Camel Hair, Skin Clothes, Locusts and Wild Honey - Mark 1:6

Mark shared how, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins”, and in chapter one and verse six of his book, Mark wrote about John's, “camel hair, skin clothes, locusts and wild honey” where we read:

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins;

and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

The verse reads, “And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins;” Mark began words, “And John” which refers to “John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver and was the son of Zachariah and Elisabeth and the forerunner of Christ. By order of Herod Antipas he was cast into prison and afterwards beheaded”“was clothed” which means “was arrayed” “with camel's hair” or “with the hair of a camel”, “and with a girdle” which means “and with a belt which served not only to gird on flowing garments but also, since it was hollow, to carry money in” “of a skin about his loins” or “of a leathern skin or hide which covered his hip and loin area”. Mark shared how John the Baptist wore “camel hair” clothing along with a “leather skin” covering his loins.

The verse continues, “and he did eat locusts and wild honey;” Mark added the words, “and he did eat locusts” which means “and John ate locusts, particularly the species which especially infests oriental countries and strips fields and trees” “and wild honey” which means “and honey living or growing in uncultivated, unreclaimed, boorish and rude fields or woods”. Mark shared how John the Baptist's diet consisted of “locusts” and “honey” found in the “wild”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we may not expect that God's “fore-runner” to His Messiah Son would be a man of such modest means. “Camel hair and a leather belt to cover his loins” might not have been our first choice for adornment, and it is certain “locusts” or “bugs” and “wild honey” would not have been our selection for sustenance. However, God does things unconventionally at times, and when John came on the scene, he was not to be one with great wealth other than his relationship with God and his position in His Kingdom. God uses people from all walks of life, and their outward appearance, though different, should not be a measure for their “relationship” with God. Let all who read these words realize God desires fellowship and communion with people regardless of their station in life, and He is willing to save all who believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how John says, “There comes one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".