Today we will be reading from Mark 1:1-8:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight,’ ”

4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 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. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In our daily lectionary these past few weeks, we’ve been in Luke; Today’s suggested reading is in Mark 1.  I hope you enjoyed Mark’s Christmas account.  What’s that, you say?  There wasn’t one?  

That’s right.  Mark doesn’t have a Christmas account.  Matthew gives us Josephs’s perspective.  Luke gives us Marry’s.  John goes for the cosmic and the big picture.  But Mark, Mark doesn’t do any of that.  Mark goes right to action.  

Mark goes to John the Baptist, then the baptism, and then the ministry.  Mark gets right to the point.  Why did Jesus come?  That’s what Mark is about.  

He’s not about the sentimental.  He’s not about the Christmas pageants and the cute plays. Mark is about this. We need a savior.  We are in a broken world in need of redemption. We are a broken people in need of redemption.  We need a savior. 

We need Jesus.  All of us.  If we are lost, we need Jesus for salvation. If we are saved, we need Jesus for our daily journey.  We all need Jesus.  

That is what Mark will focus on.  He goes right to the action.  And I think that’s a good reminder for us in this season.  We hear the saying a lot, Keep Christ in Christmas.  But remember why. We need a Savior.  All of us.  Me, you, everyone.  We need Jesus.  

Today, let’s thank God for sending us a savior and for showing us His love. 

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