By Pastor Jay Perkins
Mark 1:7
And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.”
These words from John the Baptist jump out at me for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they describe our incredible Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the first gospel written. So in the gospels, which are the written accounts of Jesus Christ’s life on earth, Mark 1:7 contains the first adjective describing Him. Of all the words available to him, Mark chose “mightier”.
John wasn’t ministering to point people to himself. His goal was to point people to Jesus. Probably uncomfortable with accolades and attention which focused on him, John pointed people to Jesus as he revealed. “There comes one after me who is mightier than I…”. The Hebrew word for mighty is used 27 times in Scripture. When it is used, the English words used to represent it include mighty, strong, powerful, and valiant.
I believe Mark was very intentional in quoting John the Baptist, who was called to pave the way for Jesus Christ. Both Mark and John wanted the world to know that Jesus is mighty, strong, powerful, and valiant!
Whatever you are facing today, you can know that the God who hears your prayers is able. No prayer request is too great. No mountain is too high. No obstacle is too daunting. Because Jesus Christ, the God we pray to and the God we rely on, is mighty, strong, powerful, and valiant!