Mark 1: 9 – 14
The Baptism of Jesus
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son”] with you I am well pleased.”
Forty times the term immediately was used by Mark in his Gospel, it is important for each of us to recall these words of 2 Peter1:21, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit used Mark to give us insights into aspects of Jesus baptism in rapid action, like when Jesus came out of the water, the heavens being torn open, the Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove, and God’s statement; “You are my beloved Son”, with you I am well pleased. We must not overlook that all three persons of the Trinity are present at the baptism of Jesus.
The Temptation of Jesus
“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.” The Scriptures make clear that the Spirit that descended on Jesus at His baptism is also the same Holy Spirit that forced Him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Mark is led by the Holy Spirit and wants the reader to understand it was the very next thing in Christ's ministry. I believe this happens often to young men called out of the workplace and to go through the trial of getting a seminary degree and end up in a small church, that is not open to doing anything new and they often run them out of the ministry. We have many accounts of 40 years, for example, the children of Israel in the wilderness, Moses before returning to Egypt, and even 40 days such as Elijah in the wilderness.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” There was at least a year of Jesus' life that took place before John the Baptist was arrested and put to death. But the message was the Messiah was walking around in an earth suit. In John’s gospel, we understand the Jewish people were not open to repenting and believing, especially the religious leaders.
John 1:11 – 13, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” It is beyond understanding how they could have rejected the Messiah or is it, are they different than you? They wanted to be the captain of their ship; they want God on their terms. It is going to happen, one way and only one, I learned that in Vacation Bible School as a child, but like many, I bought into the foolish ways of the world for 27 years of life, and God's love and grace were offered at such a young age. He is still waiting for so many, do not be foolish, the world and its desires are passing away, but the person who does the will of God will live forever.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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