THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY.
Mark 1:9-15.
MARK 1:9-11. The Baptism of Jesus.
Jesus came to John to be baptised in the River Jordan. Jesus did not have any personal sin to repent of, but His washing with water may have signified the ritual washing of a priest when he is first consecrated. Jesus was anointed when the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove. God the Father accepted the Person of Jesus with a voice from heaven: “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).
This event at the River Jordan was the high point of John’s ministry, and the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. In His baptism, Jesus also associated Himself with the people He came to save, and gave us an example to follow.
MARK 1:12-13. The Temptation of Jesus.
The idea of the Spirit “driving” Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Mark 1:12) speaks of the divine necessity that Jesus must be ‘tempted like as we are, and yet without sin’ (cf. Hebrews 4:15).
What we know from Matthew and Luke is that the “forty days” here (Mark 1:13) were days of fasting. Here in the wilderness Jesus engaged in battle with the devil, and Jesus prevailed.
Faced with wild beasts, Jesus remained under the protection of God. And the angels ministered to Him.
The priesthood of Jesus is unique in that He did not come to sacrifice animals and birds, but to give His own life as a sacrifice for the sins of His people. God ‘made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).
MARK 1:14-15. The call of the Gospel.
After Jesus’ baptism by John, and His successful wilderness encounter against Satan - this short passage introduces a seemingly ominous note to Mark’s gospel narrative: John was put in prison (Mark 1:14). However, this was nothing less than what the Baptist had come to expect: as he had himself said, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’ (cf. John 3:30). Perhaps this may serve to inform the ensuing call and commission of the first disciples: there is a cost to pay for following Jesus!
John had preached a baptism for the remission of sins (cf. Mark 1:4). The Baptist had also proclaimed beforehand the coming of Jesus (cf. Mark 1:7-8). Now Jesus announced, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” - and to this indicative He added His own imperative: “repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
For centuries, the world had awaited a Saviour. Now He was come - fulfilling prophecy, and meeting expectation and hope. The kingdom of God was manifested among His people in the Person of King Jesus.
The burden of the message of Christianity has always been: repent and believe, turn from your wicked ways, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. As the song says, There is ‘no other way to get to heaven: Jesus is the only way.’ (Cf. John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
The general call of the gospel goes out on the initiative of God, and it is for us to make the right response. If we are saved, it is because of His mercy. If we are lost, it is our own silly fault.
