Gospel | Mark 1:1-8 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Prepare Him Room by Rita Baloche

Lyrics:
Who is man that You would care for us
You clothed Yourself in flesh to draw us near
In sinful men You've made our hearts Your home
To make Your glory known Your redemption clear

Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room
For nothing else compares with You
Restore the joy of our salvation Lord
Prepare our hearts for more of You

No greater love has anyone than this
To sacrifice the gift of Your only Son
So we lay aside all the earthly things
And all that comes between this great divide

Passage:
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

7 He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
(Mark 1:1-8 CSB17)

Musical Reflection:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL) by Thomas Helmore

Reflection Notes:
The tune VENI IMMANUEL comes from a 15th century chant and originally served as part of a requiem mass. Thomas Helmore adapted it for congregational use as a hymn in the late 1800s, while still retaining the speech-like flow of the original chant. The text dates back to the 8th century and was translated from Latin to English by J. M. Neal.

Prayer:
O God, who looked on us when we had fallen down into death and resolved to redeem us by the Advent of your only begotten Son; grant, we beg you, that those who confess his glorious incarnation may also be admitted to the fellowship of their Redeemer, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
-Ambrose