Advent 2 - Series B notes

 

Advent 2 - Series B 

Isaiah 40:1–11

2 Peter 3:8–14
Mark 1:1–8
 
You Are Prepared through Repentance for the Coming of the Lord

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; 

“The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) begins when John the Baptist appears and comes “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). As the prophet Isaiah had written, John is the messenger of the Lord, sent before His face to prepare His way. To this day, the ministry of the forerunner continues in the preaching of the Law and the Gospel and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. By these ways and means, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5), and the Good Shepherd “will gather the lambs in his arms” (Isaiah 40:11). He speaks “tenderly to Jerusalem,” and He comforts His people by pardoning their iniquity (Isaiah 40:1–2). What is more, He promises “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Repent, therefore, and humble yourself as you wait for His coming in peace (2 Peter 3:14), because He “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

In fulfillment of the words of the Prophets Isaiah and Malachi, John comes to prepare the people for the coming promised One. 

The coming of Jesus Christ is Good News (Gospel). Mark proclaims boldly at the outset of his Gospel, but we too must be prepared for His coming. 

John prepared the world in his day, and continues in our day by calling people to repentance urging them to repent and be baptized.  

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1
Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ. 
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Mark 1:2
Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ• Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου• 
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 

-See Isaiah 40:3 Malachi 3:1; Did John think he was preparing for the 2nd Advent? The coming of Elijah? See Malachi 4:1 See Mark 9:11-13 

Mark 1:3
φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ• Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ,  
the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 

Mark 1:4
ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.  
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming/ preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

The baptism of John is only for forgiveness not yet for the Holy Spirit. See Acts 13:24-25 

Mark 1:5
καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.  
And all the region/country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

Jordan is the gateway to the Promised Land...

Mark 1:6
καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσθων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.  
Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

-See 2 Kings 1:7-8; Zachariah 13:4 

Mark 1:7
καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων• Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ• 
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. 

See Mark 3:27 the parable of the stronger man, see also the kinsman redeemer in Ruth 4:7ff. 

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 

Mark 1:8
ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. 
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." - 

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

Advent logo/image copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

The road which leads to Bethlehem – 
1. Is a straight road of righteousness – See also Isaiah 40:3
2. A level road of humility – See also Isaiah 40:4a 
3. A smooth road of graciousness – See also Isaiah 40:4b