PrepareMark 1:1-8

Christmas Focus

Family

Traditions

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Heralding

Heralding

The angels

The star

Gabriel

John

Mark 1:1-8 (NRSV)

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;

Mark 1:1-83the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for

Mark 1:1-8

the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:1-86Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;

Mark 1:1-8

I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John

Sent to prepare and proclaim the coming of Jesus

Prepare

What to expect from Jesus

Attitudes and minds

Hearts and souls

Situations and places

Proclaim

The coming of Jesus

Good news for the poor

Release for the oppressed

Hope

John

The one who prepares and proclaims

Not the one who saves the world

The Need

The world is losing hope

In each other

In systems

In God

The Need

Violence, greed, hatred, oppression, corruption, disease, warfare, and despair are everywhere.

The Need

So where is John?

Bringing hope

Bringing repentance

Bringing good news

The Church

The Church is John today

Proclaiming hope

Preparing for Christ

The Church

But do we feel the urgency, the passion, the necessity of doing John’s work?

The Church

We see the needs

Too big

Too far

Too powerful

The Church

But we are not the solution

Jesus is the good news

John just prepares people for Jesus

The Church

Our Role

Identify the needs

Identify the hope

Prepare the people

This Christmas season, let us prepare the world

for the savior.