With God, every significant event is preceded by a time of intense preparation. Mark tells us that God sent John the Baptizer to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John proclaimed the need for spiritual cleansing in preparation for the Messiah and His kingdom. Jesus, Himself, is prepared for ministry through baptism and temptation, orienting Himself, and the reader, to two great realities—a Father who elects and loves, and an enemy who hates and destroys. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts so God can work through us to serve Him.