Prepare Ye The Way

Rev Gideon Lee

Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

​1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way”–

3 “a voice of one calling in the desert,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”

4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This book is about Jesus Christ. He is the main hero. That's why it's called the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Of all the four gospels, Mark was the first gospel to be written. It is not arranged as the first but the writer wanted to get the book out as soon as possible because he was afraid people may forget about the events of the gospel. That is why it is not very detail. The other books has many details to complement the gospel of Mark. That is why you must read the four gospels for better detail. 

Who was John the Baptist? He was Jesus' cousin. Mary was quite young when she got pregnant. Scholars says she 13 or 14 years old. It was not uncommon then. Even during our parent's time girls marry young. At the longhouses some marry by the time they are fifteen. But Elizabeth was different. She was well in age. She's the mother of John the Baptist. And she longed for a child and she was blessed with John six months before Jesus. 

How was John's lifestyle? He was different from the other children. He would go to the desert and read about Elijah in the scriptures. He fashioned himself like Elijah as Elijah was his hero. People mistook him for Elijah. And his clothing is of camel's hair. I wouldn't use camel's hair for clothing. He used what was available. And he ate locust and honey. I mean honey was okay but locust!?!? He was not fussy. 

He was like on a mission trip. He had a mission. To declare the coming of Jesus. And he said this person that is coming, he was not worthy to even untie his laces. While he baptise in water he said he who comes will baptise in the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist is not a nobody yet he said Jesus was far greater than him. 

John the Baptist has an appearance you may not want to invite on a Sunday morning. And he has only one message and he preached on repentance. How would you like a preacher who has only one message his whole life?

He was so successful that the religious teachers there hated his guts. What made John the Baptist a success? I suggest to you three things that we must include in our message as we reach out to the community this Christmas. I pray that you'll apply these three things to you life. 

1. He lived a godly life. 

We are living in an evil world. One of my friends told me he's afraid to come to Penang. Your Penang has a serial killer. Chopping people up and leaving them around. It seems the police have caught the man and is interrogating him. And the scary thing is that sometimes when you ask the neighbours, they'll say he looked like a quiet and nice person. No suspicion at all. 

The church and as children of God has to live a godly life. Being godly is not popular. It is against what the body likes to do. Like I shared with you last Sunday about the longhouse church leader who opened a canteen or sundry shop to sell stuff  and one of the things he sold was liquor. I mean he of course also sell sundries like instant noodles and other essentials but with liquor he can make 500 ringgit a day. And the best day for business is in Sunday. Of course as a church leader he will be in church on Sunday but he will tell his wife to open his shop so the wife will not be in service. 

By the way, my wife is also not in service today but that's not because she has a shop somewhere. Jayden is unwell and had diarrhoea so was fussy last night. So today he's still not well so my wife is home with him. Do pray for him. 

This Christmas I pray we will not forget this. God is speaking to this person, the longhouse church leader. All this started because of greed. But God is speaking to him.  

One day a conman approached the wife and told them he has government connection for bantuan (financial aid). He even offered to take his wife to the government office to fill up the forms. Because of greed she agreed. They targeted her as she wore a lot of gold, necklace and bangles. The day came she went and as they were driving they said they need to get her photo taken. It made sense to get her photo taken for the form. 

They went to town to take photo and in the shop the man said they must take out her jewellery if not she cannot get bantuan with her wearing all her jewellery. She had to leave her jewellery with the man to take her photographs in another room and when she came out the man was gone and they took all her gold. 

John the Baptist was successful because he lived a godly life. They often mistook him for Elijah. And at one time he was asked if he was the messiah. And he said he is not. Can you imagine because of your behaviour people ask if you're a Christian. Not "aiyah, you Christian arr!"

2. He dare to challenge the people's sin

He called them to repentance. I hope we will not be afraid to say that. Confronting sin and challenging lifestyle. He was someone who did that. Repentance is not just saying I'm sorry but that you choose not to do it this way but to follow Jesus. 

John the Baptist dare to challenge the people that was why they came to him to be baptised. He choose to confront sin where he was, even against King Herod. Even the religious officials dare not to say anything about King Herod. Because he was a nasty guy who can get you killed. 

Too often in church we say judge not lest we be judge. We need to understand what that scripture means. We must be daring enough to confront wrong and wrong doers. 

In the longhouse we had a Q&A. They asked what is their weakness after going to their longhouse so many times. I told them it's because they did not confront wrong. They will come and tell me to tell their children not to smoke. I ask if she's the mother or me? We must confront wrong in love. 

That man who sold liquor, I had only one and a half day to confront him. You cannot be direct with them. You need to find an angle and use others or circumstances. I tried my best to confront him even if it's not direct. I even used a forum to confront the issue. In the forum they can ask questions so when they have no more questions I asked if it is okay to drink? And the church leader himself replied that it is up to the individual. That is where I confronted him with the word of God. That the bible did not say cannot drink but do not be drunk. When do you know you are drunk? When you are drunk but by then it's too late. 

The bible says be filled with the Holy Spirit and do not be filled with wine which will control you. What ever fill you controls you. If you are filled with the world the world controls you. When you are filled with the things of God the things of God controls you. When I shared that at least there is a glimmer of hope. I could see that he regretted. Repentance is more than just saying sorry. Even if he cannot close down his sundry shop, he should not sell liquor. 

3. He pointed the way to Jesus Christ

Many times in our walk with God there is a temptation to take the glory for ourselves. We say I did it. It is me. I'm the one. When they asked him if he's the messiah he could have said yes and take the glory. He has integrity and he know he's not the star. He pointed the way to Jesus. 

I pray amongst our Christmas eating and shopping we point the way to Jesus. Even our Cell Christmas Celebration, I pray we point to Jesus. He is the main star. Many times we fail to point to him. We point to programmes and many other things except Jesus. 

Some people tell me that in order to reach others we must be able to identify with them. And to do what they do. When in Rome do as a Roman do. I think we got that out of context. In everything we do we should point the people to the cross and not anywhere else. 

We are not perfect. We all have shortcomings including me but in everything I do I pray I will be someone who point the way back to him. 

The world was waiting for a messiah. Someone who will be majestic and victorious which is true of our Christ. But it was John the Baptist that first saw Jesus as the Lamb of God. Not the Eagle or Lion of God even though he is all that. He was the one who first saw Jesus who he really was. The Lamb of God that came to take away the sins of the world.

Master Derrick Hooi giving a comical report of his mission trip to Sarawak with a slide show.