LESSON 2 A very unChristmassy Christmas Mark 1.1-8 + Malachi 3.1

Mark’s very unChristmassy Christmas continues after he reminds his readers about Israel’s great problem—their unfaithfulness to God, the Great King—and the time that Isaiah was looking forward to, a time when Israel’s unfaithfulness would all be paid for. Mark says they would recognise this time by the appearance of a messenger. When we see where John the Baptist is and what he says, we should recognise him as the messenger spoken of by Isaiah and Malachi.