ニューイングランドの母校からアドヴェントカレンダー 12月15日（月）

Day 16 | We Are All Advance Messengers
David Gill
Mark 1:1–3

Normally we think of the gospel story as it begins with the birth of Jesus. The angels are there with Mary and Joseph. The manger is in our mind’s eye along with some shepherds and the three wise men from the east. But Mark skips over the birth stories and starts with John the Baptist. Mark compresses the gospel story to its essentials.

For Mark, the gospel story begins with a messenger, a voice crying in the wilderness, “Everybody get ready for the Lord! The Lord, the Savior, the Messiah, the very Son of God is coming! He is the all-powerful and all-worthy one. Get ready for him. Admit, renounce and turn from your sins and misdeeds. He will be your Lord and fill you with the very Spirit of God. This is good news, great news, for our cultural and spiritual wilderness.”

There was only one John the Baptist, of course. But all of us also have our own “advance messenger” roles to play in today’s wilderness. Who can I speak to—and what shall I say—to prepare the hearts and minds of those in my circle of contacts for a positive, transforming encounter with Jesus during this Advent season?