After me comes he who is mightier than I.

Mark 1:7-8, And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John did not have what we have, but our ministry is quite similar, for we have the good news of Jesus Christ, and all that we can do is to prepare the way of the Lord. And like John, all we can do is prepare by telling others of the good news, that we have been set free by the amazing grace of God revealed in Christ Jesus paying our debt on the cross of Calvary. We are only beggars who have found bread, the ultimate bread of life, the living water, the Lamb of God, the ultimate passover sacrifice. For Jesus says that “no one can come unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” How wonderful that he is willing to baptize us with his Holy Spirit and to give us his gifts as we ask him! Are we willing to prepare the way of the Lord that others may come to know him?

Give us the same boldness as those early disciples who loved the Lord more than life itself!

ESV Lectionary