Mark 1:1-13
RTNT 2021. Today’s reading was broken into three parts in 2019 – January 17, 20, and 24, covering, respectively, John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus in the wilderness. See below.
Four things struck me today – an unusual number! First, in verse 5, And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Mark is clearly overstating his point here – clearly not ALL the people of Judea and Jerusalem were coming to John to be baptized. We saw yesterday that Matthew had harsh words for the Pharisees and Sadducees; more likely they were coming to watch, to spy on John, not to repent!
Second, in verse 8 John says I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. There were a number of cleansing rituals with water in Jewish customs and John clearly knows this. However, he is taking their cleansing rituals one step further, telling them that there is another baptism ahead for them, a baptism of the Holy Spirit, which only “the One coming after him” can accomplish.
Third, in verse 10, 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. (NOTE: The NASB translation (my favorite) always capitalizes deific pronouns while the ESV does not; my quotes are from the ESV unless otherwise noted, but I tend to “correct” the lower-case pronouns in the ESV.) The HE pronoun that I have emboldened above could refer either to Jesus or to John. I’ve always imagined that pronoun referring to John, but today I noticed it capitalized in my NASB Bible. And what a difference it makes, if it is actually JESUS who sees the Spirit descending on Himself – that He now knows that His time has come. Intriguing. However, I think that pronoun is speaking of John, not Jesus. Still, it’s ambiguous and intriguing.
Finally, And a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” (v. 11) Here we have God the Father speaking in the second person directly to Jesus. Luke has it the same way, but Matthew has what is more familiar to me, This is My beloved Son… (Matthew 3:17), speaking in the third person of Jesus. Again how different it would have been for Jesus whether His Father is speaking directly TO Him or OF Him. Beyond intriguing…!!
See also January 17 / Mark 1:1-8; January 20 / Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; January 24 / Mark 1:12-13
Just something I noticed….
Unlike Matthew, Mark doesn’t quote John the Baptist with the words “fire” in his discussion of Baptism with the Holy Spirit. I don’t know what to make of it other than Mark’s account is different from Matthew’s. Also fire was on my mind from Lou’s discussion yesterday on the use of fire.
Yes, Bruce. Lou’s comments on fire yesterday made me think of that too.
Love reading all your comments, Fred. One additional one from my study Bible explaining why Mark starts with the Baptism. Mark’s gospel was apparently targeted to Roman Christians, who expected a herald announcing someone important, hence this narrative with John. Though this could equally apply to the angels, Hark the herald angels sing!
Interesting that Romans always expected a herald for someone important, but I expect that might have been true in most cultures back then, even Jewish culture. I like your comparison, Debbie, to the angels at the birth. Certainly John makes it clear he heralds the most important figure in history!
You’re too kind, Debbie. Thank you!
In looking at your “herald” reference I also noticed in verse 4, “John appeared…”. It’s like, first he was not “there”, then all of a sudden, he was there – he appeared! I’m guessing word spread fairly quickly though, in that ALL Judea and Jerusalem came to be baptized or just “to visit”.
I am struck anew by John’s view of Jesus as One “who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” (Mark 1:7) Is that how I see Jesus, really? I acknowledge in my mind that Jesus is indeed God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, but do I treat Him with all the respect and honor that such really entails? Hardly. Instead, I blow Him off all too easily and neglect spending time with Him in prayer and meditation, preferring idleness or recreation or you name it. On a daily (or, rather, moment-by-moment) basis, I dishonor Him in thought, word, and deed.
May I learn from John the Baptist, see Jesus for Who He really is, and honor and worship Him accordingly!
Ditto for me, John!
Good insight, John. I agree.
Thank you for that honest and heartfelt observation, John.
I was hit between the eyeballs, so to speak, since I had just been thinking about my aimless idleness on any given day… so easy to distract myself with mindless stuff!