What Is He Doing Here

Scripture Mark 1:1-8, Selected verses from Luke 1 and 2
Sermon "What Is He Doing Here?"

 

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ.[b]

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[c]

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,[d]
    who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight,’ ”

so John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I have baptized you with[f] water, but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.”