“John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins…And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

~ Mark 1: 4-5, 7 NKJV

It is interesting that John did not minister from a synagogue. He ministered from a place not only of nothing, but hardship—the wilderness. John had been stripped of the comforts of daily life. He had no home and no shelter. He had no technology, no earthly provision. His life was rugged and gritty. He bore the brunt of the elements, the heat and the cold. He knew what it was to be deprived, and yet he had something priceless—God was with him; God had spoken to him. John later said, “He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 1:33). 

While the life of John may seem extreme, his life reveals that there is no excuse for not serving God. If this man, with the help of the Holy Spirit, who had absolutely nothing in this world prepared a whole generation for the coming of the Kingdom of God and the long awaited King of that Kingdom, then what excuse do we have? He can and will use our nothing for His glory. John had no building nor formal ministry, yet all the land of Judea went out to hear him preach. Not only did John preach, but the people were moved to action by his words.

We may not all be called to be a John the Baptist. Few are! But God does require all who can to surrender to the word which He sent John to preach. Are there deathbed exceptions? Yes, God will save the repentant heart wherever and whoever they may be. He saved the thief on the cross without earthly baptism, but that thief passed through the waters in death and was baptized in the Spirit in eternity regardless. The question is what will we do with this word. Will we surrender to God?

Baptism is about putting the old life to death. It requires examining our lives before the truth of God’s Word. Are we aligning ourselves with His standards? Here the people confessed their sin openly and repented of it openly. Repentance is a reversal, a change in life; it is the turning of the heart towards God, the rejection of sin, and repudiation of the old, sinful life. Repentance comes with the promise of God: remission of sin! Remission means the cancellation of debts; pardon; forgiveness; deliverance; freedom from the burden of who you are and what you’ve done.

Father, thank You for those who have come before to prepare Your Word to enter my heart. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, that though I have sinned, You have called me to come to You through Jesus, not only for forgiveness, but for Life through Your Holy Spirit! Help me daily in my understanding and in my obedience. In Jesus’ sin-remitting Name, Amen.