Daily Encouragementنموونە

“And so John came” - it was the fulfilment of Scripture. Isaiah had prophesied about “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,’” and John was that voice.

“And so John came” - it was the end of long delay. Four hundred years had passed since the last prophetic word had been heard, from Malachi’s lips. Mark prefaces his quotation from Isaiah with some words of his: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,” (Mal. 3:1). Malachi and John join hands across the centuries, for there is no break in the purpose of God.

“And so John came” - it was “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). John came as a herald to point to Another: “After me will come one more powerful than I . . . ” He came to prepare the people to receive the One who is the very essence of the gospel.

Here is encouragement: Scripture will be fulfilled; God’s seeming delays have a purpose in the fulfilment of his will; nothing can ultimately stand in the way of the gospel about Jesus Christ.