The Baptism and Testing of Jesus - Mark 1:9-13
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Reflection:
We can see why the gospel of Mark is only 16 chapters long today. Whereas the temptation of Jesus story in Matthew doesn't start until chapter 4 in Matthew, it starts as the second story of chapter 1 in Mark. Since Mark is interested in showing the power of Jesus, he jumps right away to Jesus' baptism at age 30. Mark is writing to a Gentile audience, which is interested in why Jesus is more powerful than any other gods in the Graeco-Roman world.
We see this reflected in the language of Jesus' baptism where it says, "he saw heaven being torn open". The idea was that heaven had been closed for a long time. But now heaven was being ripped open. In the Old Testament heaven was open when the waters poured from heaven in the flood during Noah's day. Heaven was opened when God appeared to Moses on Mt Sinai, and to the Israelites through clouds, fire and manna which came down from heaven. Now heaven was ripped open and as Jesus was being baptized, the Holy Spirit came down as a dove. Though heaven being opened was violent, the Spirit's descent and coming on Jesus was mild and gentle. And all who were there heard the audible voice of God which said, "this is my Son in whom I am well pleased!"
Notice too it is the Spirit, who "at once" sends Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted/tested (same word in the Greek) by Satan. What Satan meant for tempting (God can't tempt!), God used as testing. But what I am interested in is this idea of Jesus' baptism and the relationship to the Holy Spirit coming upon him. From this moment on everything Jesus says and does will be led by the Spirit of God. The same Spirit God used in certain times and places in the Old Testament, now resided in a person, the Son of God.
And it begs the question, when we are baptized is heaven ripped open and does the Spirit sent to us? Does God say when we are baptized, "this is my son/daughter with whom I am well pleased!" And the answer to this question is "yes". As we believe by faith in Jesus and are baptized, we are saved and given the Holy Spirit who makes us sons and daughters of God. And now we can be led by the Spirit in everything we say and so. Are we God? No. Are we born of. God? Yes! Amen.
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Reflection:
We can see why the gospel of Mark is only 16 chapters long today. Whereas the temptation of Jesus story in Matthew doesn't start until chapter 4 in Matthew, it starts as the second story of chapter 1 in Mark. Since Mark is interested in showing the power of Jesus, he jumps right away to Jesus' baptism at age 30. Mark is writing to a Gentile audience, which is interested in why Jesus is more powerful than any other gods in the Graeco-Roman world.
We see this reflected in the language of Jesus' baptism where it says, "he saw heaven being torn open". The idea was that heaven had been closed for a long time. But now heaven was being ripped open. In the Old Testament heaven was open when the waters poured from heaven in the flood during Noah's day. Heaven was opened when God appeared to Moses on Mt Sinai, and to the Israelites through clouds, fire and manna which came down from heaven. Now heaven was ripped open and as Jesus was being baptized, the Holy Spirit came down as a dove. Though heaven being opened was violent, the Spirit's descent and coming on Jesus was mild and gentle. And all who were there heard the audible voice of God which said, "this is my Son in whom I am well pleased!"
Notice too it is the Spirit, who "at once" sends Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted/tested (same word in the Greek) by Satan. What Satan meant for tempting (God can't tempt!), God used as testing. But what I am interested in is this idea of Jesus' baptism and the relationship to the Holy Spirit coming upon him. From this moment on everything Jesus says and does will be led by the Spirit of God. The same Spirit God used in certain times and places in the Old Testament, now resided in a person, the Son of God.
And it begs the question, when we are baptized is heaven ripped open and does the Spirit sent to us? Does God say when we are baptized, "this is my son/daughter with whom I am well pleased!" And the answer to this question is "yes". As we believe by faith in Jesus and are baptized, we are saved and given the Holy Spirit who makes us sons and daughters of God. And now we can be led by the Spirit in everything we say and so. Are we God? No. Are we born of. God? Yes! Amen.
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