Being baptized with water is no small thing. The mikveh is a ceremonial stepped bath, still used by devout Jews for ceremonial cleansing. This is performed before a marriage, after birth or menstruation, or for converts who wish to wash away their old lives and beliefs and follow Judaism. John's baptism is one of "repentance." He encourages the people to ask God to forgive their sins and change their way of thinking. They should seek to fight against the sinful lifestyle they'd grown used to. By being baptized by John in the Jordan River, the people agree with his message and promise to turn away from their sins.

John's message is counter-cultural on two sides. The Pharisees and Scribes—the local religious leaders—place heavy legalistic burdens on the people. By comparison, John's simple call to repent seems almost too easy. On the other hand, John convicts the people to reject the decadent lifestyle of their political masters: the Romans.

John's message also promises that the Messiah, the Jewish savior, offers a far more powerful baptism: that of the Holy Spirit. The "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is the moment when a person trusts Jesus to forgive their sins and make them right with God. In an instant the Holy Spirit comes into the new believer to provide insight into the Christian life (John 16:13), gifts to help other believers (1 Corinthians 12), and a change in our beliefs and actions so we can serve God and others better (Galatians 5:22–23).

The church has spent centuries debating when this baptism first happened. The first possibility is that John refers to the incident at Pentecost when "there came from heaven a sound like a might rushing wind" and Jesus' followers were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). The second possibility is that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). Third, some view baptism with the Holy Spirit as an independent event which believers experience after salvation—a personal "Pentecost" experience after the point of salvation. Still others suggest a future baptism of the Holy Spirit connected with Christ's return (Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28–32).

Both the first and second interpretations are biblically supported. The baptism of the Holy Spirit first took place on the Day of Pentecost for those who were already following Christ (Acts 2:1–4). In the modern church, all believers receive this "baptism" when they come to faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). The only apparent exception to this is the partial dispensation of the Holy Spirit, given by Jesus to the disciples in John 20:22.

Mark 1:1–13 rapidly introduces the ministry of Jesus, as introduced by John the Baptist. While other Gospels include many details, the Gospel of Mark briefly sets the stage for Jesus' baptism by John. In a few short verses, we are told that John preached a message of repentance, that Jesus came to be baptized, and that Jesus spent forty days being tempted in the wilderness. The narrative quickly moves on to describe Jesus' miraculous healings.

John the Baptist is introduced as a figure preparing the world for the arrival of the Messiah. John's baptism teaches people about their need for repentance. When Jesus arrives, and is baptized, it signals the coming of God's fulfillment and the need of people to recognize their Savior. Mark briefly notes Jesus' baptism, desert temptation, and the calling of the first four disciples. After this, Jesus begins teaching in the synagogue and performs miraculous healings which spread His fame around the region.

The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark sets the tone for the rest of the story. Mark's writing is concise, action-packed, and short on details. Within a few verses, Mark establishes the transition from the wilderness ministry of John the Baptist to the healing and preaching of Jesus Christ. This first chapter includes the calling of Jesus' earliest disciples, His early miracles, and His early teaching. This establishes the pattern shown throughout the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus mingles His teaching with miraculous signs.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.

Accessed 12/18/2024 3:13:23 AM

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