uted
I
srael
.Andt
hatwoul
drequi
remaki
ngr
eadyt
hewayoft
heLor
d.Godwoul
dleadt
hem back
f
rom capt
ivi
ty,
woul
dmaket
hepat
hfort
hem,
maket
her
oadf
ort
hem,
andt
heywoul
dhead
back,andGodwoul
dbewi
tht
hem.I
nthef
utur
esense,onewoul
dcomewhowoul
dmake
t
her
oadr
eadyf
ort
henewKi
ng.Maket
her
oadr
eadyf
ort
henewKi
ng.Andt
his,ofcour
se,
i
sher
eassoci
atedwi
tht
hef
orer
unnerofJesus,namel
yJohnt
heBapt
ist
.Ther
ewast
o
comeonewhowoul
dher
aldt
henew Ki
ng’
sar
ri
val
,cal
lpeopl
etopr
epar
eforHi
sgl
ori
ous
ascentt
oHi
sthr
oneandt
heest
abl
ishmentofhi
ski
ngdom ofsal
vat
ion,andbl
essi
ng,and
peace.

Now,
theRomanswoul
dgett
his.TheGent
il
eswoul
dgett
his.TheJewswoul
dgett
his.Thi
s
i
snotanor
dinar
ymonar
ch.Thi
sisnot
ypi
calKi
ng,howev
er,becauseoft
henat
ureofHi
s
per
son.Fi
rstofal
l,
He’
snott
heSonofsomeot
herki
ng;
Hei
stheSonofGod.Thatset
sHi
m
apar
tfr
om al
lot
her
s.Hei
sGodt
heSon;t
hati
stosayHe’
scoequal
,coexi
stent
,coet
ernal
wi
thGod.

So,
let
’sgof
rom t
hepr
omi
seoft
hisnewKi
ngt
otheper
sonoft
hisnewKi
ng.Now,
Iwantt
o
showy
ousomet
hing.Whatweal
readyknowi
sHi
snamei
sJesus,Hi
sti
tl
eisKi
ng–t
hat
’s
whatChr
istmeans–Hi
sher
it
agei
stheSonofGod.ButIwanty
out
onot
icehowdeepl
ythi
s
i
sint
het
extoft
hesepr
ophesi
es.

Ver
se2,
from Mal
achi3:
1,“
‘Behol
d,IsendMymessenger
’”–l
it
eral
ly
,int
het
extofMal
achi-
“
‘bef
oreMe.
’
”Godsay
s,“
IsendMymessengerbef
oreMe.
”Godi
ssay
ing,“
TheKi
ngwhoi
s
comi
ng,
theKi
ngwhoMymessengerannouncesi
sMe.
”Thati
sav
eryi
mpor
tantst
atement
.
“
‘He’i
s‘Me.
’-whowi
llpr
epar
eMyway
.”Thati
stosayt
heKi
ngwhoi
scomi
ngi
sonewi
th
God.TheKi
ngwhoi
scomi
ngi
sGod.That
’swhyJohnopenshi
sGospelsay
ing,
“Webehel
d
Hi
sgl
ory
,thegl
oryoft
heonl
ybegot
tenoft
heFat
her
.”“
IsendMymessengeraheadofYou,
whowi
llpr
epar
eYourway
.”

“
Themessengeri
s–t
hemessengeri
sannounci
ngMe,
announci
ngMyar
ri
val
.”Andt
hen,
of
cour
se,
Mal
achi3cont
inuest
osayt
his,
“Andt
heLor
dwhom y
ouseekwi
llsuddenl
ycomet
o
Hi
stempl
e.”

So,Hegoesf
rom “
bef
oreMe”t
o“t
heLor
dwi
llsuddenl
ycomet
oHi
stempl
e.”Andy
ou
r
emember
,whent
heLor
dar
ri
ved,t
hef
ir
stpubl
ict
hingHedi
dwasgot
othet
empl
eand
cl
eanset
het
empl
e.So,
Hecamesuddenl
ytoHi
stempl
e.

Theonecomi
ngt
heni
sKi
ng.Comi
ngasKi
ng,Heascendst
oHi
stempl
e,Hi
spal
ace.He
f
indsi
tadenoft
hiev
esandcl
eansi
tout
.Butwhoi
sHe?I
tisYahweh.I
tisGod.I
tisGod.
Youseei
tev
enf
urt
heri
nthesecondOl
dTest
amentpr
omi
se,
ver
se3,
from I
sai
ah40,
ver
se
3,“
Thev
oiceofonecr
yingi
nthewi
l
der
ness”–t
hat
’st
hemessenger
;that
’swhathedoes;
t
hat
’swher
ehedoesi
t.Andwhatdoeshesay
?“‘
Maker
eadyt
hewayof
’”–whom?-“
‘t
he
Lor
d’”–oKý
rios.Agai
n,Yahweh,God,t
heSonofGod,GodHi
msel
f.Yahweh,t
heLor
d.Of
cour
se,
ver
se8,
“Hewi
llbapt
izey
ouwi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.
”Whoel
secoul
dgi
vet
heHol
ySpi
ri
t
butt
heLor
dHi
msel
f?Thenew Ki
ng.Thenew Ki
ngwhoi
scomi
ng.Thenew Ki
ngi
snone
ot
hert
hanGod.Thet
est
imonyt
othatr
eal
i
tyi
sgi
venatHi
sbapt
ism.I
fyougodownt
over
se
11,Jesusi
sbei
ngbapt
ized,“
Avoi
cecameoutoft
heheav
ens”–t
hisi
sthev
oiceoft
he
Fat
her–“
‘Youar
eMybel
ovedSon,
inYouIam wel
l-
pleased.
”

Now,
thewor
ldhasnev
erseenaKi
ngl
iket
his.GodHi
msel
fwi
llcomet
oHi
speopl
easGod
Hi
msel
fcamet
oHi
speopl
ewhent
heyr
etur
nedf
rom t
heexi
lei
ncapt
ivi
ty.GodHi
msel
fwi
ll
comet
oHi
speopl
e.GodHi
msel
f,Godt
heSonwi
llbet
henewKi
ng.

Thegoodnewsi
sthatGodhascome.God,t
heGodoft
heuni
ver
se,hasbr
okeni
ntohi
stor
y
t
opr
ovi
desal
vat
ion,andbl
essi
ng,andpeace,andHi
snamei
sJesus.Ki
ngJesus,Sonof
God.ThenewKi
ngi
sher
e.Thenewki
ngdom i
sher
e.I
t’
sanewdayf
ort
hewhol
ewor
ld.I
t’
s
anewdayf
orhumanhi
stor
y;sal
vat
ionhasar
ri
ved.Thi
sist
hegoodnews.

I
ntheGr
eekandRomanwor
ld,euaggel
ionwasof
tenusedi
nthepl
ural
.Lot
sofgoodnews.
I
ntheNew Test
ament
,it
’snev
erusedbuti
nthesi
ngul
ar;t
her
e’sonl
yonegoodnews,f
or
t
her
e’snoot
hersal
vat
ionexceptt
hati
nChr
ist
.Thenew Ki
ngi
sGodcomedownt
obr
ing
sal
vat
ion,
peace,
order
,andbl
essi
ng.
Thenwemeett
hepr
ophetoft
henewKi
ng.Ver
se4,her
e’st
hemessengerwhoi
sthev
oice
cr
ying i
nthe wi
lder
ness,“
John t
heBapt
istappear
ed i
nthewi
lder
ness”– t
her
e’st
he
f
ulf
il
lmentoft
hepr
ophecy
.Thewor
d“wi
lder
ness”t
hesamewor
dasdeser
t.“
Johnt
he
Bapt
istappear
edi
nthewi
lder
nesspr
eachi
ng.
”Johnt
heBapt
ist
.Whydoy
out
hinkt
hey
cal
ledhi
mthat
?

Yousay
,“Wel
l,
becausehewasaBapt
ist
.He’
sthef
ir
stBapt
ist
.He’
stheor
igi
nalBapt
ist
.”

No,hei
snott
heor
igi
nalBapt
ist
.Andt
hat
’snothi
slastnameei
ther
.Whywoul
dyoucal
l
any
bodyJohn–act
ual
ly
,int
heGr
eek,
it’
sJohnt
heBapt
izer
.Itshoul
dbeJohnt
heBapt
izer
.
Why woul
dyou cal
lany
body John t
he Bapt
izer
? Because t
hat
’st
he t
hing t
hat
’s so
di
sti
ngui
shi
ngabouthi
m.

Wheny
our
eadt
hrought
heNewTest
ament
,youhav
eaMar
y,andt
hent
heMar
y’si
dent
if
ied
bysomeot
hername.Ri
ght
?Li
kewesawl
astt
ime.Mar
y,t
hemot
herofJohnMar
k;or
,Mar
y
Magdal
ene;
or,
Mar
y,t
hemot
herofourLor
d;or
,Mar
y,t
hewi
feofCl
opas.You’
vegott
ohav
e
somewayt
oident
if
ywhatMar
yyou’
ret
alki
ngabout
.Wel
l,y
ouneedsomewayt
oident
if
y
whatJohny
ou’
ret
alki
ngabout
,too.John’
sav
erycommonnamei
nHebr
ew.Andso,i
tis
Johnt
heBapt
izer
,becauset
hat
’swhat
’smosti
nimi
tabl
eabouthi
m.Andt
hatwoul
dsethi
m
apar
tfr
om ev
ery
bodyel
se,becausenobodyel
sedi
dthat
.Idon’
twantt
ogety
out
othi
nk
t
hatt
hei
deai
sthati
nIsr
aelev
erychur
chhadabapt
ist
ery
.Ther
ewer
en’
tanychur
ches,
fir
st
ofal
l,
andt
her
ewer
en’
tanybapt
ist
eri
es.

TheJewsdi
dn’
tbapt
ize.Theyhadcer
emoni
alcl
eansi
ngs;t
heyhadcer
emoni
alwashi
ngs
andal
loft
hat
.Butt
heyonl
yhadonebapt
ism t
hatt
heydi
d,andi
twasaone-
ti
mesy
mbol
ic
ev
entt
heydi
dtoapr
osel
ytewhocameoutofGent
il
eism i
ntoJudai
sti
crel
igi
on,want
edt
o
becomeawor
shi
pperoft
het
rueGod,andt
heyputhi
mthr
oughapr
osel
ytebapt
ism orher
t
hroughapr
osel
ytebapt
ism,ani
mmer
sioni
nwat
ert
osy
mbol
izet
hatt
heywer
ebei
ng
pur
if
iedf
rom t
hei
rfor
merl
i
feandent
eri
ngi
ntot
hecl
eanr
eli
gion,asi
twer
e,ofJudai
sm.
Thi
sispr
osel
ytebapt
ism.I
twasn’
tacommont
hing;i
twasn’
tanoccur
rencet
hathappened
al
lthet
ime.Andt
hat
’swhyy
oucoul
dident
if
yoneasJohnt
heBapt
izer
,becauset
hatwas
sounusual
.

Fur
ther
mor
e,heappear
sint
hewi
lder
ness,i
nthedeser
t.I
nfact
,inJohn3:
23,i
tpl
acesHi
m
about25t
o30mi
lessout
hoft
heSeaofGal
il
ee,al
ongt
heJor
danRi
ver
.Andupanddown
t
hatr
iverhewentf
ort
hedur
ati
onofhi
smi
nist
ry,pr
eachi
ngouti
nthedeser
t,awayf
rom al
l
t
heci
ti
esandal
lthet
ownsandal
lthepeopl
e.Hewasi
nthatwi
lder
ness,basi
cal
l
y,hi
s
whol
eli
fe.Accor
dingt
oLuke1:
80,hespenthi
sli
fei
nthewi
lder
ness.Hewasawi
lder
ness
guy
.Hewasadeser
tman.

Now,
Johnt
heBapt
ist–t
her
e’sal
otofwonder
fulst
ori
esabouthi
m,t
rue,
giv
enbyMat
thew,
gi
ven byLuke.Somet
hingst
old byJohn.Wecoul
dtal
kaboutt
hef
actt
hathewas
mi
racul
ousl
yconcei
ved,becausehi
spar
ent
swer
etoool
dandhadbeenbar
ren.That
’sa
wonder
fulst
ory
.Wecoul
dtal
kaboutt
hef
actt
hathewasf
il
ledwi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
tfr
om hi
s
mot
her
’swomb.Wecoul
dtal
kaboutt
hef
actt
hathewasar
elat
iveofJesus,t
hatMar
yand
El
izabet
hgott
oget
her
,whent
heybot
hknewt
hatGodhaddoneami
racl
eofconcept
ioni
n
t
hem.Wecoul
dtal
kaboutt
hef
actt
hathewast
hecul
minat
ionofOl
dTest
amentpr
ophet
ic
hi
stor
y,t
hel
astpr
ophet
,andt
her
ehadn’
tbeenonef
or400y
ear
s.Wecoul
dtal
kaboutt
he
f
actt
hatJesussai
d–Mat
thew11:
11–“
He’
sthegr
eat
estmant
hatev
erl
i
vedupunt
ilhi
s
t
ime,
”becausehewasgi
vent
hegr
eat
estr
esponsi
bil
it
yanymanev
erhad:t
opoi
ntt
othe
Messi
ah,
toannouncet
henewKi
ng.Mar
kleav
esal
lthatout
.Hel
eav
esi
tal
lout
.

Hej
ustsayt
hisabouthi
m,v
erse6,“
Hewascl
othedwi
thcamel
’
shai
randwor
eal
eat
her
bel
tar
oundhi
swai
st,andhi
sdi
etwasl
ocustandwi
ldhoney
.”Wel
l
,youmi
ghtf
indt
hata
l
it
tl
ebi
tst
range.I
treal
lyi
sn’
t.I
fyou’
reouti
nthedeser
ttost
artwi
th,l
ocustandwi
l
dhoney
woul
dbeagoodwayt
osust
ainy
our
sel
f,becausef
rom whatweunder
stand,t
her
ewas
pl
ent
yoft
hatav
ail
abl
e.Andi
fyoul
iv
edouti
nthewi
lder
nessoft
hedeser
tyourwhol
eli
fe,
y
ouwoul
dn’
tcar
eaboutf
ashi
on.You’
dbasi
cal
lycar
eaboutst
ayi
ngwar
m,becausei
tcanbe
f
reezi
ngcol
douti
nthatdeser
t.

Hei
sav
eryf
ami
li
armani
nanci
enthi
stor
y.Ev
enJosephus,t
heJewi
shhi
stor
ian,wr
it
es
abouthi
m andsay
s,“
Hewasagoodmanwhocommandedt
heJewst
oexer
cisev
irt
ueand
pi
etyt
owar
dGodandcomet
obapt
ism.
”

Butt
heonl
ythi
ngMar
ktel
lsusabouthi
mishi
sst
yle.Now,whati
sthi
sabout
?“Hewas
cl
othedwi
thcamel
’
shai
r.
”Thatdoesn’
tmeanhi
de;t
hatmeanscamel
’
shai
rwov
en.They
woul
dtakecamel
’
shai
r;t
heywoul
dmakeat
hreadoutofi
t,andt
hent
heywoul
dweav
ea
gar
mentoutofi
t.I
twoul
dbea–ki
ndofar
oughgar
ment
.Itwasahai
rygar
ment
.

Andt
henhehadal
eat
herbel
tar
oundhi
swai
st.That
’sar
oughl
eat
herbel
t.Andt
hat
’swhat
i
ttel
lsusabouthi
m.Hi
sli
fest
yle,
howev
er,
hasapar
all
el.I
tsay
sthesamet
hing,
byt
heway
,
i
nMat
thew3:
4.Buthi
sli
fest
ylehasapar
all
el.Whatwashet
ryi
ngt
odol
ooki
ngl
iket
hat
?

Wel
l,i
fyougoback–y
oudon’
thav
etot
urnt
oit
;I’
l
lreadi
ttoy
ou–buti
fyougobackt
o,
wel
l
,Zechar
iah13,i
ttal
ksaboutsomef
alsepr
ophet
s,andi
tassoci
ates,i
nver
se4,f
alse
pr
ophet
swhodesi
ret
odecei
veput
ti
ngonahai
ryr
obe.Now,whywoul
daf
alsepr
ophet
,
whowant
edt
odecei
ve,
putonahai
rrobe?Becauseahai
ryr
obewasassoci
atedwi
that
rue
pr
ophet
.At
ruepr
ophet
.

Wheni
tsay
s–whenJesussai
d,“
Bewar
eofwol
veswhocomei
nsheep’
scl
othi
ng,
”look,
t
hati
sn’
tawol
fwi
thasheephi
dov
erhi
shead.That
’saf
alset
eacheri
nwool
.Agai
n,ahai
ry
gar
mentasopposedt
osomet
hingmadeoutofl
inenorcot
ton.That
’st
hegar
bofapr
ophet
.
Andmor
enot
abl
ythant
hat
,ify
ougobackt
o2Ki
ngs,
chapt
er1,
youmeetEl
ij
aht
heTi
shbi
te.
Thi
siswhati
tsay
sabouthi
m,v
erse8,“
Hewasahai
ryman”–t
hatdoesnotcommenton
hi
sbodi
lyhai
rbutont
hegar
mentt
hathewor
e–“
Hewasahai
rymanwi
thal
eat
hergi
rdl
e
boundabouthi
sloi
ns.
”Thi
sEl
ij
aht
heTi
shbi
te.Thi
sguysett
hef
ashi
onf
orpr
ophet
s.

I
fyouwant
edt
obet
akenser
iousl
yasapr
ophet
,youf
oundahai
ryr
obeandal
eat
herbel
t,
andy
oumadesur
ethaty
ouconv
eyedt
haty
ouwer
eapr
opheti
nthewayt
haty
oul
ooked.
Andev
enf
alsepr
ophet
swoul
ddei
gnt
oputont
hathai
ryr
obe,andt
hatl
eat
herbel
tto
appearasi
ftheywer
epr
ophet
s.

Wel
l,
Johnwasapr
ophet
.Notonl
ywasheapr
ophet
,buthewasapr
ophetwhocamei
nthe
spi
ri
tandpowerofEl
ij
ah.That
’sr
ight
.Hewasonewhocamewi
thananoi
nti
ngf
rom Godon
hi
shead.

Li
stent
oLuke1:
15,
“Hewi
l
lbegr
eati
nthesi
ghtoft
heLor
d.Hewi
l
ldr
inknowi
neorl
iquor
.
Hewi
llbef
il
ledwi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
twhi
ley
eti
nhi
smot
her
’swomb.Hewi
l
ltur
nmanyoft
he
sonsofI
sraelbackt
otheLor
dthei
rGod.I
tishewhowi
llgoasaf
orer
unnerbef
oreHi
m,
bef
oref
ort
heKi
ng,
int
hespi
ri
tandpowerofEl
ij
ah,
tot
urnt
hehear
tsoft
hef
ather
sbackt
o
t
hechi
ldr
en,andt
hedi
sobedi
entt
otheat
ti
tudeoft
her
ight
eous,soast
omaker
eadya
peopl
epr
epar
edf
ort
heLor
d.”

Your
emembert
hati
nMal
achi3,t
her
ewast
hepr
omi
set
hatwej
ustr
eadt
hatt
her
eis
comi
ngamessenger
.Al
it
tl
emor
eissai
daboutt
hatmessengeri
nMal
achi4:
5,“
I’
m goi
ngt
o
sendy
ouEl
ij
aht
hepr
ophet
.”John,i
tsay
s,wascomei
nthespi
ri
tandpowerofEl
ij
ah.And
Jesussai
d,i
nMat
thew11:
14,“
Ify
ouar
ewi
ll
i
ngt
oaccept
”–meani
ngMeandMygospel–
“
Johnhi
msel
fist
hatEl
ij
ah.
”

Howev
er,
your
emembert
heydi
dn’
taccept
.Theyki
ll
edbot
hJohnt
heBapt
istandJesus.So,
t
her
e’sanot
hert
imewhenJesuswi
llr
etur
n,andbef
oreHi
ssecondcomi
ng,t
her
ewi
l
lbe
anot
heri
nthespi
ri
tandpowerofEl
ij
ah.Di
dJohnunder
standt
hat
?Ofcour
seheunder
stood
t
hat
.Thepr
ophecycamet
ohi
spar
ent
sbef
orehewasev
erbor
n,t
hathewoul
dmi
nist
eri
n
t
hespi
ri
tandpowerofEl
ij
ah.Hei
dent
if
iedwi
thEl
ij
ahf
rom t
heget
-go.That
’swhyhewor
e
whathewor
e.That
’swhyhel
iv
edt
hewayhel
iv
ed.Hel
iv
edagai
nstt
hegr
ainoft
hecul
tur
e.
Heev
enmi
nist
erednearwher
eEl
ij
ahdi
d.Read2Ki
ngschapt
er2,
ver
se4t
o12.

Now,hi
sdi
etwasl
ocust
.Byt
heway
,accor
dingt
oLev
iti
cus11:
22,t
hatwast
heonl
yinsect
y
oucoul
deat
.Goodpr
otei
n,goodsour
ceofmi
ner
al.I
fyouwantt
opr
epar
esome,her
e’s
howy
oudoi
t.Youy
ankof
fthewi
ngsandt
hel
egs,
andt
hen,
dependi
ngony
ourpr
efer
ence,
y
oucanr
oastt
hebody
,boi
lit
,dr
yit
,gr
indi
tupandbakei
tiny
ourbr
eadwi
thsal
t.I
t
pr
ovi
dedpr
otei
n.Andhoney
,wi
l
dhoneywasev
ery
wher
e,andi
twassweet
,andi
twasgood.

Doy
ounot
icet
hisaboutJohnt
heBapt
ist
?Hedi
dn’
tcar
etoi
dent
if
ywi
tht
hepeopl
e.He
car
edt
oident
if
ywi
tht
hepr
ophet
.It
hinkanypr
eachermakesabadmi
stakewhenhet
ri
es
t
oident
if
ywi
tht
hel
ineoft
hepeopl
erat
hert
hant
hel
i
neoft
hepr
ophet
s.Youwantt
ost
and
i
nthegr
eatt
radi
ti
onoft
hepr
ophet
;youwantt
ospeakl
i
keapr
ophet
;youwantt
oactl
ikea
pr
ophet
;youwantt
olookl
ikeapr
ophet
.

Now,whatwas hi
s message?Wel
l,l
et’
s go t
o numberf
ourt
othe pr
epar
ati
on.The
pr
epar
ati
on.Whatwashesay
ing?Whatdi
dtheyneedt
odo?Backt
over
se4.Hewas
pr
eachi
ngabapt
ism ofr
epent
ancef
ort
hef
orgi
venessofsi
ns.That
’swhathewasdoi
ng.I
n
anci
entt
imes,t
heenv
oyoft
hear
ri
vi
ngki
ngwoul
dgobef
orehi
m,r
emov
eal
ltheobst
acl
es
i
nthepat
h;somet
imest
hey
’dcar
veapat
h;somet
imest
heybui
l
tar
oad;somet
imest
hey
’d
makeabr
idge,r
emov
ingt
heobst
acl
es.Andt
hent
heywoul
dmakesur
ethepeopl
ewer
e
r
eadyt
orecei
vet
hisnewKi
ng.

Whatwast
hewayt
hepeopl
ewer
etopr
epar
efort
hear
ri
valoft
hiski
ng?Abapt
ism of
r
epent
ancef
ort
hef
orgi
venessofsi
ns.Theyneededt
ohav
ethei
rsi
nsf
orgi
ven.I
nor
dert
o
hav
ethei
rsi
nsf
orgi
ven,whi
chGodwoul
dmer
cif
ull
ydo,t
heyneededt
orepentoft
hei
rsi
ns.
Andt
odemonst
rat
ethei
rrepent
ance,t
heywoul
dbewi
ll
i
ngt
ounder
goabapt
ism.The
bapt
ism di
dn’
tbr
ingf
orgi
venessofsi
n;i
tonl
ydecl
aredt
hei
rint
ent
ion.That
’swhyJohn,
asI
sai
d,wasl
abel
edt
hebapt
izer
.TheJewshadcer
emoni
alwashi
ngs,nobapt
ismsexceptf
or
pr
osel
ytebapt
ism.

So,aJewwoul
dbesay
ing,bydoi
ngt
hatki
ndofone-
ti
mesy
mbol
icbapt
ism,“
I’
m nobet
ter
t
hanaGent
il
e.Iam nobet
tert
hanaGent
il
e.Iam nomor
ereadyt
omeett
henewKi
ng,
Iam
nomor
ereadyf
orGodt
oascendt
oHi
sthr
one,
Iam nomor
ereadyf
orGodt
oest
abl
i
shHi
s
ki
ngdom andmakemeapar
tofi
tthanaGent
il
e.”Thati
sahugeadmi
ssi
on,f
ort
heJews
hadbeent
rai
nedpr
ett
ymucht
oresentandhat
etheGent
il
esandt
hinkoft
hem asout
side
t
hecov
enant
.

He’
scal
li
ngt
heJewst
odecl
aret
hemsel
vesnobet
tert
hanGent
il
es,t
otur
nmanyoft
he
hear
tsoft
hepeopl
etowar
dri
ght
eousness,awayf
rom r
ebel
li
on,asLuke1puti
t.Andt
o
mar
kthatr
epent
ance,t
hatdel
iber
atemet
anoi
awhi
chmeansat
urni
ng,agenui
net
urni
ng.
Theywoul
dneedt
obr
ingf
ort
hthef
rui
tofr
epent
ance.Doy
our
ememberhow Johnt
he
Bapt
istsai
dthat
?Mat
thew3:
8recor
dsi
t;Luke3:
8recor
dsi
t.Lukesay
s,“
Bri
ngf
ort
hfr
uit
s
f
it
ti
ngf
orr
epent
ance.
”Pr
ovei
t.Thef
ir
stst
epwoul
dbet
obewi
l
li
ngt
ounder
goapr
osel
yte
bapt
ism and v
iew y
our
sel
fas i
fyou wer
e no bet
tert
han a Gent
il
e.Radi
cal
,radi
cal
r
epent
ance.Andt
hiswast
hemessaget
hatcamef
rom Godt
oJohn,
Luke3:
2,“
TheWor
dof
t
heLor
dcamet
ohi
m,”andt
hisi
swhatHesai
d.Thi
sisnotbapt
ism i
nJesus’name.We
knowt
hatbecauseJohnt
heBapt
ist
’sf
oll
ower
swer
elat
erbapt
izedbyPauli
nJesus’
name,
accor
dingt
oAct
s19.

Now,
youneedt
oknowoneot
hert
hingaboutt
hecont
extofJohn’
smessage.Hi
spr
eachi
ng
wasj
udgmentpr
eachi
ng.I
nLuke3y
oucanr
eadi
tyour
sel
f.Hepr
eachedj
udgment
.Hesai
d
t
hingst
othepeopl
e,“
Youbr
oodofsnakes,
whowar
nedy
out
ofl
eef
rom t
hewr
atht
ocome?
”
Hesai
d,“
Whent
heKi
ngget
sher
e,Hei
sgoi
ngt
obapt
izewi
thf
ir
e.Hi
swi
nnowi
ngf
orki
sin
Hi
shand;
He’
sgoi
ngt
osepar
atet
hewheatf
rom t
hechaf
f,andHe’
sgoi
ngt
obur
nthechaf
f.
”

Hewasaj
udgmentpr
eacher–f
ier
cej
udgmentpr
eacher
.That
’swhatdr
ovet
hepeopl
eto
wantt
odealwi
tht
hei
rsi
ns.Thef
eart
hatwhent
heMessi
ahf
inal
lycame,whent
henew
Ki
ngascendedt
oHi
sthr
oneandest
abl
ishedHi
ski
ngdom,t
hey
’dbeont
heout
sidel
ooki
ng
i
n.Andso,
hewasaj
udgmentpr
eacher
.Judgmentwascomi
ng.Butwhi
leGodwasaGodof
j
udgment
,Hewasal
soaGodofgr
ace,andHeof
fer
edf
orgi
venessofsi
nsf
ort
hosewho
r
epent
ed.
Wel
l,ev
ery
bodypr
act
ical
lywant
edt
obeapar
toft
heMessi
ah’
ski
ngdom.Theydi
dn’
twant
t
ogetl
eftout
.Theyknew t
hei
rownhear
t’
ssi
nful
ness.So,accor
dingt
over
se5,al
lthe
count
ryofJudeawasgoi
ngoutt
ohi
m,al
lthepeopl
eofJer
usal
em.Theywer
ebei
ng
bapt
izedbyhi
mint
heJor
danRi
ver
,conf
essi
ngt
hei
rsi
ns.Thi
slooksl
ikeanat
ionalr
evi
val
.

“
Bymaki
ngt
hispi
l
gri
mage”-Mar
kHor
newr
it
es-“
tot
heJor
dan,
thosewhobel
iev
edJohn’
s
messageshowedt
hatt
heywant
edt
obev
isi
blysepar
atedf
rom t
hoseunderj
udgmentwhen
t
heLor
dcome.Theywant
edt
obemember
soft
hef
utur
epur
if
iedI
srael
.Under
goi
ngJohn’
s
bapt
ism hel
pedt
hem ant
ici
pat
ethatt
heywer
enotonl
yGod’
scov
enantpeopl
e,butt
hatt
hey
woul
dremai
nint
hatcov
enantaf
terGodcastot
her
sout
.Inor
dert
obeassur
edt
hatt
hey
woul
dbei
ncl
udedi
nthef
utur
efor
giv
enI
sraelwhosei
niqui
tywoul
dber
emov
ed,t
hey
neededt
orepentandaskf
orper
sonalf
orgi
venessnow.
”Endquot
e.That
’swhatt
heywer
e
doi
ng.So,
theycameconf
essi
ng,
bei
ngbapt
ized.

Howev
er,
thi
swas,
asgoodasi
tmi
ghthav
elooked,
pret
tysuper
fi
cial
,wasn’
tit
?Byt
het
ime
i
t’
sal
lov
er,andt
het
ruebel
iev
ersar
egat
her
edi
nJer
usal
em,af
tert
heascensi
onofJesus,
t
her
e’s120i
ntheupperr
oom.Andher
e,hy
per
bol
icl
anguaget
obesur
e,“
all
”thecount
ryof
Judeawasgoi
ngoutt
ohi
m,“
all
”thepeopl
eofJer
usal
em.Massi
veconst
ant
,st
eadyst
ream
dayaf
terdayaf
terday
.

Whyt
hewi
lder
ness?Whyt
hewi
l
der
ness?Wi
ll
iam Lanewr
it
es–andIt
hinki
t’
swel
lst
ated–
“
Thesummonst
obebapt
izedi
ntheJor
danmeanst
hatI
sraelmustoncemor
ecomet
othe
wi
lder
ness.AsI
sraell
ongagohadbeensepar
atedf
rom Egy
ptbyapi
lgr
imaget
hrought
he
wat
ersoft
heRedSea,t
henat
ioni
sexhor
tedagai
ntoexer
cisesepar
ati
on.Thepeopl
ear
e
cal
ledt
oasecondexodusi
npr
epar
ati
onf
oranewcov
enantwi
thGod.

“
Ast
hepeopl
eheedJohn’
scal
landgooutt
ohi
mint
hedeser
t,f
armor
eisi
nvol
vedt
han
cont
ri
ti
onandconf
essi
on.Theyr
etur
ntoapl
aceofj
udgment
,thewi
lder
ness,wher
ethe
st
atusofI
sraelasGod’
sbel
ovedsonmustber
eest
abl
ishedi
ntheexchangeofpr
idef
or
humi
l
ity
.Thewi
ll
ingnesst
oret
urnt
othewi
l
der
nesssi
gni
fi
est
heacknowl
edgementof
I
srael
’
shi
stor
yasoneofdi
sobedi
enceandr
ebel
li
on,
andadesi
ret
obegi
noncemor
e.Let
’s
gobackt
othewi
lder
ness,
bef
oreweev
ercamei
ntot
hel
and,
andst
artal
lov
eragai
n.”

Fi
nal
l
y,Mar
kleav
est
hepr
omi
se,t
heper
son,t
hepr
ophet
,thepr
epar
ati
on,andf
ocuseson
t
hepr
eemi
nenceoft
henew Ki
ng.Thepr
eemi
nenceoft
henew Ki
ng.Thi
sist
hesum of
John’
smi
nist
ry.Hewaspr
eachi
ng,v
erse7,“
Andhewassay
ing,‘
Aft
ermeOnei
scomi
ng
whoi
smi
ght
iert
hanI
,andI
’
m notf
itt
ost
oopdownandunt
iet
het
ongofHi
ssandal
s.I
bapt
izedy
ouwi
thwat
er,
butHewi
l
lbapt
izey
ouwi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.
”

Thi
siswhati
smostt
rueaboutt
hef
orer
unner
:hepoi
ntst
oChr
ist
;hepoi
ntt
oChur
ch;he
poi
ntst
oChr
ist
.Nev
erpoi
ntst
ohi
msel
f.John3:
30,“
Imustdecr
ease,Hemusti
ncr
ease.
”
Thi
sisamodelf
oranypr
eacher
.Don’
tident
if
ywi
tht
hepeopl
e,i
dent
if
ywi
tht
hepr
ophet
s.
Don’
tlookl
iket
hepeopl
e;l
ookl
iket
hepr
ophet
s.Mai
ntai
nthedi
gni
tyoft
hatof
fi
cehanded
down.Anddon’
tpoi
ntt
oyour
sel
f;poi
ntt
oChr
ist
.

“
Aft
ermet
heOne”–l
it
eral
lydef
ini
tear
ti
cle–“
Aft
ermet
heOnei
scomi
ngwhoi
smi
ght
ier
t
hanI
.”Howmi
ght
yisHe?He’
stheLor
d;He’
sYahweh;He’
sKur
ios;He’
sGodt
heSon;He’
s
t
heKi
ng–Ki
ngJesus.Howf
arabov
emei
sHe?Huh.

Her
e’st
henegat
ive.“
Hei
ssomuchmi
ght
iert
hanI
,thatI
’
m notf
itt
ost
oopdownandunt
ie
t
het
hongofHi
ssandal
s.”Youknow what
?Thatwast
hel
owestpossi
blej
obt
hatany
ser
vantcoul
dhav
e.Thatwasi
t.Thatwast
hebot
tom.I
fyouwer
etheser
vantwhount
ied
y
ourmast
er’
ssandal
s,y
ouwer
ethescum oft
hescum oft
hescum.Di
rt
yfeet
.

Ol
dquot
esf
rom Hebr
ew sour
ces.“
AHebr
ew sl
avemustnotwasht
hef
eetofhi
smast
er,
norputhi
sshoesonhi
m.”That
’sbeneat
hthedi
gni
tyofaHebr
ewsl
ave.Anot
herone,“
All
ser
viceswhi
chasl
avedoesf
orhi
smast
er,apupi
lshoul
ddof
orhi
steacher
,wi
tht
he
except
ionofundoi
nghi
sshoes.
”

Johnsay
s,“
I’
m bel
ow t
hepeopl
ewhodot
hat
.I’
m notev
enupt
othel
eveloft
hosewho
woul
dunt
ieHi
sshoes.That
’showl
owIam.
”

Wel
l,
that
’st
hepi
ctur
e,butwhat
’st
her
eal
i
ty?Ver
se8.Whyam Isodi
ff
erent
?Whyar
eweso
i
nfi
nit
elysepar
ated?“
BecauseIbapt
izey
ouwi
thwat
er;
butHewi
llbapt
izey
ouwi
tht
heHol
y
Spi
ri
t.
”

“
AllIcandoi
sst
icky
oui
nthewat
er;
Hecant
ransf
ormy
ouont
hei
nsi
de.
”Thi
sref
erst
othe
soul
-t
ransf
ormi
ngwor
kofsal
vat
ion,
bei
ngbor
noft
hewat
erandt
heSpi
ri
t.Thi
sisnotsome
Pent
ecost
alsecondbapt
ism;t
hisi
sthewashi
ngofr
egener
ati
onandt
her
enewi
ngoft
he
Hol
ySpi
ri
tofTi
tus3.Thi
sist
henew cov
enant
:pur
if
icat
ion,cl
eansi
ng,t
ransf
ormat
ion,
r
egener
ati
on,
newbi
rt
h.

Johnsay
s,“
Ican’
tdot
hat
.Onl
yGodgi
vest
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.So,
thenewKi
ng,Hewi
llgi
vey
ou
t
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.
”Wi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
tcomessal
vat
ion,
sanct
if
icat
ion,
ser
vice.

So,
Mar
kbegi
nst
hel
anguage–wi
tht
hel
anguageofgoodnews.Goodnewsmeanst
her
e’s
anew Ki
ngwhoi
sGodHi
msel
f,br
ingi
nganew ki
ngdom.I
t’
saki
ngdom off
orgi
veness,
bl
essi
ng.I
tcomest
othosewhor
epent
.It
’st
hecul
minat
ionofal
lpastr
edempt
ivehi
stor
y
andt
hedoort
oal
lfut
uregl
ory
.Theher
aldhascomet
oannounceHi
sar
ri
val
.Andt
her
esti
s
Hi
sst
ory
,whi
chhepi
cksupi
nver
se9.

Fat
her
,wet
hankYouf
ort
hismar
vel
ousbook,
fori
tsdeepr
ichesandencour
agementt
ous.
ThankYouf
ort
hebeaut
yofScr
ipt
ure,
themagni
fi
cenceofi
t,consi
stencyofi
t,i
ntegr
it
yofi
t,
aut
hent
ici
ty,i
ner
rancy
,pur
it
y,t
rust
wor
thi
ness.Bey
ondt
hat
,thepowerofi
ttochangel
iv
es.
Wepr
ayt
hatt
her
ewoul
dbesomeev
ent
hismor
ningwhowoul
dsaywi
thPet
er,i
nthe
mi
ddl
eofMar
k,“
You’
ret
heKi
ng.You’
ret
heKi
ng;
”whowoul
dconf
esst
hei
rsi
ns,r
epentof
t
hei
rsi
ns,
andcomef
orf
orgi
venessf
rom t
heKi
ngwhodi
edf
ort
hem.
Fat
her
,wet
hankYouagai
nforYourwor
kinourl
i
ves.Wet
hankYout
hatwear
einYour
ki
ngdom.Wet
hankYou t
hatwe’
renoton t
heout
sidel
ooki
ng i
n;t
hatYou l
ed ust
o
conf
essi
onandr
epent
anceandf
ait
hint
heKi
ng;t
hatwebel
iev
ethatJesusi
stheKi
ng,
and
bel
iev
ing,wehav
esal
vat
ionandl
if
einHi
sname.ThankYouf
ort
hisgi
ft
,andmayYou
ext
endi
ttomanyot
her
s,wepr
ay,
forYourgl
ory
,Amen.