Mr 1:2

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Mr 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

It is written in the prophets

Mark references more than one prophet and merges their prophecies as though they were one. This troubles some, but get used to it. Mark understands that God is the sole author and that all the prophecies speak of Christ. They can be merged like transparencies laid on top of each other, where each has only a part of the picture.

Mal 3:1 ¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Isa 40:3 ¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
messenger:
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Before your face

"In your presence". The messenger and the Lord will meet. Not only did they meet, but their ministries overlapped as did those of Elijah and Elisha. Jesus preached repentance just like John [1] until John was put into prison when he began to teach of the grace of the kingdom [2].

Which will prepare the way before thee

The purpose of the forerunner is to prepare the 'way' of the Lord. This suggests that the one following is the Lord. Isaiah speaks in 3rd person of the Lord coming. But the prophecy of Malachi above is spoken by the Lord in first person; "He shall prepare the way before ME."


The way

There are two words closely related in Hebrew:

Way 02015 הפך haphak - turn back, overthrow

Path 0734 ארח ‘orach - Highway

The way is the way back. Jesus said he was the way, [3]

Consider then that John was doing something to prepare the way back for Jesus. He had left his high estate as God of very God, and was found in the form of a man. [4]

Next: Mr 1:3

References

  1. Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  2. Mr 1:14 ¶ Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
  3. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
  4. Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: