The Gospel Reading.
4 John appeared, baptising in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.6 Now John was clothed with camel’s-hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.7 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.8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (ESV Mark 1:4-8)
What Does It Say?
John is different. He doesn’t spend his time in the Temple in Jerusalem, he doesn’t take a road trip of al the synagogues, he doesn’t hang around where all the people are. John spends his time in the wilderness. He eats locusts and honey. At least he is wearing clothes, but not like everyone else. His message is tough. You are not perfect. Admit it.
Surprisingly, ‘all’ of the people from the countryside of Judea and ‘all’ the people from Jerusalem head out to see John and be baptised. This was not what normally happened. The religious leaders were not happy, but the people still came. The people confessed their sins. They brought to the forefront of their minds, out into the open, their imperfections, their shortcomings, and they let them go. Washed away in the river.
Water and washing were powerful symbols to the Israelites. The Old Testament is littered with stories where water is the central image. The crossing of the Red Sea, the Flood, the healing of ? from leprosy, to name but three. As well as confessing their sins, the people washed them away. They let go of the things which have made them fear, made them doubt, made them take a step back from doing what they should.
John, however, was a modest man. In front of the crowds he tells them, another is coming. A man who is mightier than him. A man who will baptise, or cleanse, them not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. Instead of water, the Spirit of God will cleanse. God will touch mankind once again.
The Takeaway.
Sometimes to be the best you need to take it back to basics. A popular adage in sports circles. The Scottish cyclist Graham Obree, the ‘Flying Scotsman’, is a perfect example. While bike technology became more and more sophisticated, Obree rode with a bottom bracket adapted from a washing machine; although this was often mentioned before his achievements. His riding position was equally as unorthodox.
Recently, Obree was quoted as saying, ‘sometimes you just need to grit your teeth and turn the pedals’.The result of this back to basics philosophy? The Flying Scotsman held the World Hour record twice.
What do you need to go back to basics with? What do you need to admit to yourself, or someone else? Like the people visiting John, what do you need to let go of? What is holding you back? What stands in the way of you progressing? Name it. Then let it go.
To The Faithful.
Have you confessed your sins lately? Have you let God cleanse you of the hurts, the negative thinking, the fears that prevent you from accepting him fully? Come to God and He will cleanse you with the Holy Spirit.
