The Messenger
Each of the four gospels presents a unique perspective on the mystery of the incarnation, God’s “being made in human likeness” (Phil 2:7) in the person of Jesus Christ. Matthew and Luke are our only sources for the Christmas stories, giving detailed accounts of Jesus’ birth through the intimate personal experiences of both Joseph and Mary. Mark, on the other hand, considered by most to be the earliest of the gospels, contains no birth narrative. Mark begins his gospel with the advent of John, John’s sudden appearance, preaching in the wilderness. John factors largely as one of the principal characters in both the Christmas story and the gospel story, the details of his birth being second only to Jesus himself, and all four of the gospels recording, in harmony, that his ministry served as both the prelude and preparation for the inauguration of Jesus ministry. Yet, in both stories, John remains possibly the least known and least understood character of all. In Mark 1:1-13, The Messenger, we’ll look together at this important figure of whom Jesus would later say, “among those born of women, there is no one greater than John” (Lk 7:28).
