Just who is this Jesus?
July 2, 2023
The baptism of Jesus launches his public ministry. Known just as an ordinary man, he displays his humility and identification with sinful humanity by undergoing John's baptism which, like a ritual washing, signifying repentance. But his baptism is different because the heavens are ripped open and God descends. The Father's voice picks up on OT scriptures which affirm his sonship and his kingship. The Spirit's descent like a dove picks up on the Spirit's role in creation and the renewed creation in Noah's time. A new age is beginning. Then, astonishingly, the spirit drives Jesus into the unclean wilderness to meet his adversary, Satan. Here he demonstrates his victory over all evil.
Derek Tidball
In this series:
Mark 1:9–13 (Listen)
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 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. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;1 with you I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 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.
Footnotes
[1] 1:11
(ESV)
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
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