"All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins" (Mark 1:5 WEB). And they were forgiven. Repentance has 2 parts: contrition (sorrow or terror over sin) and faith in the forgiveness that Jesus won. Similarly, confession has 2 parts: we confess our sins, and we receive forgiveness, from the prophet, pastor, or fellow Christian as from God himself.

Hello, Pastor O'Shell here. Today we have, "John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4 WEB). What a beautiful sight. Beautiful are the feet that bring good news. Water in the wilderness! Forgiveness of sins! There's no doubt: God was forgiving sins through baptism, just as he continues to do today. The miracles of repentance and baptism are done among us also.

Our devotion today is on Mark 1:3: "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!'" (WEB) The voice of the prophet, which is the voice of the Lord, which is the Word of God, cries out in the wilderness of this world, and tells us to repent, that we may receive the Christ. We are people of the wilderness, sinful by nature, and we cannot do this—but God can, and he does it to us and for us!

Good morning! Pastor O'Shell here, continuing with our new series. "As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you'" (Mark 1:2 WEB). This text reveals the Word of God as being the conversation of the Holy Trinity. We are privileged to hear the Father speaking to the Son through the Spirit. And what is their conversation about? Our salvation! The "way" prepared for the Son is the way of the cross, for us.

Greetings! Today we embark on a devotional series on the Gospel of Mark, beginning with Mark 1:1: "The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." But wait, didn't Genesis come first? Especially Genesis 3:15? The account of Jesus is the beginning because it is the source. The source of the good news of our salvation is not God as Creator, but God as Savior: Jesus, dying on the cross and rising from the dead. JESUS is the good news for us sinners!