Mark 1:7-8
Do
you remember the words, “Here’s Johnny” spoken at the top of every Johnnie
Carson show? As you might remember, Ed McMahon would say these words, drawing
out the word “Here” as he changed the tone of his voice, usually rising until
he said “Johnny.” Ed’s primary job was to make Johnny look good. He introduced
Johnny and acted as MC for the show. He was mainly in the background; Johnny
was center stage. His job was to help make Johnny the center. He wasn’t to
outshine him. His paycheck depended on Johnny doing well.
There
are often people who announce other people’s entrance. In the Senate during a
joint session when the President gives his State of the Union address, some
unknown person, the House Sergeant at Arms, announces the presence of
the President. His identity doesn’t matter. He does his job and stays in the
background.
John the Baptist’s message is very much
like this. He knows he isn’t important other than to point to Jesus. He is to
do his job and get out of the way, fade into the background. He introduces his
honored guest by setting up contrasts between himself and Jesus.
The first contrast deals with the level of
power each has. John states it very plainly: Jesus has more power. John uses a
word that speaks primarily of Jesus physical power, rather than another type of
power. It is the word used when you want to speak about power in a broad sense,
rather than about a specific type of power. Jesus has this power; John says he
does not.
The next contrast that John sets up is
that of status. John does not feel worthy to even do the least task of a lowly
servant. In that culture a servant would remove the master’s sandals, wash and
dry their feet, and then the master would be ready to rest at home. Think about
it. Animals in the street. Animals doing what animals do. Cart wheels turning.
People walking. No sewer system, except perhaps a drainage ditch. Dust churning
because of the activity and the dry climate. Open toe shoes. Washing feet would
be essential before sitting on the floor and eating. Your feet would be next to
someone’s nose. Yikes! John says he isn’t worthy to even perform this very
menial task. What humility!
John then says his baptism doesn’t compare
with Jesus’ baptism. John want to make this point and specifically add the two
pronouns “I, He” to his sentence. These pronouns are not needed in Greek. Just
like Spanish and many other languages, the pronoun is included as part of the
verb. He wants us to know that he personally uses simple water, while Jesus
uses the Holy Spirit. Water is a symbol; the Holy Spirit is God’s presence in
all His fullness. What a contrast. We don’t know exactly what John understood
about the Holy Spirit, living in the time before His outpouring at Pentecost,
but the contrast is still powerful.
Do we recognize the contrast in power,
status and ministry in our lives? Do we have a proper perspective on the role
Jesus plays in all of life? Are we willing to introduce Jesus and then fade
into the background?