Do You Need to Stop and Ask For Directions?

May 16

Read: Mark 1:1-8

Do You Need to Stop and Ask For Directions?

“…the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight…” (v.3)

It is funny to think that God sent someone to “prepare the way” and “make straight the path” for the Lord. There is actually a good bit of preparation that must take place before we are ready to hear his message. In the same way, God sends his Spirit ahead of time to “prepare the way” and “straighten a path” for the coming of Christ in our own lives. The Holy Spirit is our John The Baptist… the voice of one calling in the wilderness to us. As sons and daughters of God, we also have one who “goes before us” and “makes straight our path” - that is Jesus “the trailblazer and finisher of our faith”… the one we are “looking unto” as we “run with patience the race that God has set before each of us.” (Hebrews 12:1,2)

God didn’t ask his Son to walk blindly into life but rather sent one ahead of him who would prepare the way and make straight his path and he does not ask us to walk blindly either! In Christ, we have an “author and finisher” of our faith and in the Holy Spirit we have a voice that calls us and leads directs us as well. We see this worked out by example in Jesus himself who was “driven into the wilderness” by the The Spirit. (Mark 1:12) We have been given the same thing in Christ.

Christ is the one who “baptizes with the Holy Spirit”. (v.3) In Christ we become submerged in the Spirit of God. It is something entirely different than the water baptism of John for the forgiveness of sins. (cf. v.5) God is sending both the people of God and Jesus himself before us to prepare the way for us. Wherever it is and whatever it is that God calls us to - he is never sending us into it without having already prepared a way for us. These are “good works he has prepared in advance for us to walk in and carry out.” (cf. Eph. 2:10)

This brings to light one other truth: we NEED a guide… a “way-maker” … a “scout” who travels ahead of us! When left to our own devices will WILL wander, or walk in circles, or zig-zag back and forth. We need someone who makes our paths “straight”. It will always be difficult for us to “read the map” or “see the trail” until we have been “baptized with the Spirit” in Christ… submerged in the Spirit of God… surrounded… like the waters of the river Jordan that John The Baptist used.

God the Father has sent Jesus to blaze a trail for you as he speaks to you and leads you on the path through the Holy Spirit. No matter what “crossroads” you stand at this morning, he has indeed sent one ahead of you as a "voice calling out in the wilderness”… as one who has “made a straight path”. He has not left you lost. He has not dropped you of somewhere and then run away from you and hidden. Like a guide in the jungle, Jesus is in front of you with a machete lopping off branches and clearing a path for you to walk on! Listen this morning for that voice calling you. Lift your head and fix your gaze ahead of you. Scan the horizon for Jesus and look for the path he has prepared for you. (cf. Heb. 12:1,2 again) These verses mark the transition of Jesus from carpenter to Rabbi / Teacher / Miracle Worker / Minister of the Lord. This was the turning point in the life of Christ where he walked into the ministry the Lord had for him. No more mundane woodworking or long hours running the family business. All of Jesus’ life changed in a moment when he received the Holy Spirit and answered the call of the one whom God had sent ahead of him to prepare a way, make a path, and call out in the wilderness. Your life will transformed as well the moment that you answer the call. Are you ready? Love you guys. - JDP

* I am excited for us to start a study of the book of Mark. I think a good chunk of our summer will be spent in the pages of this Gospel. Enjoy!