Times Were Changing

This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. [Mark 1.4]

What changed all of a sudden that baptism came on the scene? Was it just that John the Baptist started doing it?

Times were changing. The Temple existed and was still in use, but here is John demanding repentance and then baptizing folks as evidence that they had indeed repented and turned to God for forgiveness. This not was really what Old Testament Law taught.

Old Testament Law demanded that when people sinned they offer prescribed sacrifices for that sin. And, when they performed those sacrifices, justice was satisfied - they were forgiven (?).

But, here comes John the Baptist requiring folks to be baptized (immersed in water) to show that they had repented and had been forgiven.

Yes, times were changing. How different was it that John was preaching repentance and baptism? It would seem to me that it was completely different.

John, however, also pointed out that his "different" was of doing things was not the end of it. He declared that another one was coming - greater than him.

So, from what I am seeing here, Jesus was not the first to introduce the idea of forgiveness without all the sacrifices. John the Baptist indeed prepared the way. And, people responded.

Frankly, it is easy to see why the religious leaders of the time would have concerns about what John and then Jesus preached.

Times were changing for sure.

Thank God.

Father, help me to see and understand the changes that began to take place with John the Baptist's preaching. Help me to understand as much as I can about this time of transition so that I might be more effective in presenting the Good News myself today.