One Mightier than John the Baptist - Mark 1:7

Mark wrote, “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 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”, and in chapter one and verse seven of his book, Mark wrote how John said, “There comes one mightier than I” where we read:

And preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me,

the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

The verse reads, “And preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, ...” Mark began words, “and preached” which means “and heralded, proclaimed, published with the suggestion of formality, gravity and authority which must be listened to”,“saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “there comes on mightier than I” or “there will appear, come forth and show Himself stronger, more firm and valiant than John himself” “after me” which means “behind the time of John the Baptist”. Mark shared how John's proclamation was that someone would appear after him who was “stronger and more valiant” than he.

The verse goes on to say, “... the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.” Mark continued with the words, “the latchet” which means “the leather strap or ties by which sandals were fastened to the feet” “of whose shoes” which means “of the sandals of the one mightier” “I am not worthy” or “John was not sufficient in ability, meet, fit or enough” “to stoop down and unloose” which means “to bend forward and stoop down and unfasten, untie or unbind”. Mark shared how John the Baptist did not feel “meet or fit” to unloose Jesus' sandal straps.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we discover the “humility” of John the Baptist as he realized his position with the Messiah. Although he was the “fore-runner” to the Messiah, John the Baptist” knew “Christ” was more powerful and of greater honor than he. God chose John to prepare the way for His Son Jesus to become the “Savior of the World”, and all who humble themselves and receive Jesus will not only have relationship with God, but also inherit “everlasting life” with Him.

Next time Mark shares how John says, “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost”, 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".