Mark 1:9-15
Read Mark 1:9-15 picturing yourself as a part of the crowd at Jesus’ baptism.
To those with no experience of the institutional church, the sprinkling or dunking of a fully clothed person in front of an audience must seem a strange practice. Though the evidence is limited, baptism was probably derived from cleansing rituals that symbolized the washing away of moral defilement and guilt as described in the Old Testament. But beyond these symbols, mostly performed in the tabernacle and later the temple, the Old Testament contains significant stories of God’s literal deliverance of Israel through water: the parting of the Red Sea and Israel’s escape from slavery and oppression, the parting of the Jordan River as Israel entered into the land promised to Abraham, for instance.
John the Baptizer is the son of an Israelite priest who took the idea of ritualistic cleansing of sin out of the temple and into the very river that parted for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. John calls people to “repent,” to turn around and change their ways, and be immersed, or “baptized,” to show that they have put their faith in God’s promises and are now fully immersed in following God.
Jesus has nothing for which to repent, but he is baptized to show that he is fully following the will of God the Father. Jesus’ baptism is a public announcement that the kingdom of God, the realm where everything is exactly as God intended it to be, has come near. Jesus, the visible image of the invisible God, is standing, dripping wet, right there in front of everyone.
From that day on, those who believe in Jesus will be baptized in water to show that they are committed to fully following him.
Read Mark 1:9-15 and notice the rapid progression of events: Jesus’ baptism, God the Father’s affirmation, Jesus’ period of preparation, and finally the public launch of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Have you ever sensed that God has a particular purpose for your life?
Are you able to accept that God loves and approves of you even before you take steps to enter into his purpose for you?
How has God prepared you for his purpose? It’s interesting to note that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, one day for each year the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Jesus did what the Israelites could not do. He resisted every temptation to turn away from his purpose and emerged from the wilderness ready to fully engage in God the Father’s purpose for his life.
You, like the ancient Israelites, may not have followed God’s purpose perfectly. Take a moment to receive the unmerited grace of God that is freely given to us in Jesus. Ask God to let it wash over you and immerse you in his love. Continue speaking to Jesus about anything that comes to mind.
