Am I In The Way? 

Written by Julie Tsoukalas

Passage: Mark 1:1-15

John the Baptist was a special person. He was chosen to pave the way for Jesus, and prepare people for the Gospel. In his ministry, he lived in the wilderness, clothed in camel skins, and ate locusts and wild honey. I think it certainly takes a special person to do that! He preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins, baptizing those who believed. He even baptized Jesus!

Although John was chosen for this special position, he didn’t let it go to his head. John could have used this public forum to benefit himself. After all, he had all of Judea and Jerusalem coming to him for baptism (vs. 5).

He could have promoted some of his own ideals, complained about the government, shared his views on current events, and debated people who disagreed with him- along with mentioning Jesus, of course.

But he didn’t. He knew his calling, and he knew he wasn’t given this role to promote himself or his own agenda. John made sure the people not only knew that Jesus was the one written about by the prophets, but also that Jesus was greater than himself. John made much of Jesus!

Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

A few verses later, though mentioned briefly, we learn that John has been imprisoned. That’s a pretty important point. John’s ministry was ending so Jesus’ could begin. We are specifically told it is only after this that Jesus begins to preach the Gospel.

John had fulfilled his calling. Now he had to get out of the way so Jesus could minister.

We also have a calling. First of all, like John, we are to make much of Jesus! We’ve also been given the ministry of reconciliation through the Gospel (2 Cor. 5:18), but sometimes we get in the way.

We also have a calling…to make much of Jesus!

In this age of technology, with access to all kinds of media, we can forget to elevate Jesus because we’re distracted by our own agendas, complaining about the government, promoting ourselves and our opinions instead of preparing the way for the Gospel.

Something to ask ourselves today: Am I making much of Jesus, or am I in the way?