Mark 1:7 — Community Reflections

MARK 1:7 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.”

John's preaching is self-effacing to an extreme: the one coming after me is so superior that I am not worthy to stoop down and untie his sandals — the task of a slave, not even a disciple. In Jewish tradition, disciples could perform almost any personal service for their rabbi except carry or untie his sandals, which was too servile. John places himself below even the disciple level in relation to the coming one. The preaching is entirely preparatory: John points beyond himself, names his successor's superiority, and makes clear that his own ministry is purely instrumental. The contrast is not power versus less power but Spirit-baptism versus water-baptism.

Church Fathers on Mark 1:7

According to the above-mentioned prophecy of Isaiah, the way of the Lord is prepared by John, through faith, baptism, and penitence; the paths are made straight by the rough marks of the hair-cloth garment, the girdle of skin, the feeding on locusts and wild honey, and the most lowly voice; whence it is said, 'John was in the wilderness.'
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

It is evident that John not only preached, but also gave to some the baptism of repentance; but he could not give baptism for the remission of sins [ed. note: vol 1, p. 97, note A]. For the remission of sins is only given to us by the baptism of Christ. It is therefore only said, 'Preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;' for he 'preached' a baptism which could remit sins, since he could not give it.
Bede · 8th century

The baptism of John had not remission of sins, but only brought men to penitence. He preached therefore the baptism of repentance, that is, he preached that to which the baptism of penitence led, namely, remission of sins, that they who in penitence received Christ, might receive Him to the remission of their sins.
Theophylact · 11th century

Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!