Thoughts for the Day

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight”’,

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The Lectionary today only gives us the last paragraph, the Baptism of Jesus, but for today's reading I have given the text from the opening of Mark's Gospel as we will explore his Gospel further over the next week or two. Suffice it to say, we should notice how in only 11 verses Mark opens the Gospel with a statement of intent, introduces John the Baptist with a prophecy, gives information about him and his work, before deftly dealing with Jesus' baptism.

This is the first Gospel to be written, probably between 65 and 73 CE, by a man called 'Mark'. Various suggestions have been made about the writer, and it's likely he was Paul's associate who was also a disciple of Peter. Some 90% of the content appears in Matthew's Gospel, and 50% in Luke's Gospel, which were written later. His Gospel is the shortests, and reads a bit like an express train, galloping through situations in a few lines. Nevertheless it's a wonderful account of the work and life of Jesus.

Looking at the Baptism of Jesus, we might want to ask why Jesus is baptized since John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. I think we can see this as a confirmation of the way Jesus had decided he was going to carry out his ministry; it was also a time of identification with all those coming to John to commit their lives afresh to God; and importantly it was a time of confirmation as he receives power from the Holy Spirit to go forward. But particularly we should note the existence of God as Trinity, that is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Son of God, is baptised in the Jordan; the Holy Spirit, that is the power of God descends upon him; and God the Father blesses His Son, who is "the beloved". Jesus, has effectively been anointed for the beginning of his ministry as the Messiah - the one who has come to save us all.

Almighty God,
we thank You that You care for us,
and want to draw us closer to You;
that You sent Your beloved Son to earth
to redeem and save Your people;
that he accepted this mission;
and was empowered with the Holy Spirit.
Help us to appreciate our own Baptism
as the confirmation of our life
as Christian who will carry out God's work,
and may we affirm those promises
made by or for us this day.
Amen.