The Fourth Sunday of Advent (CL)

Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, 

who will prepare your way, 

³  the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, 

make his paths straight,’ ” 

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ 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. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

The Gospel according to St Mark is somewhat unique.  It begins with the coming of John the Baptist.  This is not that strange because it John who prepares the way for Jesus Christ to come to his people.  John the Baptist is the forerunner of Christ.  He is not the Christ but He is a voice crying in the wilderness.

John comes on the scene to prepare the people.  He comes to Judea and Jerusalem, or they come to him, in order to be washed clean of their sins.  They come to him so that their sinfulness may be removed.

John's message is a message to prepare people for the End of the World as we know it.  Jesus is going to change everything.  The Christ child will baptize people not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.  The Christ will judge all people on account of their sins, but thankfully for us, He also forgives people their sins.