“And this was his message: After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” Mark 1:7
John the Baptist comes on the scene out of nowhere. He is different. He dresses and eats in a way different from those who do public ministry. His message is also very different. John is working on preparing a way for the Savior to come.
In this verse it sums up what John’s message is: someone more powerful is coming. This person is so powerful that John states that he is not worthy to even untie His sandals.
Two thousand years ago it was a very low, degrading position to be the one to stoop down and untie someone else’s sandals. That has not changed to this day.
What would you think if you were told to stoop down and untie the shoes of your boss at work? Most people would be saying no way would they do that because it is below them. They would not be willing to be humble enough to lower their pride and do that.
John, in his humility, realizes that the coming Savior would be so powerful that even in his low state, he would not be worthy to untie His sandals. This was not said in pride, but out of true reverence for the one who was coming.
Often people would be willing to say the same type of statement, but it would be out of pride, rather than reverence. People are not willing to allow another person to be worth more than they are. Respect and honor for those whom it is due, is not very common.
John was talking about the coming of Jesus Christ. Although Jesus came first as a baby, He was and is the Creator of everything. Man in his sinful self, has absolutely no right to even look upon Jesus. Yet, God in His love and mercy has allowed man to look to Jesus for salvation for their souls.
Realize today how great Jesus really is. Get a vision on who Jesus really is. Who is He in your life? Are you preparing the way for His return?
I pray today that God will reveal to you who Jesus is; that you will honor Jesus above everyone and everything in your life; that you will prepare the way for Jesus to return in your life and in this world; and that God will guide you in spreading the message of salvation to the world.
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