Mark writes about the beginning of Jesus' ministry on this earth. The ministry of Jesus had been prophesied throughout history. Verses 2 and 3 tell us the prophesy concerning Jesus and John the Baptist: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"; " A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

This messenger was John the Baptist. He was a messenger of Jesus to prepare the way for him. He appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The way to prepare our heart for Jesus is by repentance. We can see that people were thirsty for Jesus, the Messiah. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem came to John. They came out and confessed their sins and were baptized. They were ready to receive the messiah in their hearts. By repenting, they made a straight path for Jesus to their hearts.

Jesus cannot come into a heart cluttered with many sins. When we repent of our sins before Jesus and make straight paths for him in our heart, Jesus is ready to come in.


Application: Lord, please help us to repent of all our known and unknown sins so that Jesus may come into our hearts.
One Word: Repent, and make straight paths for Jesus